Clare owners dominate Galway with two doubles

CORGRIGG Harry was the first of a total of 11 Clare-owned winners at the Galway Greyhound Stadium over the weekend. Into the bargain, Ballyea-based trainer, John Browne sent out two winners at the same venue on Thursday night and Quin trainer, Frank Browne repeated that effort with another double on Saturday night.
Declan Browne, Ennis, also a member of the Cree family who have the Burnpark prefix, started the ball rolling on Thursday night with the Kieran Browne-trained Corgrigg Harry. In the first race of the night, an A8 graded 525, the son of Catunda Harry-Rathmeehan Angel, bred by John Browne, came away smartly from trap three to set up a two-length lead at the opening bend, where there was bunching among the outside runners. The winner extended his lead to six lengths down the back but nearer home he was begining to give ground to Glenfort Dusk. However, he held out to beat Brigid D’Arcy’s black bitch by one and a half lengths. His time was 29.90.
Early leader, Quick Bare, owned by James Ryan, Loughrea, railed well to win an S9 graded 350 yards race by three parts of a length in 19.87 from Fast Fit Jack, owned by John Quinn, Gort. Ballyea Impact, owned by Noel Gavin, was beaten by a neck into third place.
Ennis owners, Sean Heeney and Tony Quinn, were also among the Galway winners after their Cahercalla Risk was first across the line in an A7 graded 525. Both the winner in trap six and and the reserve runner, Moya Mae, in one were best away with the latter holding the advantage at the opening bend. Bumblebee Harry in four made ground over the final two bends but as they turned for home it was the Ennis-owned Cahercalla Risk (Scarty Lad-Risk Everything) who was the one to beat and he raced on for a two and a half length success in a time of 29.74 from Bumblebee Harry. The Donie Duggan-trained and Kay Lynch-owned Moya Mae was beaten by a neck into third place.
Ballyea trainer John Browne had the first part of his double in race four, a sprint affair for S2 grades. After an even break it was the John Browne-trained Brickhill Frank who was the first to go in front. At the opening bend he had stormed into a two-length lead from Revenue Star. As the race progressed, Brickhill Frank stayed on top and the son of Ballymac Maeve-Rathmeehan Maura, owned by the Bogey Boys syndicate from Ballyhaunus, had a length to spare at the finish from Dromoher Joe. The time was 19.28.
The Ballyea trainer did not have long to wait for the second part of his double as Brickhill Pavel, also owned by the Bogey Boys syndicate, won the following race, an A6 graded 525. Fast away from trap four and always in the lead, the son of Royal Impact-Loughanboy Molly was a few lengths to the good down the back and while there was a stronger challenge to his lead on the way home, he had two and a quarter lengths to spare at the finishing line. His clock was 29.95.
Earth Stap Gone (trap six) made for the inside slot at the opening bend in an A3 graded 525 and the Borrisokane-owned son of Crash and Orla’s Own was clear racing down the back ahead of Dangan Dynamo. Staying on well, the Vincent McKenna-trained Earth Stap Gone won by three lengths from Dangan Dynamo in 29.07. In third place was Drimeen Brownie, trained by John Browne for Noel Coote, Ennis.
Ebony Blitz, trained by Frank Browne for the Murphy Agri syndicate, Kinvara, was always in second place in an A2 graded 525 and was beaten by two and a half lengths by the 29.13 winner, Tyrur Crowley.

