Buckley four-handed in Thurles final but Bundle goes quickest

PAT BUCKLEY is responsible for four of the six finalists in next weekend's Thurles Track Champion Bitch Stake after a dominant night at the Townspark venue although Robert Gleeson's Droopys Bundle set the standard.

Buckley's Glengar Blitz was favourite for the opener and duly led round he first bend but her supporters had reckoned without kennelmate Deerjet Matilda who gradually eroded a deficit of some three lengths along the back straight.

Railing into the lead off the last bend as Glengar Blitz ran wide, Deerjet Matilda then dug in to hold that rival's rally by half a length in 28.85sec with Tassie Tomboy, also trained by Buckley, a further three and a half lengths away in third.

Singalong Cherry was odds-on for Buckley in the second semi but had to settle for the runner-up spot and qualification behind Gleeson's Droopys Bundle.

It was tight going into the opening turn but Droopys Bundle ran a brave and determined bend to get round Singalong Cherry and into a lead she was never to lose.

Indeed, the Gleeson bitch stretched clear from halfway to come home two lengths ahead of Singalong Cherry in a superb 28.69sec, best of year for the 525 yards course, with Borna Lassie taking the third qualifying position.

Draw for Saturday's €3,000 final: 1 Borna Lassie, 2 Singalong Cherry, 3 Tassie Tomboy, 4 Droopys Bundle, 5 Deeret Matilda, 6 Glengar Blitz (w).