LUKE TAKES THE LONG WAY TO MEMORIAL GLORY AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

The final of the Tom Flanagan & John Keane Memorial 525 took centre stage at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and it was Long Walk Luke who produced a thrilling last-gasp finish to land the €1,500 winner’s prize in a thrilling decider.

Kindly sponsored by the Keating and McEnery Families, the competition had proved hugely competitive throughout and the final lived up to expectations, with Stephen Murray’s Long Walk Luke producing an exciting finishing burst to snatch victory in the very shadow of the winning line. Indeed, the HVJ-Syndicate-owned tracker looked to have a mountain to climb at the halfway mark, but he once again showcased his powerful finishing engine to land the spoils in dramatic fashion.

From a very level start, it was Norfolkandchance (4/1) who displayed the superior early speed from trap two, showing a clean pair of heels to his rivals to lead the field into the back straight. Holding a two-length advantage at this point, the well-fancied On The Wire (2/1) set off in pursuit, while eventual winner Long Walk Luke (9/4) was languishing back in fifth, with some six lengths to bridge and plenty on his plate as a result. Norfolkandchance continued to set a solid gallop down the back straight and maintained his two-length cushion over On The Wire approaching the three-quarter mark. However, the petrol gauge began to flicker between the bottom two bends and, with On The Wire closing ominously in behind, it looked only a matter of time before the red-jacketed runner would take command. Indeed, On The Wire duly swept to the front in the closing stages and looked set to justify favouritism, however, Long Walk Luke was finishing with real purpose out wide. Gaining something of a reputation for his powerful late surges, the son of Orchestrate - Highview Audi was now in full throttle and rapidly closing the deficit with every stride. Producing another tremendous finishing effort, Murray’s charge stormed past On The Wire in the dying strides to snatch a dramatic neck victory and stop the clock in a smart 29.22 .20s.

YUP ISAID LANDS SUPPORTING FINAL

In the supporting final, the Book Your Xmas Party A5/A6 525, it was Yup Isaid who justified 5/6 favouritism to land the €700 winner’s prize, although the Marie McDonnell-owned runner was made to work hard for his victory.

Having impressed in the semi-finals seven days prior, Yup Isaid was expected to take plenty of beating in the decider, but it proved far from straightforward for the lightly raced son of Ballymac Bolger. Indeed, the lead changed hands on several occasions throughout the contest as Larchill Sky and Maximusdageneral battled it out at the head of proceedings, with neither able to establish a decisive advantage. However, Yup Isaid was never too far off the pace and remained within striking distance as the field approached the closing stages. With the leading duo continuing to dispute matters, the favourite produced a powerful finishing burst up the home straight to sweep past his rivals and take charge in the dying strides. Staying on strongly, Yup Isaid emerged a one-length winner in 29.67 .20s, completing a fine performance and further underlining his potential with just four career starts under his belt.