Billy has the last laugh

The €5,000 Con Kirby Memorial event concluded at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday night with the spoils going to the Pat Guilfoyle trained and 6/4 favourite Laughill Billy (Premier Fantsy-Laughill Lass).

However, the favourite in trap four did not have it all his own way as he was in third place as they made their way to the opening bend behind Coolard Chief (trap two) and Riverside Cashen (trap one).
At the bend he moved into second place and at the halfway stage overtook Riverside Cashen to pull clear and win the final by two-and-a-half lengths in 29.79 from Liscahane Triger. Riverside Cashen was a length-and-a-half back for third place. O’Garney Patch in trap three, trained by Bernard Coffey for Mrs Helen Coffey, Sixmilebridge, failed to make up ground after a slow start.
The Cooney family from East Clare also figured among the winners on Friday night, Killuran Tornado (Head Bound-Killuran Premier) scoring a 29.56 win for Donal Cooney, trainer and his owner and son Ciaran Cooney, Broadford. The white and black bitch took up the running at the third bend and ran on for a two and a half lengths win from the 5/4 favourite, Ruso Moss with Messi Black, trained by Joe Collins, Parteen for the Shanakyle Syndicate, beaten by a head into third place.
The Donie Duggan trained Peadars Touch (Kinloch Brae-Climates Kewell) was also first to cross the line in a later race. This was in an A5-graded 525 which saw the black dog, owned in Shannon by Peter Russell, come away fast from trap one and lead all the way for his 29.06 win, beating Chocolate Run by two lengths. Beaten a neck into third place was the Donal Cooney-trained Varra Polly.
Placed in their races were the Donie Duggan-trained Donoughmore Las, Joe Collins-trained Rabbits Colin and Avocan trained by Maurice Mullanney, Gort.
Leading from the second bend, Kilcuala Hondo (Hondo Black-OldinnBetty) won the final of the Limerick and Clare GOBA A5 over 525 yards in Limerick on Saturday night. The 6/4 favourite in trap six then went clear to win by six lengths in 29.02 from the 7/4 favourite, Orlas Treasure. The winner is owned and trained by Michael O’Dowd, Andkyle, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Runners up in their races were Cragaknock Sonia (John O’ Kelly, Mullagh), Young John, trained by Stephen Murray for Ennis owner Frankie Sheehan, Fernpark Phanter (Anna Carey, Cooraclare) and Contentious (Tom Flanagan, Ennistymon).
Cooraclare owner, Tony Cusack, is having a nice run of luck with his Rabbits Conor at the Limerick track. Twice a winner here, he struck again at the same venue on Monday night, winning a semi-final heat of the Limerick and Clare GOBA A3 over 525 yards. The fawn son of Vans Escalade-Bodyshop Nikita just got there in a tight finish to beat Masterkey by a neck in a good 28.91. Third home was Mad For Money, trained by Bernard Coffey for John Whelan, Sixmilebridge.
Runner-up in the second semi-final of the same event was John O’Kelly’s Cragaknock Shaw who was beaten a length-and-a-half by Hay Lucky Reem, the 28.77 winner.
In another Limerick-Clare GOBA semi-final, this time an A1-graded 525, Rallying Raider was a 29.15 winner for trainer Denis O’Maley and owner, Dan Flynn, Meelick.
The son of College Causeway-Lehal Moment came with a renewed effort in the closing stages to beat Adamant Odysscus by half a length in an impresive28.85. Beaten a head into third place was O’Garney Rock, again trained by Bernard Coffey and owned by his wife, Mrs Helen Coffey.
On this Friday night the Limerick stadium has a fundraiser in aid of St Joseph’s Foundation. It will be a 13 race sponsored programme and weigh in will be slightly earlier from 6.35pm to 7.10pm.
On Saturday night Limerick has a fundraiser for Na Pairsaigh GAA Youth Development Fund as well as two semi-finals of the Ladbrokes.com Derby trial stake and the semi-finals of the Emly GAA D4 750.
The finals of the Limerick-Clare GOBA A3 525, A1 525 and A3 600 will be on the card in Limerick on Monday night as will semi-finals of the Limerick and Clare GOBA A1 575 (no backgraders) and A5 550.
Limerick has a sale on Tuesday next, July 10 with 75 lots on the catalogue. Breakfast will be served and the first trial will be at 9.30am.

