Consequential win for Flanagan

The spotlight was on Ennistymon owner-trainer Tom Flanagan, Russa, at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday night after his Consequential won the top race of the night, the St Michael’s GAA A3-graded 525 final.

In a fairly open contest, Consequential (Droopys Kewell-Coldwar Baby) was fast off the mark from trap four to lead by a length from the Mountshannon-owned Canvas Aussie in the race to the opening bend. Down the back, Tyrur Ella in trap one loomed as a big threat but Consequential responded and went two lengths clear by the halfway mark. Tyrur Ella again put in a big effort over the final two bends but the Ennistymon-owned black was not to be denied and crossed the line one length in front of Tryrur Ella.The time was 29.39. Third place went to the trap two runner Cahercalla Risk ( Sean J Heeney and Tony Quinn, Ennis), two lengths back. The race was worth €800 to the winner, who was chalking up his fourth win.

The A1 550 was the top-graded race of the night, which saw the Jerry Griffin-trained St Louis Charlie in trap four setting the pace. He was two lengths in front of Dicks Worldbound as they negotiated the opening bend and extended the lead down the back. St Louis Charlie railed well over the final two bends to deny Dicks Worldbound, trained by Michael Downes for his wife, Janet Downes, Killaloe, by over two lengths.The time was 30.30. Third home was the Donie Duggan-owned and trained Knoppogue Green.

There were five qualifiers from Clare from the four opening heats of the €1,600 to the winner, A4-graded Tote Guarantees Every Night stake.

West Clare owner, Patrick Conlon won the opening heat with Milesian Story (Climate Control-Milesian Magic), in trap four. First to emerge were, Fagans Vidic, the favourite, in trap six and and Clune Topps in trap one. Clune Topps moved wide, bringing the favourite with him and as they came to halfway, Scarriff Bound in trap three joined the leading pair. However, Milesian Story then slipped through on the inner as they exited the backstraight and as they turned for home, Milesian Story led by a length from Scarriff Bound. At the line it was Milesian Story by a length and a half in 29.88 from Scariff Bound, owned in Killaloe by Janet Downes. Beaten a neck into third place was Clonlusk Spice, owned by Liam Shannon, The Burren.

Cranny Coolmeen has been figuring well in Galway in recent times for Ennis publican, Ciaran Browne and trainers, the Browne family from Leitrim, Cree. The son of Shaneboy Lee-Burnpark Hanna was again in splendid form when winning heat two of this stake. The early leader was Hanover Maeve, in trap six and she was still in front by halfways but as they raced towards the third bend Cranny Coolmen started to move in and off the home bend he swept through to set up a three-and-a-quarter lengths win in 29.35 from Hanover Maeve. Third home, a length and three-quarters back, was Muloc, owned by Martin Griffin, Caherea.

In heat three, the locally owned Willrose Hawk (Westmead Hawk-Durham Lass) regained the lead as they approached the home turn to win by over five lengths in 29.54 from Peadars Touch, trained by Donie Duggan for Shannon owner, Peter Russell. Third place went to the Noel Mullins-trained Chocolatesoldier, owned in Gort by Eleanor Mullins and Bernie Curtinn, two-and-a-half lengths further back.

The final heat was won in 29.24 by the Ballinasloe-owned Heathlawn Blaze (Droopys Vieri-Heathlawn Flame) from O Garney Princess ands Lyleview Lee.

The Michael Downes and Janet Downes team came third with Bearhhaven Gale in the opening race of the night, an A8-graded 525 won in in 29.54 by Kilbannon Casey.

Mine Olive, trained by Frank Browne for Mary Browne, Quin, had established a six lengths lead by halfway in an S8/S9-graded 525 but newcomer Our Little Amy, trained by Davy Curtin for his son, Mark, started to make inroads and by the time they reached the line, had gone three lengths in front of Mine Olive, who was runner-up. The time was 29.55.

Two more races further down the card, Frank Browne had compensation when his Mine Rocket (Hades Rocket-Classical Moment) was successful in an A3-graded 550. Owned and trained by the Quin-based man, Mine Rocket dominated all the way from trap three. Leading by three lengths at the first bend, he then went a little wide but had ample in reserve to meet the challenge from Portroe Cracio. Mine Rocket won by two-and-a-half lengths in 30.48.

Caherea owner-trainer, Martin Griffin also made it a worwhile trip to the College Road venue with his Faoie, winner of the sixth race on the card, an A2-graded 550. Twosugaralice was sent off the 5/4 favourite from trap five but it was Martin Griffin’s white and black bitch who showed the way with some great early foot. The daughter of College Causeway and Nebraska West – named after the owner’s grand-daughter Aoife (anagram) led by three lengths rounding the opening bend from Twosugarsalice. Down the back, the winner was challenged by Piper Mingo but held out in the final strides to win by a neck in 30.63.