Killaloe trainer, Michael Downes notched an impressive double at Galway on Saturday night where Dick’s Worldbound left rivals in a spin in the feature contest on the card, the concluding A0-graded 550.

As the traps rose, Get the Message came away well and led on the outside from the Donie Duggan trained Comeonthebanner with the rail hugging Dick’s Worldbound right in the mix.

Turning down the back, Comeonthebanner had opened up a two-length advantage from Dick’s Worldbound and the pair pulled clear of their rivals. Rounding the third bend the son of Head Bound-Teds Miss World, owned by the trainer’s wife, Janet in Clonfadda, joined issue with Comeonthebanner and the pair settled down to battle it out to the line with the Michael Downes trained Dick’s Worldbound sticking his neck out to prevail in 30.57 to complete a kennel double.

The first leg of that double was initiated in the eighth contest for A5-graded runners over 525 yards with Bearhaven Gale (Balintore Brave-Tai Lass).

On the run to the opening bend, Bumblebee Rosie led from Harbour Lark and racing down the back, they drew clear of their rivals. However, they quickly came back to the field between the final two bends with all six runners within three lengths turning for home.

On the run in Bearhaven Gale, who was last at one stage, came storming through to score by a length and a half in 30.11.

Trainer, Downes also handled Ascot Ace (Ace Hi Rumble-Floating Lass) which finished second in the chief supporting contest, an A2-graded race over 550 yards, and Aghaburren Park (Hondo Black-Race on Katie) which was second home in an A5 525.

In the A2-graded race, after a very level break, the Martin Fahy trained Haveweanine just led approaching the opening bend, a lead the daughter of Swords Prince-Glenbrack Tina held to the finish.

Ascot Ace came through on the run in to challenge but the line came in time for Haveweanine, who prevailed by three-parts-of-a-length in 30.23.

The opening contest of the night was an A3-graded affair and it ended in a one-two for Quin trainers, Donie Duggan and Frank Browne.

Tiermana Cross, owned by Noel Moroney from Ennis, showed early pace to lead to the bend from Miss The Style with Donie Duggan’s charge Knoppogue Mate saving valuable ground along the rail.

Racing down the back straight, Knoppogue Mate (Kinloch Brae-Climates Kewell) went on by a length but between the final two bends, Mine Rocket (Hades Rocket-Classical Moment) began to close rapidly but the Donie Duggan owned Knoppogue Mate held on by a neck to record career win number 13 in 29.76.

On the long run to the opening bend in the second race, an A4-graded 575, the Jimmy Normoyle owned Doonbeg Panther showed pace to lead from the field.

Cutting to the rail rounding the opening bend the son of Killahan Phanter-Gold Rumble extended his advantage to four lengths, passing halfway with Doona Belle still giving chase. Clear off the final bend, Doonbeg Panther crossed the line two and a half lengths to the good in 32.10.

Master Colm Fitzgerald from Kilrush saw his Fitzler Monnie collect the spoils in an S8-graded contest.

Glasson Rose was best away but she was joined on the run to the opening bend by Fitzler Monnie. Rounding the bend, Fitzler Monnie shot clear and the daughter of Swords Prince-Blaze Flame quickly settled the contest drawing away to defeat Glasson Rose by four and a quarter lengths in 19.65.

Ger Manley from Cratloe filled the runners-up spot with both Confused Bigbang and Confused Jenny, both from the Barefoot Bolt-Pennys Shelly liter.

The Brian O’Connell-owned Willrose Cliona recorded her maiden success in an A7-graded contest as she led off the home bend before holding the renewed effort of Confused Bigbang by a neck in 30.02.

The Master Stephen Dillon-owned Rocken Mo landed some decent wagers in an A6-graded 575 yard contest as striking the front approaching the penultimate corner she stormed right away from her rivals to defeat Confused Jenny in 32.07.

