Bunny wins for Ballynacally owner

POPULAR Ballynacally owner, Liam Shannon, had a big win at the special Easter Bunny family night at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday when his Goforitjohney was a brilliant 28.85 winner of the Easter Bunny A3 final over 525.
The son of Hondo Black-Knockdrum Lady had a good clock of 28.80 when winning his semi-final heat the previous weekend. On Saturday night, the black was again in blistering form when ideally drawn in his favourite inside trap. Leading early on and showing the way for the remainder of the race, he raced on to win handsomely by five lengths from the locally owned Swift Kateklyn, trained by Denis O’Malley. Also trained by Liam Shannon, Gofoitjophney has also recorded two wins in Galway. He is one of the seven dogs and two bitches from the Hondo Black-Knockdrum Lady litter, the seven dogs have won races, inlcuding a number in Shelbourne Park.
Cluttahina Clare, trained by Bernard Coffey, Sixmilebridge, qualified for the final of the Kudos Creative Caterging A2 Bitch 525 when finishing runner-up in the first semi-final heat. Cluttahina Clare led over the final two bends but was caught near the line by Gotgetembabe who won by a length in 28.71.
Teevee Sparkle won the second semi-final in 29.08.
O’Garney Patch, also trained by Bernard Coffey for his wife, Helen Coffey, was baulked at the third bend and finished down the field in the Betfair Open 600 Trial Stake final won by Rockchase Bullet in 32.42.
Leading from the second bend, Rudi Blue, trained by Darryl Hopper for Cheryl Hopper, Liscannor, was overtaken near the line and beaten three parts of a length by Millbank Jackdan (29.27) in an A4 graded 525.
There were a number of Clare winners at the Limerick track on Friday night.
Ennistymon owners, Thomas O’Connor and Billy O’Connor were first up with Kilcornan Rumble, winner of the fifth race, an A4 grade 525. The son of Ace Hi Rumble-Killonaghan Girl was smartly away from trap five to lead all the way and finish a five-and-a-half-length winner in 29.00 from Mums Girl. Third place was filled by Trefnant Girl trained by Mary Crotty for Terry Roberts, O’Briensbridge.
Clare-owned runners were the first three home in an A3 graded 550. Challenging at the second bend and leading at the third, the trap-one runner, Starlight Miller, owned in Shannon by Thomas O’Sullivan and Niall O’Sullivan, was first over the line with two lengths to spare from another Shannon-owned runner, Cyprus Kate (Albert Burke). Starlight Miller had a clock of 30.45. Third home was Snugborough Gent (Myles Cummins, Newmarket-on-Fergus).
Parteen owner, Tom Fitzgerald, won the following race an S2 graded 350 with his trap-five runner, Ocean Zorro. This was another trap-to-line effort, the son of Royal Impact-Ocean Lucy winning by six lengths in a fast 18.83.
Michael Cooney and PJ Cooney won an A1 graded 550 with Would He Alan (Droopy’s Scolari-Tracy Beaker). The trap-one runner was out in front all the way for his 30.07 and two-and-a-half-length win.
The Ennis-owned She’s a Tornado ended her fine run in the McCarthy Insurance Group Oaks at Cuuraheen Park, Cork, when failing to finish among the first three home in her semi-final heat last Saturday night. Priceless Spark, also trained by Paul Hennessy and owned by Bryan and Kathleen Murphy, the Cayman Islands, won the heat in 28.38 from the Francis Murray-trained Smoke Pixie. In a nail-biting finish, Priceless Spark won by a neck in 28.38. Tailteaan Queen, also trained by Paul Hennessy, was third. She a Tornado was slow away from trap four and never showed.
Tivoli Maebe won the second semi-final in 28.48 from Ballinclare Meg and Lass Cause.

 

Top race for Cooney and Moloney’s Glitter Freeze

EAST Clare owners, Donal Cooney and Rory Moloney, had an impressive win with their Glitter Freeze in the A0 graded feature race in Galway on Saturday night.
Punters who backed the son of Scarty Lad-Ham Ram into 5/4 favourite were not disappointed as he was the front runner all the way for his 29.03 win. He led by two lengths at the opening bend and while Patsy Richardson’s Faithful Man threatened over the final bend, Glitter Freeze shifted up a gear to win by a length and a half.
Knockdine Black, owned by Michael Brien, Miltown Malbay, was well placed for most of the way in one of the chief supporting races, an A3 graded 525. However, at the crown of the home bend, he and the leaders bunched and the Pat Guilfoyle-trained Twosugaralice came through to win the race by a length in 29.48 from Roo Story (TJ McMahon, Moyasta). Knockdine Black was two and a quarter lengths back for third place.
Cratloe owner, Pat Carey, had the first winner of the night with Bart’s Wood (Kinloch Brae-Puckane Lady) who disputed the early lead with Dan’s Dan but went on by a few lengths down the far side. The winner swung wide at the final bend but held out to beat the fast finishing Blue Tarquynn (JDD syndicate, Shannon) for his first win. The winning distance was three parts of a length and the time was 29.42.
Ennistymon owner, Mary Davoren, won the second ace on the card, an S6 graded 350, with Wilbrook Man. The 7/4 favourite broke well with Scottish Deal but at the opening bend, Scottish Deal in the inside lane had the advantage. However, as they turned for home, Wilbrook Man was back challenging for the lead the son of Prince Monalulu- Missouri Dame finished the stronger as they headed for the line to win by a neck in 19.47.
All six came away well in an S4 graded 350 but as they came nearer the opening bend, reserve runner, Outback Delroy, went two lengths clear and remained on to win by two and a quarter lengths in 19.22 from Runway Sally, trained by John Browne for the Rineanna syndicate from Clare. Third placed was Pinnacle Roxy (Michael Costello and Douglas Culligan, Ballyvaughan).
Cratloe owner, Pat Carey, was deprived of a double when his Billie’s Wood was runner-up in an A6 graded 575. The 32.08 winner by a length and a quarter was the Headford-owned Oranmore Bonnie.
Dunsallagh, Miltown Malbay owner Sean Hehir, was well up to continue his run of good luck at the Galway stadium in an S2 graded 350. His Dunsallagh Pride, in trap one, was still the front runner as they turned for home but at the line, McHugh Lass just got in front to win by a neck from Consequential owned by Tom Flanagan, Russa, Ennistymon. Dunsallagh Lass was third home, a length and a quarter back. The time was 19.24.
Ballynacally owner, Mary Kennedy, also had a winner on the night, her Clonmore Duke in trap four winning an A5 graded 525. Fourth at the halfway stage, the son of Hondo Black-Knockdrum Lady got on top at the home turn when slipping past Spiddal Legend and Pierview Blue to win by five lengths in 29.56 from Glenfort Lusk (Brigid d’Arcy, Ballyvaughan). Third placed was Corker Soviet ( Kevin Fahey, Kiltartan).

