Clare runners earn a good deal

THERE were two Clare winners from first-round heats of the Deal of the Month A6 stake at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Friday night.
The rail-hugging Fred The Pilot, in the inside trap, went into an early lead in heat two with the rest of the field – with the exception of Malbay Kearney (trap five) – going wide at the opening bend. While Fred the Pilot was still setting the pace down the back, Malbay Kearney had moved up a gear or two and was moing in fast. Now on terms as they rounded the home bend, Malbay Kearney (College Causeway-Malbay Alex) representing Ciara Burke, Miltown Malbay, just got in front as they approached the finishing lineto record a a 29.61 win, beating Fred The Pilot, owned by Aisling Hannon, Tulla, by three parts of a length.
Inagh owner-trainer, Colman O’Loughlin, provided the winner of heat four with his Pal Ruso (Balltymac Ruso-Best By Mile). Drawn in trap five, the white and brindled was best away to set up a two-length lead at the opening bend to avoid a lot of crowding. The resuilt was that pal Ruso was all alone and still in front as he made his way down the back. The trap-three runner, Motto’s Rogue’ made good progress over the last two bends but Pal Ruso held out to win by a neck in 29.50.
The other heat winners were Total Motion (29.22) and Cobblestone Joe (29.71).
Rosehill Boy (Ace Hi Rumble-Culleen Sally) a new representative for Leo McNulty, Newmarket-on-Fergus, won a heat of the Like us on Facebook, A8 graded stake. In the concluding heat, he was out in frnt at the operning bend after railing well. Leonie’s Scoalri (trap five) went wide at the bend leaving it to the Kilmihil-owned Glynnscrossbrett (Tom Keane) to track the leader down the back. While it was looking as easy for the winner at the home bend,  he quickened the pace to win by six lenghths from Leonie’s Scolari. Three lengths farther back for third spot was Carmel’s Touch (Peter Russell, Shannon).
Heat two went to An Ould Habit, owned by Master Jason O’Donoghue, Gort. This was a winning debut for the son of Top Savings-Nanna’s Stool, who chased Leoniue’s Apple to the opening bend. Here An Ould Habit (trap six) was forced to check and switch inside but as they came to the third bend, An Ould Habit got his way to get in front and railing well over the remaing bends, he raced on for a comforetable five-and-a-half-length win in 29.52.
Other heat winners were Old Fort Bandit (29.20) and Swinford Blue (29.34).
Mary Browne’s Burnpark Alice was second at the opening bend and finished in that position in the opening race on the card, an A4/A5 graded 525 won by Hi Ho Paddy in 29.39 and by nearly four lengths.
Newmarket-on-Fergus owner, Frank Casey had his Boherash Torpedo, in trap one, in an S5 graded 350 and while he led in the race to the opening bend, Mossey Be Slick swept through on the outside and led to the line for a 19.33 win, beating Boherash Torpedo into second place by six lengths.