Three semi-final heats of the Race Sponsorship A4-graded event at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night resulted in two Clare-owned dogs and one from Gort going through to the final this weekend.

Gort owner-trainer Maurice Mullaney won the opening semi-final heat with Theagenes (Hometown Boy-Inca Queen) in trap five. Prominent from the start was PJ Fahy’s Tyrur Dutchy, who was four lengths clear down the back. At this stage, Theagenes was second placed on the wide outside. Over the final two bends Theagenes closed the gap considerably and in a pulsating finish, just managed to win by a short head in 29.52. Outside the qualifiers in third place was Frank Browne’s Mine Rocket.

The Donie Duggan-trained and Kay Lynch-owned Cragataska Flash qualified in style for the final by winning the second semi-final heat. The pacesetter from the start was the Martin Fahy-trained Haveweanine in trap five and she led Cragataska Flash by three lengths turning down the back but railing well from the third bend the eventual winner made up a lot of ground to come on terms with the leader off the home bend.

The son of Greenwell Storm- Class Time then brushed aside the challenge of Haveweanine to win the race by two-and-a-quarter lengths in a very good 28.89, the best clock of the night.

The third and final semi-final heat went to first-time winner Glass of Guinness, owned by Darragh Lynch, Ballinasloe and trained by Martin Fahy. The winner led by a length in the run to the opening bend but with a whole lot of trouble behind, was well clear by the half-way stage.

She continued to race clear to win by five-and-quarter lengths in 29.21 from Nebraska Gold, owned by Martin Griffin, Caherea.

Owned and trained by Donie Duggan, Knoppogue Green was third in an A3-graded 525 won by the Seamus Fahy-trained Mr Consistent in 29.13.

The Stephen Hegarty-trained Unknown Tornado came in from the reserves to win the concluding A3-graded 525.

The winner and Cragbrien Hondo (Martin Cronin and Jack Markham, Ennis) disputed the early lead but at the half-way point the winner started to dominate and raced on to score a two-and-a-quarter lengths win over Ebony Blitz, owned and trained by Frank Browne, Quin. The time was 29.39. Cragbrien Hondo was beaten a neck into third place.

West Clare owner Thomas Keane, Kilmihil, also made a worthwhile trip to the College Road venue as his first time runner, Glynnscross Chief, came out tops in an A9-graded 525.

Electro Shasha in trap four and Calla Rebel in five were neck and neck to the opening bend but they kept wide as they negotiated the bend to give Glynnscross Chief (trap one) a lovely inside run. By half way, the son of Droopys Scolari-Greygrove Diva had set up a three-length lead.

This lead was further extended before Glynnscoss Chief recorded a fine 29.48 win, nearly nine lengths ahead of his nearest rival.

Breda Be Quick, owned by Cooraclare native Tommie Gallagher, was third in an A5-graded 525 won in 29.26 by Outback Kirsty.

There was a win for Quin in an A6-graded 525 won by Helen Vaughan’s Pearls A Winner (Ballymac Ruso-Elton Michelle). After an even break, Pearls A Winner in trap five got out in front as they approached the opening bend and with crowding behind her, the black bitch was alone as she went through the gears down the far side. At the line she had seven lengths to spare with a clock of 29.99.

 

Top-graded win for Dicks Worldbound

There was just one Clare winner from the card in Galway on Friday night, the honour going to Killaloe trainer Michael Downes and his wife, Janet, with their Dicks Worldbound.

This was in the top graded race of the night, the A1 over 525 yards that saw the trap five runner, Quarter Poet, going off the even-money favourite. When the traps lifted, the early advantage went to the trap three runner Forever Bre, who led by a length from Pat Hogan’s Aulton Ron in trap one. When Aulton Ron moved off the bend, there was trouble on the outside and the advantage then went to Dicks Worldbound in trap two, who surged into the lead. From this until the finish, the son of Head Bound-Teds Miss World held out well to win the race by a length and three quarters in 29.29 from the reserve runner, Whatwillyoudo.

The final of the Food Packages A4 525 went to the the Rynal Ruane-owned Outback Hotchner, who led all the way for his 29.25 win in beating Blenheim Impact by five-and-a-half lengths.Third placed was Corker Maldini, owned by Kevin Fahey, Kiltartan.

The first final of the night was  the Fundraising At The Dogs A5 550, which was won in 30.46 by the Liam Carr-handled Summerfield Bell (Hondo Black-Summerfield Jean).

Mine Ruso, owned in Quin by Frank Browne, was third in in an S6-graded sprint won by Pallasmore Boy in 19.40.

Derrylough Top, owned in Derrylough by JJ O’ Dea and Cranny Coolmeen, carrying the colours of popular Ennis publican Ciaran Browne, are through to the final of the Online Bokings A7 final over 525 yards following the semi-final heats last Friday night.

