Consolation Leger win for Ballyhannon

SEAMUS and Aidan Duggan from Castlefergus, Quin had a win on the biggest night of the year at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium when their brilliant tracker, Ballyhannon, won the Irish St Leger Consolation.
It was a well deserved win after a great run in the Leger proper for the black and white son of Tuckes Mein-Adorableivenita. In the Consolation final, he was drawn in trap four and was well up with the leaders from the start. Tranquil Time in three was fast away but Ballyhannon moved into a higher gear down the back straight to take over from the early leader.
From then onwards, there was no stopping the Denis O’Malley-trained powerful galloper, who was in complete control for the remainder of the race and won by four lengths in 29.78 from the Maurice Mullanney-trained Jeddies Star.
The McKenna family kept their tight grip on the Irish St Leger when the Owen McKenna-trained Farley Turbo was an easy winner of the classic. The McKenna name is synonymous with the Leger and Owen continued the great tradition through Farley Turbo’s stunning win, dominating from the start and coming home a seven-and-a-half-length winner in 29.57 from Hare Mack. He had the honour of being the first Leger winner at the new greyhound stadium.
Inagh owner-trainer, Noel Hehir also had a big win on Leger night when his Cool Ivy Hill was first to cross the line in the Respond Mother and Puppy Mini open for A1 graders over 550 yards.
The son of Big Daddy Cool-Dark Diamond, had a good break from trap five and after leading at the second bend, the 6/4 favourite raced on for a two-length win in 30.49 from Sands of Time, owned by Frank Casey, Stonehall.
Leo McNulty from Newmarket-on-Fergus and Charlie Alta were successful in Limerick on Thursday night with their first-time runner Pass By Charlie (Ace Hi Rumble-Dear Frankie), who won the 525 yards race in 30.01, beating Barntick Cove (Mary Reidy) by two lengths.
There were two more Clare successes in Limerick on Friday night. Kint of the Mount (Westmead Hawk-Purdys Pride) won his second race for Ennis owners, Shane Flanagan and David Monaghan. This time he recorded a 29.58 win in an A9 graded 525.
Liscannor trainer, Darry Hopper was also in the winners’ list after Nine Minus Two (Ballymac Maeve-Calamity Jane), owned by the Nine Minus Two syndicate, was a 29.31 winner of an A7 graded 525.

A busy Chapelane Donie

IT was a busy weekend for Chapelane Donie (Black Shaw-Chapelane Ash), owned in Shannon by Trina McLaughlin. He won the top graded race in Galway on Thursday night and went on to reach the semi-final of the Working Members Stake at the Tradaree coursing meeting three days later.
In Galway, he went off the even-money favourite for the A3 graded bumper race over 525 yards. He was well clear over the opening bends on his way to a 29.62 win by almost 12 lengths from the O’Briensbridge-owned Inislosky Magoo (Mary Crotty).
Another owner from the same area, Billy Murphy, fared better in an AS8 graded 525, which was won in 30.21 by his Wizard Johnny (Prince Monalulu-Rushaun Spark).
Ennistymon owner, Mary Davoren won the next race with Willbrook Man (Prince Monalulu-Missouri Dame), who clocked 19.91 for the 350-yard event.

Small card

THERE were just seven races in Galway on Friday night because of the Connacht-Harlequins rugby game. Among the winners were Killea Rocket (Gina McDonagh, Kinvara) in 19.84; World Cup Wonder (Sinead Lawlor, Gort) in 29.26 and Master of Chase (Gary Cooney, Broadford ) in 29.54.

Sean Scully Memorial Heats

SUES Princess, owned by Johnny Burke and Aoife Burke, Tubber was a 30.32 winner of one of the four first-round heats of the Sean Scully Memorial A6 over 525 yards.
Cyprus Kate, owned byAlbert Burke, Shannon, led on the crown of the home bend to win an A7 graded 525 in a time of 29.93.
Stonehall owner, Frank Casey also had a winner, with his Tiermana Vieri winning an A5 graded 525 in 29.93 and by three and a half lengths.
Frankie Sheehan from Ennis also had a rewarding trip to the College Road venue. His Peggy got through at the opening bend to take the lead from Hold It Hades in an A1 graded 525 race. The Stephen Murray-trained son of Black Shaw-Sheehans Cottage pulled away from the rest of the field down the back to register a nine-and-a-quarter-length win in 29.29 from the Tom Flanagan-trained Mythical Vieri. Third home was Rathorope Blanco (Martin Kelly, Tubber).