Clare owners double up wins

The festival of racing continued at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Thursday night when two of the finals on the card went to Clare owners, Pat Hogan from Templemaley, Ennis and Michael O’Brien from Miltown Malbay.
A winner at this venue last week, Aulton Percy, owned by Pat Hogan, followed up with another impressive run in the Flaherty Market A6 mini stake final, the first race on the card. 
As the traps rose, Aulton Percy, running from trap 6, was smartly into his stride and showing pace outside led by a length from Smithstown Mick, owned in Shannon by Albert Burke, rounding the opening bend.
Extending his advantage to three lengths passing halfway the son of Westmead Hawk -Newbridge Jewel maintained the tempo all the way home to justify strong support in the ring in a winning time of 29.47. 
The runner-up was the 5/2 chance, Tarquynn Bluey, who won his semi-final heat for owner Dermot McInerney, Hurlers Cross, Clonmoney, near Shannon.
Michael O’Brien, Miltown Malbay, had to wait until the ninth race, the Flaherty Markets A5 final, for his big moment. 
Winner of three of her last four outings at the College Road venue, Knockdine Black was a 3/1 chance and was drawn in trap one. The son of Hondo Black-Fastaway Baby got a good break and, like Aulton Percy, took up the running from the first bend to lead by two lengths from Thanksgiving and Windfield Lass.
Racing along the back straight, Knockdine Black was closely attended to by Thanksgiving on his outside but with that rival running slightly wide off the home turn, the Michael O’Brien runner stayed on well to score by two lengths in 29.53.
As they crossed the finishing line, the Miltown Malbay black had two lengths on Tyrur Paudi, the 5/4 favourite. The time was 29.53.
The Banner roar could be heard again in the closing stages of the last race on the card, the Donkey Derby Bumper 525.
Sparrows Monty (4/6) in trap two and Tyrur Julie (6/4) in three were the fancied runners. Tyrur Julie got baulked at the opening bend, Sparrows Monty got into a leading position at the second and motored on for a two and a half lengths win for  GAA personality Ger O’Loughlin in a time of 29.89. The runner-up was Bound To Follow.
Carhugar Bobsie, the March 2006 brindled who has given great service to trainer Mick Downes and owners, the Clare Connection syndicate from Quin, including former race horse trainer Donie Hassett, advanced to the final of the Race Week Veterans event. 
In the third and final heat of the stake, Carhugar Bobsie, in trap four, broke well in company with Dan Thenavigator with On Thaw Jarug just tucked in behind them approaching the opening bend.
Turning down the back Dan Thenavigator led by two lengths from Carhugar Bobsie and the Seamus Fahy-trained, Frank Malone-owned Dan Thenavigator (Honcho Classic-Diva Mallog) found more to win in 29.25.
The other semi-final winners were Penny Pinza (29.41) and Pochie of Aus (29.56).
There were two Clare-owned runners in the Donkey Derby A4 race over 525 yards but they had to be satisfied with minor placings.
Leading from the opening bend, Ballyboro Boy won the race by three-and-three-parts of a length in 29.35 from Hold It Jo, owned by Liam Shannon from the Burren. Two lengths further back in third place was O Garney Rock, trained by Bernard Coffey, Oatfield, Sixmilebridge, for his wife, Helen.

Lismadine Jack shows the way

The Carrigaholt-owned Lismadine Jack (Droopys Vieri-Clonreddan Tina)  was the winner of the first of four first-round heats of the Pearse Piggott Memorial A2 over 525 yards in Galway on Friday night.
Sent off the 4/5 favourite for owners Paddy Troy and Conor McCarthy, Lisamadine Jack was hampered at the opening bend after the early leader Nebraska West moved slightly off the rail.
Passing halfway, reserve runner Tintreach Wolf still led by two lengths but turning for home Lismadine Jack struck the front on the outer and quickly asserted to score by two-and-a-half lengths in 29.44.
Manus Snowdrop, owned by Siofra McInerney, Clarecastle, took third place.
The fastest clock was recorded in heat two when the Pat Conway-trained and Mungret-owned Rubber Bandit came home in a superb time of 28.98. The 5/4 favourite led the way from the opening bend and got to the line five lengths in front of Cragbrien Hondo, owned by Martin Cronin and Jack Markham from Ennis. Third place went to Master Slick for owner-trainer Tommie Gallagher, Cooraclare.
The clock stopped at 29.34 for heat three winner, the Seamus Fahy-trained Ezjohn (Crash-Ezgirlz), who beat Killea Fancy by a length and a quarter. Ballynacally owner Liam Shannon was third with Goforitjohney.
Reserve runner Toorphelim Lad was the 29.39 winner of the final heat from Glenfort Lee, trained by John McDonagh for Gina McDonagh, Kinvara. The winning distance was two and a half lengths.
Roy of Inagh, owned by Sean Arthur, Inagh, was always second in the opening race of the night and was beaten six lengths by Tyrur Rory, whose clock for the A6-graded 525 was 29.43.
As the field raced towards the opening bend the PJ Fahy-owned Tyrur Rory (Hades Rocket-Tyrur Alyssa) showed pace towards the outside to lead round the opening bend by a couple of lengths from Roy Of Inagh. Turning down the back straight the Conor Fahy-trained runner began to stretch into a clear lead and as he exited the back straight, Tyrur Rory was well clear of his rivals.
Bumped at the fifth bend, reserve runner Inagh Hydrogen, the property of Michael McGuane, finished third in a 700-yard race won by Brickhill Dunk, owned by the Bogey Boys syndicate from Ballyhaunis in a time of 39.76.
Ballyea native Albert Long collected the spoils in a Novice 700 contest with Brickhill Dunk.
As the traps rose both Bumblebee Bingo and Brickhill Dunk were best away, with Brickhill Dunk taking command turning up the home straight first time. Heading out on their final circuit the Bogey Boys Syndicate-owned Brickhill Dunk (Royal Impact-Loughanboy Molly) led by four lengths and although Bumblebee Bingo briefly looked a threat approaching the penultimate corner, the Albert Long-trained Brickhill Dunk stayed on well to score by three lengths in 39.76.