The first semi-final heat went to the even-money favourite Unknown Wonder, trained by Stephen Hegarty for Tony Hegarty, County Cork. Drawn in trap three, he was best away to lead from Pinnacle Ash, owned by Michael Costelloe, Ballyvaughan. Extending his lead to five lengths at the half-way from Erris Kid, Unknown Wonder survived a late surge by Erris Kid to win by a length in 29.77. Over three lengths back for third place was Derrylough Top.

There was a lot of crowding at the opening bend in the second semi-final, opening the way for the Gerry Holian-trained Mister Brown to go clear along the rail. At the line, it was Mister Brown by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Georgias Girl in a time of 29.32. Cranny Coolmeen crossed the line a further length back, for third place.

Limerick getting set for Leger Classic

Limerick is preparing to stage its annual showpiece of the year, the Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger open 550, with €25,000 going to the winner.

Entries close at 12 noon on Tuesday at 12 noon and first-round heats of the 72-dog classic will get underway the following Saturday.

Killaloe owner Michael Kennedy had a winner at the Limerick track on Friday night. His Gortglas Suzie came home first in the opening race of the night, an A5-graded 525. In the East Clare battle for supremacy, Gortglas Suzie (Blue Savings-Zipolip) held on to her early lead to win by three-and-a-half lengths from Inislosky Ron, owned by Mary Crotty, O’Briensbridge. The time was 29.23.

Gort trainer Maurice Mullaney won the sixth race on the card, the first of three semi-final heats of the Bambury Bookmakers A2-graded 525, with Avocan, owned in Dunmore by Jimmy Glynn. Challenging over the third and final bends, Avocan put in a strong finish to win by three-and-a-half lengths in a fast 28.94 from the Crecora-owned Action Breaker.

The Mungret-owned New Route won the second semi-final heat in 28.71, beating Haugthy Oscar by a short head.

There was another tight finish to the third and final heat, with the Denis O’Malley-trained Walnut Dash winning by a neck from the Shannon-owned Starlight Kevin (Thomas and Niall O’Sullivan) in 29.02. Outside the qualifiers in third place was Dan Flynn’s Rallying Raider.

The second Gort win of the night went to Eleanor and Eimear Curtin, whose Carrowgariff (Westmead Hawk-Wicked Marita) was first to cross the line in the first of three semi-final heats of the David Pearl A1 550. Challenging for the lead down the back, she was out in front at the third bend and was on her way to a 30.13 win, three parts of a length in front of Shaws Active.

There was a Clare qualifier from heat two when Craghill Elm, owned by Sean Stack, Sixmilebridge and John Healy, Killaloe, finished well to take runner-up spot, three parts of a length behind the 30.00 winner, Alisons Star.

The Doon-owned Varra Swallow won the final heat in 30.26, getting the verdict by a short head from Millroad Larky.

Semi-final heats of the Willmott Family A5 525 were also decided in Limerick on Saturday night and the first winner was Rallying Raider, owned by Dan Flynn, Meelick. The son of Droopys Scolari-Lubagh Sailor led from the second bend to beat the Jerry Griffin-trained After Liz by two-and-a-half lengths in a good 28.89.

The Castlegar-owned Glenbrack Cyril won the second semi-final in 29.18 from Mohane Vic.

There was another Clare winner in heat three, with the honours going to Malbay Rodger (Swords Prince-Malbay Lark) owned by Gerry Burke, Miltown Malbay. He also led from the second bend on his way to a two-length win from Newbridge Baby in another fast 28.89.

Glenside Evans, trained by Donal Cooney for East Clare members of the Green Leaf syndicate, was runner-up to Mild and Dry, the two lengths and 29.17 winner of an A3-graded 525.

The Maurice Mullaney (Gort) trained Mickys Scolari was third home in an A1-graded 525, which was won in 28.73 by Lisnakill Jack, the 6-4 favourite.

This Friday at Limerick there will be a fundraiser for Nolan School Of Dancing and feature event on the card will be the final of the Scoil Rince Uí Nuallain A6/A7 525, with the winner receiving €850 and a trophy. Also on the card will be the semi-finals of the Bobby Sweeney Auto Towing A4 525 (winner €750 and trophy) being run in conjunction with Ahane GAA night fundraiser at the stadium on Saturday, November 3. There will also be a Leger trial stake qualifier open 550, with winner to receive €350 plus free entry to Leger itself.

On Saturday night, Limerick hosts a fundraiser for St Gabriel’s School, with a number of finals up for decision including the Wilmott Family A5 525, Bambury Bookmakers A2 525, Marie and Michael Field D1/D2 750 and the David Pearl A1 550, with a winner’s prize €1,000 and trophy. Also on the card is the final of the Greyhound and Petworld mini open 525, sponsored by the Dominic and Kathleen in the Greyhound and Petworld Abbeyfeale and who have the greyhound store at the stadium, with the winner receiving €3,000 and trophy.

The remaining card will also be sponsored – A3 575 , A2 550 , D3 750 and A1 600.

Limerick sales fixed for this Tuesday have been cancelled due to lack of entries.