 

Banner four in traps for final

Four Clare owned runners qualified from semi-final heats of the Murphy Commercials A2 and A3 525 Stakes in Galway on Friday night.
In the first semi-final heat of the A2 event the Pat Conway trained Rubber Bandit led all the way to beat Donie Duggan’s Knoppogue Kate by a length. The time was 29.12.
The clock stopped at 29.06 for the Seamus Fahy trained Bit View Kenny in winning the second semi-final heat.
Miltown Malbay owner, Michael O’ Brien, won the first semi-final heat of the A3 stake with Knockdine Black in trap two. He was fast away with County Hurlers and Unknown Tornado but managed to slip through at the opening bend for a one-length lead.
Nearing halfway he had gone into a two-length lead but he was then joined and passed by Kildalon Rapid. But as they turned for home Knockdine Black (Hondo Black-Fastaway Baby) came again and got up near the line to win by a length in 29.26.
The fastest winner was the Peter Connolly owned Sellout Skip (Droopys Kewell-Coldwar Baby) in heat two. Racing down the back he was three lengths in front but swung wide off the home bend. Nonetheless he went on to win by a length-and-a-half in 29.01 from the Ennis-owned Cahercalla Risk (Sean J Heeney and Tony Quinn). Third spot was filled by Tommie Gallagher’s Good Slick.
Reserve runner, Summerfield Lily, owned by the Girls syndicate in Kinvara, was runner in the first race of the night, an S9-graded sprint that went to Dilly Patch in 19.61.
The evergreen Cappola Savings was a trap six runner in the next race, an A6-graded 525, but his connections had to be satisfied with third place after their black and white got a hefty bump at the opening bend. Broadmill Craigue was the opening bend leader from the Ballyvaughan owned Glenfort Fantasy. The leader was three lengths to the good down the back but as they came nearer the home bend Brigid Darcy’s Glenfort Fantasy (Premier Fantasy-Glenfort Rumble) came with a strong run out wide and went clear to gain a 29.47 win, nearly four lengths in front of Broadmill Craigue, also owned by the Girls Syndicate from Kinvara.
Breda Be Slick, owned by Tommie Gallagher, Cooraclare, was third home in an A5-graded 550 won by Tyrur Layota in 30.77.
Trainer Michael Enright and owner Pat Hogan from near Ennis were back again for another win, this time with Aulton Ron. The son of Droopys Scolari-Loclar Cia led all the way in this S3-graded sprint, having led at the opening bend by two lengths. His winning margin was nearly three lengths in 19.13 froim Acert.
Dromoher Snoopy, owned near Ennistymon by Megan Flanagan, was the early leader in an A4-graded 550 but finished third in the race won by Cosmic Spartan in 30.83.

George wins for Bogey Boys

Trainer John Browne from Ballyea and owners, The Bogey Boys syndicate from Ballyhaunis were the big winners in Galway on Thursday night with their Brickhill George winning the final of the Online Bookings A5 525 worth €870 to the winner.
From the start both Tyrur Ella, in four, and Brickhill George, in three, were well away with the eventual winner going a length clear at the first and extending that lead to four down the back. The son of Head Bound-Loughanboy Molly was moving well but he allowed Tyrur Ella back into the reckoning after going wide at the home bend. However, he had enough in reserve to win by three parts of a length in 29.37. Back a length, for third place, was Starlight Kevin owned in Shannon by Thomas and Niall O’Sullivan.
Sixmilebridge trainer Stephen Murray had a good start to the night after Jasons Canty, which he handles for Noel Power, Tralee, won the first race of the night, an S9-graded 350. In his first outing the son of Head Bound-Kiwi Pearl made up ground on the inside at the opening bend; went clear down the back and came home a three-and-a-half-lengths winner in 19.53.
After being runner-up in his last two races, Ballycasey Star recorded a win for Shannon owner, Don Gallery, in an A6-graded 525. Taking the lead by a length at the first bend, the son of Hondo Black-Money GoLukcy had a two lengths advantage down the back. Steragel Mine, owned by Brendan Carroll, Newmarket-on-Fergus, then moved into second place but Ballycasey drew clear again at the third bend to win by four lengths in 29.45.
Templemaley owner, Pat Hogan is featuring lately with his Aulton dogs and Aulton Enda provided him with another win on Thursday night in an A7-graded 525. Leading by a length at the first bend, the son of Droopys Scolari-Loclar Cia, was then challenged by Robeen Hawk who moved into second place and drew alongside the leader at the third bend. Up the straight there was nothing between them but the Michael Enright-trained Aulton Enda came out best to snatch the race by three parts of a length in 30.15.
Unknown Buzz won his fifth career win for Cork owner, Tony Hegarty in an A4-graded 525 when holding off the strong finish by the West Clare-owned Ballyegan lad (Anne McInerney) to win by a length-and-a-half in 29.70.
Roo Sory, owned by TJ McMahon was third in an A5-graded 525 won by Sarges Kate in 30.03.

