Eats ground to win ‘food’

THERE was no joy for Clare or South Galway owners in the final of the feature race, the Food Packages A4 525 final in Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday night. The honours went to Tuam owner, Frank Connolly, with the Barry Connolly-trained Combo Taylor, the money-on favourite.
Best to break were Mine Echo in trap five and Hurling Nun in one but before they had reached the opening bend, Combo Taylor in trap three was in command. The son of Hades Rocket-Tyrur Hayley had moved into a three-length lead down the back and even though he moved to the centre of the track off the home bend, he  had enough to spare to win by six and a half lengths 29.15. The runner-up nwas Hurling Nun, owned and trained in Gort by Noel Mullins, followed by Mine Echo, owned and trained in Quin by Frank Browne, two and half lengths farther back.
There was a strong Clare-South Galway finish to the top-graded race of the night, the A1 graded 550, which was won by Ealu West (College Causeway-Nebraska West) trained by Martin Fahy for Darragh owner, Michael Sheedy. From the start, Forest Sam in five led Ealu West (trap one) and Dick’s Worldbound in five. At the bend, Ealu West railed best to come within a length of the leaders as they reached halfway. Racing from the back, Ealu West got through on the inside and it was plain sailing from here with Ealu West delivering  a good 30.43 win, finishing two and three parts of a length in front of Forest Sam, trained by Maurice Mullaney,Gort, for Philip Mullaney. Beaten a half length into third spot was Dick’s Worldbound, trained by Mick Downes, Killaloe, for Janet Downes.
Maurice Mullaney who has his kennels just outside of Gort, had already visited the parade ring as his promising Swift Milo (Van’s Escalade-Swift Blitz) had won the earlier race,  an A3 graded 525. This was his third win from four starts. Even though he slightly missed his break from trap one, the winner made fast progress by the rail to go into a commanding position at the first bend. He was three lengths clear of Combo Sarah (trap three) going down the back and while the trap-three runner posed a threat, Swift Milo railed well to win by three parts of a length in a time of 29.42. Third home, two and a half lengths back, was Frank Browne’s Mine Moment in trap five.
There were three Clare-owned qualifiers from the two semi-final heats of the St Michael’s GAA A3 stake.
The John McDonagh-trained Tyrur Ella saw off a sucession of challengers before winning the first semi-final in 29.48. In a nail-biting finish, she held out to beat Glass of Guinness by a neck in a time of 29.48. A qualifier in third spot was Cahercalla Risk, owned in Ennis by Sean Heeney and Tony Quinn, three parts of a length back.
The second semi-final heat provided another thrilling finish with the East Clare-owned Canvass Aussie (Droopy’s Scolari-Herb’s Best) just getting the nod from the Ennistymon-owned Consequential. From the start, both dogs disputed the lead from Crossdashannon. Down the back, they were joined by Cumann Knievel and less than two lengths separated the first four as they made their way from the back.  The advantage went to Consequential off the home bend but in the very close finish, Canvas Aussie lunged forward to get the verdict for Kim Knell, Mountshannon. The time was 29.49. Consequential, the runner-up, is owned by Tom Flaganan. Third place went to Cuman Knievel. 
Acot Ace, trained by Mick Downes for Janet Downes, Killaloe, finished third in the opening race, an A3 graded 575, which went to Willrose Champ (32.13).
While Bumblebee Rosie led the way in an A5 graded 525, the trap-six runner, Kay’s Class (Greenwell Storm-Class Time), trainned by Donie Duggan for Kay Lynch, Quin, was always prominent. Down the back, the brindled bitch made fast progress on the wide outside to take the lead as they came to the third. She was in control from here to win the race by six lengths in 29.38.
Annagh Bridge, owned by Sean Cooke, Kilbeacanty, finished third in an  S4/S5 graded sprint won by Tyrur Dutchy in 19.13.
A winner also came the way of Newmarket-on-Fergus owner Breda Casey whose Snuggie Blu (Minnie’s Pavlova-Buddha’s Babe) was first to cross the line in an A5 graded 525. Showing in front along the rail, the winner displayed good early pace to take up the runing at the first bend. She was still the front runner down the back and despite pressure from Triver Boss in trap five, Snuggie Blu had enough in reserve to win by three and a half lengths. Her clock was 29.42.