Clare dogs in Ocean Crash finals

Three Clare-owned greyhounds dogs have qualified for the finals of the Ocean Crash Stakes at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium this weekend.
Portdrine Bobby, owned by Liam Carroll, Cratloe is through to the final of the Ocean Crash A3 525 final after winning his semi-final heat last Saturday night. The black son of Hades Rocket- Jumeirah Jess was smartly away from trap four to take the lead early on and stay in front for the rest of the trip. He survived the late challenge by the trap one runner, Renagown Lass, to win by a length and a half. His clock was 29.37.
The Kilmallock owned Soviet Blue (Droopys Vieri-Soviet Cheyenne) won the other semi-final heat by a head from Alisons Star in a fast 28.79, the best clock of the night.
Trap draw for Saturday night’s final: 1. Renagowan Lass; 2. Golden Ring; 3. Portdrine Bobby; 4. Stoney Rebel; 5. Soviet Blue; 6. Alisons Star.
Through to the final of the Ocean Crash Stakes A0 575 final is Yeah Me, owned and trained in Killaloe by Nicola Downes. A reserve runner in trap six, the black dog challenged the front runner over the final two bends but failed to catch the even money favourite, the Jerry Griffin handled St Louis Charlie, winner of the semi-final heat by a length and a half in 31.61 from Yeah Me.
The other semi-finals heats were won by Varra Captain (31.31) and Mohane Misty (31.58) from Socks Rocks and Sellout Skip.
Newmarket-on-Fergus owner, Breda Casey, will be represented in the Ocean Crash Stakes A5 final with Snuggie Boy. A slow starter from trap one in the second semi-final heat last Saturday night, the white and black finished well to take runner up spot, one length behind the Bridie Moore-trained Munster Maulem, the 29.04 winner.
Turbo Dan won the opening semi-final in 28.90 and by three lengths from Tobar Phadraig.
The line up for the final on Saturday night is: 1. Saucy Grow; 2. Munster Maulem; 3. Snuggie, Boy; 4. Kerry Bound; 5. Tobar Phadraig; 6. Turbo Dan.
Also on Saturday night’s card is the Ocean Crash Stakes A2 525 final and among the qualifiers is O Garney Rock, trained by Bernard Coffey for his wife, Mrs Helen Coffey, Sixmilebridge. The trap draw is: 1. Kyle Fire; 2. Mickley Ned; 3. Dapper Dude; 4. O’Garney Rock; 5. Ardfert Jake; 6. New Route.
Lismadine Jack, owned by Paddy Troy from near Kilkee and Conor McInerney, Clarecastle,is drawn in trap five in the Ocean Crash Stakes and Limerick and Clare GOBA A2 graded event.
Three semi-final heats of the Ocean Crash Stakes A6/A7 525 were decided in Limerick on Sunday night.
The 29.80 winner of the opening heat was Evans Dilemma who beat Clonkeen Charlie by one length. Hheat two went to Abbeygold Doll who clocked 29.95 for her length-and-a-half win over Messi Black, trained by Joe Collins for members of the Shanakyle Syndicate while third place was filled by Inislosky Ruso owned by Mary Crotty, O’Briensbridge. The John Nash-trained Seader won the remaining heat by two lengths from Ardant Maeve in 29.52.
Also on Sunday night’s card were two semi-final heats of the Scoil Rince Ui Nuallain A0 525 the first of which was won in a fast 28.84 by the Dunmore-owned Avocan trained in Gort by Maurice Mullanney.
Beaten three lengths into runner up spot was Ballymartin Wok and third home was the reserve runner, Knoppogue Mate, owned and trained by Donie Duggan from near Tulla.
Shaneboy Spencer won the second semi-final heat with the best clock of the night, 28.49, from Liscahane Shaw and Pegdeleg.   
Mad For Money, trained by Bernard Coffey for Sixmilebridge owner, John Whelan, finished third in an A4 graded 525.