Burnpark Dolly wins in style

One of the most impressive winners in Galway on Saturday night was was Burnpark Dolly owned in West Clare by Mrs. Maria Browne.
The 29.19 winner of the A5-graded 525 was the front runner to the opening bend ahead of the Ennis-owned Wooly Spiral and Grenanstown Ama.The fawn daughter of Burnpark Champ-Burnpark Cuckoo really started to motor down the far side and raced clear of the rest to win by seven lengths from Grenanstown Ama.
Gort trainer Maurice Mullaney had the honour of putting the first winner of the night to traps. Black Brutis in trap one obliged in the A9-graded 525 after taking the lead at the opening bend where Tubbertelly Joy was forced wide.
Owned by a syndicate from Woodlawn, Black Brutis had the remainder of the race to himself and came home a big 12-and-a-half-lengths winner in 29.76 from Tubbertelly Joy with the Clare-owned Ardboula Hawk (Mrs Mary Murphy) taking third spot.
Mine Ruso, the 5/4 favourite, obliged for Quin-based owner and trainer, Frank Browne, in race two which was an S8-graded sprint. Micks Blesing in two was first to show but he was soon joined by Mine Ruso in one. The son of Ballymac Ruso-Jumeirah Jess opened up an early lead of two lengths but was joined by the wide running That Lad There (trap six) when rounding the opening bend.
There was a great battle between them as they raced up the straight with Mine Ruso just getting there by a neck in 19.83 from That Lad There, trained by Shane Flanagan, Ennis for members of the Hey You Sir syndicate from Ennis.
Clare owners provided the first three home in an S7-graded sprint. Fastest away was the Michael Davoren (Ennistymon) owned Wilbrook Jake in trap followed very closely by Triggs of Inagh. Rounding the first bend Wilbrook Jake went on and remained the front runner for the rest of the trip.
The son of Ciaras Castle-Missourri Dame, who was 6/4 favourite, had a winning distance of two and a half lengths in 19.53. Runner-up was Aisling Arthur’s Triggs of Inagh and third place went to JJ O’Dea’s Derrylough Boy.
Boherash Torpedo (Hades Rocket-Boherash Charity) was also 6/4 favourite for an A7 graded 525. In second place down the back, he gradually moved to the number one spot and once there held a tight grip on the race to win by seven lengths in 29.70 for owner, Frank Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Mrs Helen Coffey from near Sixmilebridge won another sprint race for S4 grade runners with O’Garney Mavis in trap one. The fawn daughter of Ballymac Maeve-O’Garney Pearl broke well from trap one to open up lead of one length on the Ballyvaughan-owned Pinnacle Roxcy who went a little wide in the run to the bend.
With trouble among the chasing pack, O’Garney Mavis went on about her business to win by two and three parts of a length in 19.22 from Pinnacle Roxy (Michael Costelloe and Douglas Cuilligan).
On a fairly rewarding night for the Clare contingent, the Donal Cooney trained Glenside Evens (Kinloch Brae-Minnies Svetlana) came out tops in an A4-graded 525.
He went a few lengths in front after the first bend but started to come back towards the rest of the field as they rounded the home bend. He stayed in front, however, to win by nearly two lengths in 29.24 from the Frank Browne-trained and Mary Browne-owned Mine Hazel.
Clonmore Duke, owned in Ballynacally by Mrs Mary Kennedy, was third in an A5-graded 525.

Jeru Cavendish stripped of €80,000 Irish Cup title

After months of rumour and speculation, the West Clare owned Jeru Cavendish has been disqualified as winner of the Irish Cup at Patrickswell earlier this year.
The Irish Coursing Club announced that tests from the Irish Greyhound Laboratory revealed that the winner tested positive for the substances, ephedrine and phenypropanolamine while competing at the Irish Cup meeting on February 26.
A meeting of the hearing committee, appointed by the Executive Committee of the ICC, found the connections of Jeru Cavendish to being in breach of Rule 88 and ordered the forfeiture of the €80,000 prize money and trophies.
Irish Cup runner-up, Killimor Matey, trained by Jerry Holian for Michael Ryan, Johnstown, was promoted winner of the 2012 Irish Cup.
Jeru Cavendish is under the guardianship of John O’Donoghue and trained by John Browne.
Reports circulating this week indicate that the Irish Cup will no longer be run at the Limerick racecourse. It was stated that the ICC feel that this venue is no longer suitable.
ICC chief executive, DJ Histon, is quoted as saying no discussions have been concluded on where the event will be held next year. They would have to make a decision before their annual general meeting on August 8.

Coursing loss

Jimmy O’ Dea, Tullabrack, Cooraclare, who died suddenly at his home on Monday last, was a life long working member of the South Clare Coursing Club.
A club member said that even though Jimmy was 86, he was still very much involved in the club and would be a great loss. He was a great servant to the club since he was a teenager.
Also very much interested in horses, Jimmy was out and about at the time of his death and attended the West Clare Show in Tullabrack two days prior to that.
Reposing was at his residence on Thursday and removal was on Friday morning to St Senan’s church, Cooraclare. There were large and representative attendances on both days and members of West Clare Show Committee and the South Clare Coursing Club provided a guard of honour on Friday. The funeral took place to Breaffa cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Molly; family members Mary, Martin, Lourda and James; brother, Martie; sister Mary (Fennell); sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.