First ever Good Friday meeting in Galway

GALWAY was among the greyhound stadia, which held their first-ever Good Friday night meeting and the big holiday crowd enjoyed the eleven races on the card.
Pat Be Slick, owned by Tommie Gallagher, Cooraclare, was runner-up in the top race of the night, the A6 final over 550 yards. The Headford Hanover Blaze and Davris Rea disputed the lead early on but by the halfway stage, Hanover Blaze had taken over control to lead by two lengths. The lead was extended to three lengths as he came from the back straight and Pat Be Slick and Davris Ria got in each other’s way as they chased the leader who stayed on to win by two and a quarter lengths in 30.95.
The Seamus Fahy-trained Bit View Kenny (Head Bound-Honchos Trix) won the top-graded race of the night, the A2 graded 525. This was a trap-to-line win for the black, who stormed through for a seven-and-a-half-length win in a good 29.94 from Destroyer, owned in Gort by Master Darren O’Donoghue. Three parts of a length separated him and the third-placed, West Clare-owned Triple Jay (John Conway).
The card also featured three semi-finals of the Easter Eggs A5, the first of which was won by the Hughie Kelegan-owned Wood Enda in 29.45, beating Ballina Rambler by half a length in 29.45. Third home was Hilltop Tomboy (Brendan McDermott, Kilrush).
For the second night on the trot, Ennis owner, Shane Flanagan, Rockmount, had a winner, this time with Her Over There, which he owns with Eilish O’Mahony. Her Over There made all the running from trap four to secure a good 29.21 win, beating Sue’s Princess (Johnny and Aoife Burke, Tubber) by almost five lengths.
In the final heat, Woolly Spiral, owned by John Darcy, Ennis, was third. The 29.04 winner by four and a quarter lengths from Hanover Maeve was Magical Romeo.
Placed in their races were Coolmeen Ruso (PJ O’Halloran and Pat Madigan) and Dromoher Snoopy (Megan Flanagan, Ennistymon).

Rockmount Suarez wins Online heat

THERE were five Clare-owned qualifiers from the six opening-round heats of the Online Bookings A7 525 stake in Galway on Thursday night, including the Ennis-owned Rockmount Suarez, which won heat five.
Sweeping to the front at the third bend, the Pat Conway and Michael O’ Donovan-owned Hold It Habana won the opening heat in 29.47, beating Wood Leo, (Carl Maguire, Killimer and Adrian Ennis, Kilkee) by three and a quarter lengths.
The Athy-owned Swift Una was an impressive 29.15 winner of heat two by almost 10 lengths from Last Flamingo and Pat’s Hero.
Tomeli Export was first to cross the line in heat three with a clock of 29.49 from Organic Kane and Barbersfort Rose.
The Francine Jestin-owned French Blaze registered his first win by winning heat four in 29.58 from Glensaul Alfred and the David Curtin-owned and Claremorris-owned Coolmeen Queen.
Ennis owner-trainer, Shane Flanagan, Rockmount, Ennis and Tomás O’Mahony won heat five with Rockmount Suarez (Royal Impact-Killeigh Cara). Coming away well from trap three, he led from the start and was the front runner all the way to the line to win by almost four lengths in 29.38 from Magical Zara. Third place went to Winterfell (Kevin Ryan, Ennis).
Another trap-to-line winner in the final heat was the Tuam-owned Monagea Becky (29.22) She won by three and a half lengths from the West Clare-owned Burnpark Dolly (Maria Browne) with Manus Classic (Pat McInerney, senior, Manus) taking third spot.
In the top-graded race of the night, Hold It Hades ( Mark Shannon, Burren) was third home. The 29.49 winner of the race was Spiddal Princess.

Limerick sale postponed

THE Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium sale due to take place on Tuesday has been postponed due to lack of entries. Closing date was at noon last Tuesday and  only 45 entries were received by then. Private trials will take place as normal next Tuesday instead.
This Friday, at Limerick, there will be an 11 race graded card, while on Saturday, the final of the Mary Bridget Dunford A1 525 will be staged with €800 and a trophy for the winner.
Limerick will race on Monday and the card will feature the final of the Kudos Creative Catering A2 Bitch 525 with €1,200 and a trophy for the winner.
Limerick’s next major event is the Roches Feeds Limerick Oaks which commences Saturday week, April 21.