Holdem Rio (Crash-Cornamaddy Maid, Jul 14) set the standard in the opening round of the 
Betfred Gymcrack at Kinsley.
Heather Dimmock’s 4-6f recorded a brilliant 5.12 sectional from trap two and dictated the race from then on. Although he faded late, the dark brindle held on by a length from Seamus Cahill’s Ballymac Lyster in 27.23 (+10). (The track record belongs to Jaytee Youngy at 27.10.). Jaytee Sambuca (T6) was third.
The Cahill kennel didn’t have to wait long for consolation thanks to Live Annie (Mall Brandy-Rathglass Annie, Jun 14). The white jacketed 9-4 chance, took advantage of some boring on her inside to slip the field on the run to the bend. Despite running an extravagant bend, she was never troubled and held off Young Romeo (T2 6-4f) and Riverside Escape (T1 14-1) by four and then two and three quarters in 27.32.
Earlier on the card Charlie Lister OBE had a short priced win double. First up was Banner Lightfoot (Scolari Me Daddy-Lightfoot Lady, Jul 14). The 7-4f led up (5.14) and looked all over the winner. But the 37kilo August pup Lowgate Hagred – last away – was destined to make a great race of it and he failed by only a neck at the winning line. The winner clocked 27.49 with Ron Grey’s Daisy Bliss back in third(T3 25-1).
The second Lister winner was Tyrur Feargal (Tyrur Ted-Tyrur Mozzletoff, May 14). The white jacketed 4-6f was slow to get into stride but showed superior early (5.20) to lead before the bend and then hold off Jimmy Wright’s Droopys Bouchard (T1 5-1) by just over a length in 27.44. Prod Diva (T2) finished thrid.
Calzaghe Otoole (Mall Brandy-Rathglass Annie, Jun 14), a litter brother to Live Annie beat 5-4f Newinn Blitz (T3) in the the second heat. Pat Rosney’s Blitz looked very novicey after checking at the start. He soon took up the running but was outstayed by Ted Soppitt’s black jacketed 7-2 chance who clocked 27.70. Lowgate Sirius finished third – distances three quarters and two and a quarter.
The remaining heat went to the in-form Wright Kennel and Droopys Trapeze (Tullymurry Act-Droopys Blossom, Sep 14). Running from two, the 4-6f was led to the third bend by Geelo Sapphire (T1 9-2), but the youngest winner in the event held on by a length in 27.51 with Fearsome Freckle (T3) nearly four lengths back in third.