Following a fairly level break in The Online Bookings A4-graded contest the trap two runner Combo Taylor took a definite advantage rounding the opening bend and as they raced towards halfway he led by four lengths from Feed Me Cherrys, owned in Mountshannon by Kim Knell.

Exiting the back straight though Feed Me Cherrys began to bridge the gap and switching sides off the home bend the daughter of Head Bound-Ashville Nikita got up close home to prevail by a neck in 29.56.

Second place was recorded by Inagh Ivy (Shaneboy Lee-Inagh Spice), owned in Inagh by Michael McGuane and Noel Hehir, in an A9-graded race over 525 yards.

 

Keeping the Banner flag flying in Limerick

Gerry Reidy from Barntick in Clarecastle kept the banner flying at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, providing the sole Clare winner over the weekend.

Barntick Katie took the spoils in an N2-N3 525 race when finishing strongly to get the better of Classy Gypsy in 29.54. The track was racing .30 fast.

The early running in the race was cut out by Classy Gypsy (Duke Special-Classy Smasher) and First on the Left, owned in Bunratty by Gerry Brennan, had her chances hampered somewhat when bumped on the run to the opening bend.

Heading down the back straight, Classy Gypsy looked the likely winner until the late surge from Barntick Katie saw the daughter of Head Bound-Barntick Live get up close home to win by three parts of a length. A similar distance back in third was First on the Left (Head Bound-Mariah Dubh).

Third in an A5 525 on Friday night was Snuggie Blu (Minnies Pavlova-Buddhas Babe), owned by Breda Casey from Newmarket. The race was won in 29.51 (.30 fast) by Baby Shone (College Causeway-Brazilian Dancer) and the distances were a neck and four-and-a-half lengths.

On Saturday night Bryan and Kathleen Murphy, formerly of Ennis and now resident in the Cayman Islands, had to be content with minor placings in the second round of the €4,000 Vetsearch Feramo D Open 525 with Barefoot Printer and in a novice 750 with Priceless Max. Both dogs are trained by Paul Hennessy.

Sixmilebridge trainer, Bernard Coffey had to settle for second place with O’Garney Patch (Ballymac Maeve-O’Garney Pearl), which he trains for his wife, Helen.

Liscahane Shaw, on the inside, bolted from traps and assumed early control. The son of Black Shaw-Liscahane Fiery maintained pole position to the line, winning the A2 525 race in 28.66 (.30 fast).

Second, two and a half lengths back, was the fast finishing O’Garney Patch with Shyladee Lass (College Causeway-Lass Kewell), owned in O’Briensbridge by Bridget Casey, three-and-a-half-lengths further back in third.

Shanakle trainer, Joe Collins was also third with Messi Black (Head Bound-Messi) beaten a total of eight lengths by Cill Duff Jeff.

Messi Black’s chances of success all but ended when they dog, owned in Parteen by the Shanakyle Syndicate, was badly baulked in the early stages.

Liam Carroll from Portdrine in Cratloe was also third in an A4 525 with Portdrine Queen (Premier Fantasy-Invincible Diva), two and a half lengths off the 29.40 (.30 fast) winner, Rathdromin Mags.

‘Lisa’ makes final line-up

Miltown Malbay trainer Seán Hehir will send his prolific performer Dunsallagh Lisa to traps for the final of the Online Restaurant Bookings A5 at Galway knowing she has it all to do.

In last Friday night’s semi-final run, Dunsallagh Lisa, winner of three of her last four starts, ran on strongly down the home straight to secure the third qualifying berth but was a disappointing nine lengths behind the winner, Boleyphaudeen.

Slowly away, Dunsallagh Lisa (Droopys Scolari-Dunsallagh Lucy) was always chasing the minor placings as the Ollie Curtin-handled Boleyphaudeen was smartly into stride on the wide outside, building up a two-length advantage at the opening bend.