Holly Wood wins

CRATLOE owner, Pat Carey, was rewarded with a win at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Friday night when his Holly Wood was victorious in the final of the Chudleys/Fast Trap Foods A3 575.
Drawn in trap three, Holly Wood took the early lead in the centre of the track. He was trailed by the Kilrush-owned Wood Crash and the Martin Fahy-trained Bellaghy Twink in the long run to the opening bend. Still in front at the bend, the eventual winner was two lengths clear turning down the back, at which stage the Doon-owned Faithful Man was continuing to improve his position. It was now a race between the two of them as they made their way to the second-last bend but turning for home Holly Wood was in control and the black son of Hondo Black-Cabin Rose ran on to win the final by two and a half lengths from Faithful Man. The winning time was 31.84. The other big race on the card, the final of the St Thomas GAA A4 event, was won in a time of 29.49 by Shane Dervan’s On That Jarug.
The Clare-owned Derrew Milly (James Murphy, Ennis) won the first race on the card, a 350-yard sprint, in a time of 19.41. From a long way out it looked like a battle between the winner and Tobair Mna but in the concluding stages Viper Castle (Michael Clancy, Kilrush) came into the reckoning and with the three of them lined across the track, it was going to be a tremendous finish. Derrew Milly (Crash-Cathy Ann) was the one to succeed by a neck from Tobair Mna. A neck back for third spot was Viper Castle.
Kilmaley owner-trainer Johnny Maher also joined the list of Friday-night winners with his Clonfeigh Dream, a newcomer to the scene, in an A9 graded 525. After the traps lifted, reserve runner Outback Rodney in trap two raced into a one-length lead from Clonfeigh Dream. However, as they progressed to the halfway stage, Clonfeigh Dream edged out in front and by the time they had turned for home, the fawn daughter of Catunda Harry-Clonfeigh Nikita had slipped into a nice lead to win by almost three lengths in a time of 29.76 for her maiden race. Outback Rodney took the runner-up place and third was Sean Hehir’s Dunsallagh Lisa.
In an S7 graded 350 race, Caislean Seabhac led at the opening bend from the wide running Capturethedream, owned in Kilmihil by Martin J Keane. This was the way they finished, Caislean Seabhac winning by two lengths in 10.48.
Barrybeg Locker, owned and trained in Gort by Maurice Mullanney, was placed third in an A4 graded 525 won in 29.17 by the Seamus Fahy-trained Amy’s Boy.
Wilbrook Man was back in the winners’ arena for Ennistymon owner, Mary Davoren after the outcome of an S5 graded 350. Pinned on the inside approaching the opening bend, the son of Prince Monalulu-Missouri Dame (trap one) availed of the opportunity when the dog in front of him went wide. Going clear on the inside, the Ennistymon-owned black raced on for a 19.79 win, finishing nearly four lengths in front of Nine Minus Two, trained by Darryl Hopper for the Nine Minus Two syndicate from Clarecastle.
Inagh owner, Noel Hehir, was back on the winning trail with his Blue Ivy Hill, who was the joint 6/4 favoruite with Group Expert for the A5 graded 550. The Thurles-owned Thanksgiving (trap four) was the front runner from the start and by the time he reached the opening bend, he had four lengths on his rivals. He had increased it to six lengths at the halfway stage but by now Blue Ivy Hill (trap two) was showing signs of being back in form. He strode on beautifully to catch the leader at the home turn and the son of Shelbourne Aston-Inagh Spice went on to take control of matters and win the race by two and a quarter lengths in 30.84 from Group Expert.
The Stephen Murray-trained Jason’s Hawk and Tyrur Hernandez dominated the early stages of an A2 graded 550 but on the run home the Crecora-owned Christys Ace got on top to win the race by a length and a quarter in 30.71 from Jason’s Hawk, owned by Ned Power, Ballyduff.

Worth the long wait

IT was late in the night when the double came but as far as Quin trainer, Frank Browne, was concerned it was well worth the wait. He was more than delighted after landing the last two races on the card with litter companions, Tommys Tippy and Mine Chariot.
The final race on the card was the top graded A2 over 525 yards and the bookmakers had the Borrisokane-owned Killea Fancy on the boards as the even-money favourite.
When the traps lifted, the Frank Browne owned and trained Mine Chariot was off to the proverbial flyer from trap four. Racing to the opening bend he was challenged by Tyrur Feeney (trap six) and Another Fantasy (trap one) but once they negotiated the bend, a Mine Chariot race looked very much on the cards. The son of Hades Rocket and Jumeirah Jess was two lengths clear at the halfway stage but he went slightly wide off the home turn and finally had only a neck to spare for his 29.15 win from Another Fantasy. Two and a half lengths back for third spot was Tyrur Feeney.
Tommys Tippy, owned in Quin by Tommy Corbett and Pat Hassett, initiated the double for Frank Browne when running from trap one in an A3 graded 525. After an even break Tommys Tippy, a litter sister of Mine Chariot, got in front by one length at the opening bend to avoid bunching behind him. By the halfway mark he had five lengths on his nearest rival and while Goforitjohney, owned by Liam Shannon, Ballynacally, got nearer by the time they reached the finishing line,Tommys Tippy still had two and a half lengths to spare.For his ninth career sucess, Tommys Tippy had a clock of 29.25.
Sunside Dawn and Killeany Tom disputed the lead along the inside with Viper Hide tracking them in third spot in the opening race on the card, an S6 graded 350. Killeany Tom (Ningbo Jack-Corrib Star) went to the front on the outer at the opening bend and raced on to beat Sunside Dawn (Michael McDermott,Kilrush) by two and a half lengths in a time of 19.18. Michael Clancy’s Viper Hider was third home.
North Clare owner, Liam Shannon from the Burren won the next race, an A4 graded 525 with Hold It Jo in trap four. A trap-to-line winner, the son of Hades Rocket-Glenfort Rumble led by a length rounding the opening bend, extended his lead to four lengths by the halfway mark and at the finish had two and a quarter lengths on the reserve runner, Chrisola, trained by Frank Browne for Michael Browne, Quin and John Moran. His clock was 29.29. Third spot was filled by another reserve runner, Glenbrack Paul, owned in Kinvara by Billy Kilroy.
Larisco Tina was the 30.16 winner of an A4 graded 525 in which Zoning Money, owned in Ennis by Tony Quinn and Sean Heeney, was third.
Also third home in his race was Gorfortitblack, owned by Liam Shannon, Ballynacally, while the 29.13 winner of the A7 graded 525 was the Tuam-owned Pawnee Smoke.
Sellout Fast Fit, owned by Peter Connolly and John Quinn, Gort, led for most of the way in an A5 graded 525 but from the third bend reserve runner, Outback Kirsty, started to make inroads to hit the front at the home turn to win by two and a quarter lengths in a time of 29.19. Sellout Fast Fit was runner-up.
Before the night’s racing concluded, West Clare owner, TJ McMahon, led his Bodyshop Legacy to the winners’ arena. This was an A6 graded 525 yards affair, which saw Brave Bally in trap four just shade it from Bodyshop Legacy in five with Coolarne Hero, trap one, in third position rounding the opening bend. Turning down the back Bodyshop Legacy went clear of his rivals, who crowded behind and exiting the back, the son of Bodyshop Spiral and Greygrove Legacy led by six lengths. While Coolarne Hero stayed on well, he was still two lengths behind Bodyshop Legacy at the line. The winner’s clock was in 29.46.
Just before Frank Browne recorded his double, Gort owner Sinéad Lawlor had a winner with the Jack Mahony-trained World Cup Wonder in an A4 graded 550. In the long run to the opening bend the Ennis and Kilmaley-owned Colossal Man and World Cup Wonder raced stride for stride with the former railing well to go a length in front at the opening bend. However, coming to the third bend the Sinéad Lawlor-owned World Cup Wonder switched inside Colossal Man to take the lead and hold out to win by half a length from Colossal Man in a time of 30.70. Somebody Special, trained by Noel Mullins for the Rooster syndicate, Scariff, was third.