Majestic final for Mine Hazel

The final of the Oran Majestic A3 event over 525 yards produced one of the big upsets of the night in Galway on Saturday when the honours went to one of the outsiders, Mine Hazel, trained by Frank Browne, Quin, for his wife, Mary.
Premiere Delight, owned by Martin Keane, Kilmihil, was the 4/5 favourite in trap four but racing towards the opening bend, Jumeirah Joe led the favourite by a length, with Christys Bell in third place.
Turning down the back, both Jumeirah Joe and Premier Delight were locked in combat as Christys Bell began to close from the rear. Approaching the third bend, Christys Bell went for a gap on the rail, which was shut in his face but the front two were also hampered slightly and this allowed the Mary Browne-owned Mine Hazel (Hades Rocket-Jumeirah Jess) to strike the front and she went clear for a two and a half lengths win over Jumeirah Joe in 29.36.
The Pat Curtin trained and owned Eves Aston was third.
In first round heats of the Chudleys Fast Trap Supplies A3 575, Kilcorcoran  Manu (Ace Hi Rumble- Ballard Nikita), owned by Conor Cleary, Miltown Malbay, finished strongly to take the lead near home and win the opening heat by a length and a half in 31.95.
Trap two runner Holly Wood showed pace along the inner on the long run towards the opening bend to lead round by two lengths from Varra Bruno, with Kilcorcoran Manu in third place turning down the far side.
Passing halfway, Holly Wood led by two lengths but his rivals began to close on either side exiting the back straight. Turning for home the trio were lined across the track and as they raced for the line it was Kilcorcoran Manu who stayed on best to defeat Varra Bruno by a length and a quarter in 31.95.
The runner-up is trained in Killuran, O’Callaghan’s Mills by Donal Cooney for owners Carina Roseingrave and Conor Cooney. Third place went to Holly Wood, owned by Pat Carey, Cratloe.
West Clare owners Carl Maguire, Kilrush and Adrian Ennis won heat two with Wood Crash (Crash-Ashcarne Blondie) who also got in front near the finishing line for a 32.41 win. Third home was World Cup Wonder (Sinéad Lawlor, Gort).
Old Fort Dynamo was away well on the outside in this heat and he led by a length from World Cup Wonder rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back, Old Fort Dynamo was still holding the call from World Cup Wonder but the pack were beginning to close approaching the home bend.
Turning for home, Old Fort Dynamo looked set to score but Wood Crash swept through in the centre of the track to get up for a head success in 32.41.
In heat number three all six runners were covered by less than two lengths approaching the opening bend, where the trap four runner Faithfull Ranger took over in front and led Paradise Aruba by two lengths racing down the back straight.
Approaching the third bend Paradise Aruba (Head Bound-Paradise Alana), owned by Sean Meade of Miltown Malbay, moved to the front along the inside and although Clonkelly Tiger briefly looked a threat, Paradise Aruba scored by one and three-quarters of a lengths in 31.76.
Fergus Come Home, owned by Jimmy McLoughlin, Shannon, was runner-up to the 29.36 and two and a half lengths winner, Earth Stat Gone, in an earlier 525 yards race.

150 for Ladbrokes.com Derby

Ennis native and Cayman Islands resident Bryan Murphy will send four dogs to traps for this year’s Ladbrokes.com Irish Greyhound Derby, the draw for which took place in Shelbourne Park earlier this week. All four will run under his Barefoot prefix.
Shaun Lynch, representing sponsors Ladbrokes, assisted racing manager Declan Carey in making the draw. Among the 150 greyhounds in this, the 79th running of the classic, are the trial stake winners from the 24 trials stakes across Ireland and the UK, including five UK entries.
Of the 25 heats in the first round, six raced on Wednesday night while seven will be staged this Thursday and 12 on Saturday night. Among Saturday night’s runners are last year’s winner Tyrur McGuigan and runner-up Tyrur Big Mike. Owner PJ Fahy and his son and trainer, Conor, have an impressive 18 entries in this year’s competition.
The Ladbrokes Irish Greyhound Derby offers a massive prize fund of €225,000 and is run over a distance of 550yds. The final will be held in Shelbourne Park, Dublin on Saturday, September 10.

Two Limerick winners

Sixmilebridge owner Pat Holland had a winner in Limerick on Saturday night with Luata Gabriella in an S7-graded 350 race.
The son of Judicial Affair-Elbony Dibbie led all the way from trap six for his 19.16 win by six lengths from Sawadee Natt.
Third place went to Trim Gift, owned by Eileen Gallery, Shannon.
There was also a South East Clare winner on the night with Coolready Shaun (Prince Monalulu-Rushaun Spark) obliging for O’Briensbridge owner Billy Murphy in an A3-graded 525.
Challenging down the back, he went in front close to the line to win by three parts of a length in 29.11.