With crowding behind, the leader extended her advantage, racing down the far side. As she approached the third bend, the daughter of Hades Rocket-Wicked Marita had the race wrapped up. She scored by nine lengths in 29.34 from Singland Cross with Dunsallagh Lisa a neck back in third.

In the second semi-final, the Maurice Mullaney trained Swift Milo (Vans Escalade-Swift Blitz) was a 29.39 winner from Willrose Champ. Ran out of the third qualifying spot was Pal Ruso (Ballymac Ruso-Best by Mille), owned by Colman O’Loughlin from Inagh.

Clare owners will have a strong hand in the final of the fundraising A7 stake, providing three of the six finalists.
In the first semi-final, all six runners were away pretty much on terms but as they rounded the opening bend, the Martin Egan and Headford-owned Clydagh Mickey just got round in front of the Miltown Malbay pair of Knockdine Holly and Malbay Nadal.

Racing down the back Clydagh Mickey led by a length, a lead he began to extend passing the halfway. Having seen his rivals off rounding the penultimate bend, the son of Hades Rocket-Clydagh Premier scored by three-lengths from Malbay Nadal (College Causeway-Malbay Alex), owned by Gerard Burke in 29.24.

Filling third spot was Knockdine Holly and this daughter of Westmead Hawk-Knockdine Lady is owned by Helen O’Brien.

The second semi-final saw the Martin McDonagh-owned Hanover Debbie make all the running to hold off the late thrust of White Gal, trained by Knappogue trainer Donie Duggan for the Shannon-based Five Chancers Syndicate.

A litter sister to the opening semi-final winner Clydagh Mickey, Hanover Debbie led by two lengths rounding the opening bend and despite moving a little wide, she still led by two lengths passing halfway.

Between the final two bends, White Gal (Head Bound-Killonaghan Gal) began to bridge the gap but he ran out of real estate as Hanover Debbie determinedly gained the day.

Racing opened with an A3-graded 575-yard contest in which Wood Leo and Tyrur Sammon disputed the lead on the long run to the opening bend just ahead of Hold It Heather, owned by Liam Shannon in North Clare.

Turning for home, Hold It Heather switched outside to challenge but the John McDonagh trained Tyrur Sammon (Kinloch Brae-Tyrur Nuala) held on by a neck to win for owner Tom McDonagh in 32.25, a heck clear of Hold it Heather.

There was a Clare one-two in the A8-graded second race, which was effectively over at halfway as the Martin Keane and Kilmihil-owned Valid Reason had his rivals strung out behind him.

Having just about outpaced Eightiesrepublic on the run to the opening bend, the son of Vans Escalade – Face Value railed well to extend his lead racing down the back.

Drawing further clear with every stride, Vans Escalade coasted to an eight-and-a-quarter-lengths win over Rosehill Boy, owned by Eugene McNulty from Shannon, in 29.74.

All six runners were away as one in the S5-graded 350 yard contest but as they settled down, Derryvilla Lady held a narrow advantage over the wide running Annagh Bridge.

Rounding the bend the front two extended their advantage and despite running quite wide off the home bend, the Sean Cooke (Gort)-owned Annagh Bridge (Swords Prince-Glenbrack Nancy) scored by half-a-length in 19.50.

In the third sprint of the night for S3-graded sprinters, Frank Browne from Quin had to be content with second place with Mine Raven. The son of Hades Rocket-Classical Moment finished four and a half lengths behind the Hughie Keleghan-owned Forever Brae (Kinloch Brae-Puckane Lady) in 19.36.

Spot The Heather, owned by Lawrence Meaney and Joe Hurley from Kilrush, was away well in an A4-graded 525 contest. he led by a length approaching the opening bend where the Brendan Browne (Kilkee)-owned Glasheen Sally slipped through on the inside to take command turning down the back straight.

Well clear passing halfway, the daughter of Eden Brett – Rathmeehan Angel drew further away with every stride to eventually score by five-and-a-half-lengths in 29.40 from Spot the Heather.