Money Go Easy qualifies

MONEY Go Easy, trained by Bernard Coffey, Sixmilebridge for Limerick owner, Patrick Noonan, has qualified for the semi-final heats of the €9,200 Liberty Mutal A1 600 at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium this Friday night.
The daughter of Droopys Maldini-Money Go Lucky was among the qualifiers from second-round heats in Limerick last Friday night. She finished third in heat one, which was won by the Seamus Graham-trained Pennylane Jedar in 32.70. Heat two went to the Neilus O’Connell-trained Cubic Depression (32.98), while the County Kilkenny-owned Lemon Bell was the fastest qualifier with a clock of 32.21. The final heat produced a 32.98 winner in Cherrygrove Cool.
On the same night, O’Briensbridge owner, Briget Casey, had a winner with Shyladee Lass (College Causeway-Lass Kewell) in the eighth race on the card, an A1 graded 525. Starting well from trap one, the black bitch recorded a trap-to-line win with a time of 28.71, the fastest of the night. She won by four lengths from the Pat Conway-trained Call Me Bullet, with Tony Daffy’s Inch Gunner a length and a half back for third.
In an earlier race, Calling Belle, trained by Mick Downes for the Vodka and Pajamas Syndicate from Ennis, was runner-up to Bunoke Rumble, the three lengths and 29.19 winner of an A3 graded 525.
Shannon owners, Thomas and Niall O’ Sullivan, will be represented in the final of the €2,500 Ivan’s Caherdavin A5 525 in Limerick next Saturday night.
Their Starlight Miller (Top Honcho-Starlight Josie) in trap three won the first semi-final heat last Saturday night with a good 28.95 clock. He came storming through on the back straight to take the lead at the third and go to to win by five lengths. The Knockaderry-owned Lissidale Hawk (Westmead Hawk-Garbally Daisy) was the 29.09 winner of the second semi-final heat.

O’Briensbridge double

IT was also a good night for O’Briensbridge owner, Mary Crotty and her trip across the Shannon was worthwhile after recording a nice double.
Her Inislosky Swift (Kinloch Brae-Turbo Flight) had a trap one draw in an A4 graded 525 yards race and she dominated from start to finish to win by one and a half lengths with a clock of 29.16.
Her Inislosky Pinny (Kinlock Brae-Pinnyday Lucy) was in action four races later in an A2 graded 550. She had a trap three draw and also went about her business in a similar way to Inislosky Swift, leading all the way to win by four and a half lengths in 29.88.
The Ivan’s Caherdavin A5 525 final will be the feature race in Limerick on Saturday night, which will be a fundraiser in aid of Na Piarsaigh GAA.
Racing manager Liam Kennedy said Limerick will have an additional race meeting on Monday, September 5, due to the volume of entries in the track pool.
There are 90 entries on the catalogue for the sale in Limerick n Tuesday. The first trial will be at 9.30am.

Uncle Eoin out

THE exertions of winning a great final of the Champion Stakes recently finally took its toll when Uncle Eoin bowed out of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby in Shelbourne Park last Saturday night.
He was the big casualty of the night when beaten in a third-round heat. Owned by Clare-born jockey, Kieren Fallon and trainer, James Robinson, he finished fifth in his heat after being impeded at the third bend. The Essex-owned Rochchase Bullet won the heat in 29.61.