RACING ON Monday night of last week was a Thursday night card as ' show day' was run on Thursday afternoon.

There was a very popular winner of the Simon Kavanagh Memorial (A2) final when the James Dempsey-owned 'Ah Boolavogue' did enough to hold the persistent challenge of 'Piercestown Ping' by a neck.

Jim has not been too well of late and this will be a great boost for him. ' Ah Boolavogue' was winning for the sixth time and the €2,500 first prize has boosted his earnings nicely. His winning time was his best yet -29 09.

The other final on the card, the Novice 750 Sweepstake, saw a right old battle between 'Dinnys Star' and 'Wide Load' from the fifth bend, with ' Wide Load' looking the likely winner.

However, ' Dinnys Star' dug deep to get back up on the line by a short head to win for owner Noel Kavanagh in 43.36.

The four first round heats of the Reds Mills 600 and Michael Foley Memorial trophy were also run.

Heat one saw 'Foxglove Blue' lead and run on strongly to hold ' Piercestown Pet' by two and a half lengths in a fast 32.87 for owners the Byrne and Brody syndicate (Swords).

The winner was trained by Brian McCann who went on to record a quick double when ' Ropewalk Wonder', owned by the Christos Balbriggan syndicate, led and ran out a two-length winner from 'Lightning Liam' in 33.19 in heat two.

Heat three went to 'Bullring Bailey', owned by Laurence Corcoran (Co. Carlow), but he was all out to hold the challenge of 'Ballina Bob' by half a length in 32.89.

Heat four saw the Peter Cronin-trained, Bog Road syndicate (Mooncoin), score his tenth win of his career, beating 'Dysert Moon' in 33.18. The second round will be run this Thursday night.

The first two races were the semis of the A6 Goodbye Stake, and 'Crack Away Stacy' was a short head winner in the first from 'Orange Blackie'.

Unfortunately for 'Stacy ', her time of 29.49 just broke the 29.50 and the rules of this stake are you go out if you break 29.50. The unlucky owner is Mathew Flynn-O'Connor (Enniscorthy).

The second semi went to 'Portdangan Hero', owned by bookmaker Michael Meade (Co. Waterford). 'Hero' came through to score by four lengths in 29.62.

The final of the show day A6 Goodbye Stake of €2,250 saw the James Nevin (Co. Kildare)-owned 'Orange Blackie' score a fine win.

'Ballycarney King' led and had a good advantage at the third bend but faded badly, and 'Blackie' finished well to score from 'Ashwood Linda' in 29.78.

Back to Monday night and the fourth race, an A1, saw a fine effort from 'Compass Trevor', owned by Helen Wadsworth and trained by Stephen Wadsworth, getting the better of 'Clover Fantasy' by a length in 28.96.

Trevor made it a quick double when turning out again on Thursday in the Red Mills open race worth €600, and he led and ran out a comfortable winner in a time of 29.37. SHOW DAY Race one (A6): Dysert Special, owner Maria Byrne (Co. Waterford), 29.86.

Race two (A6): Castleboro Music (Res. A), owner Breda McCabe, 28.82.

Race three (A5): Grancore Eye, owner Shay Hodnett, 29.92.

Race four: as in above notes.

Race five, heat seven of the Pettitt's A3/A4 Sweepstake: Surf Bandito (Res. M), William Waters (Carrickon-Suir), trainer Harry Seery, 29.22.

Heat eight: Ashwood Finbarr (Res. O), owner Hughie and John Doyle, 29.21.

Heat nine: Fionntra Betty, owner John Spracklen, 29.46.

Heat ten: Humble Power, owner Michael Meade (Co. Waterford), 29.61.

Heat eleven: Carrigoe Joker, owner Derek Wilde (Enniscorthy), 29.65.

Heat twelve: Mulrankin Rock, owner Thomas Byrne, 29.53.

In other track news, the John Doyle (Kiltrea)-owned 'Kiltrea Kev' put in a superb display to score an impressive victory in the final of the stayers' classic Corn Cuchulann (750, Group 1) at Harold's Cross.

'Kev' broke well enough to be up there at the first and got around on the outside and made his move to power to the front at the fourth bend from 'Cooladerry Fizz'.

He went on to score in a superb 41.70. A delighted John is having a crack at the upcoming derby at Shelbourne Park.

Well done an a great victory and, even better, 'Kev' went through the stake unbeaten and is five from five over six bends.