Ennistymon celebrations for Middlepark Mal

The celebrations went on long and late to mark the success of the Ennistymon-owned and trained Middlepark Mal in the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby trial stake final at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday night.
Owned by Ennistymon publican Michael Marrinan and trained nearby in Russa by Tom Flanagan, the son of Droopys Maldini-Scattery Maid will now represent the Galway stadium in the first round draw for the Ladbrokes.com Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park.
The Gerry Holian-trained Starry Messenger in trap four went off the evens-money favourite but it was Middlepark Mal who set the pace. He flew from trap three to lead in the long run to the opening bend from Patsy Richardson’s reserve runner, Faithful Man, in trap five and Starry Messenger. Still well in front by four lengths as they turned down the back, Middlepark Mal looked the winner from a long way out and at the line he had a full six lengths on Faithful Man.His time was 30.01. It was celebration time for Michael Marrinan, the senior steward of greyhound racing and coursing in North Clare and his supporters. They are now loking forward to Shelbourne Park. This was the eighth career win for Middlepark Mal, who has done most of his racing in Limerick.
Trained in Sixmilebridge by Stephen Murray and owned by Damien Pepper and the Gurteenree Syndicate, Carhumore Ego (Express Ego-Dark Gypsy), was first to cross the line in an A4-graded 550. First to show was Tyrur Sonia in trap three, who led down the back from the winner and the locally owned Dirty Frank. They commenced to bunch up as they came from the back straight and as they turned for home the money was on Tyrur Sonia to succeed but with a great, late dash to the line, Carhumore Egho got up to win by half a length from Dirty Frank, with Tyrur Sonia the same distance back for third place.The time was 30.79.
Gipsy Madam (Droopys Kewell-Lady Geraldine) returned to winning ways for trainer Jimmy Normoyle, Doonbeg and owners JoanNormoyle, Doonbeg and Imelda Grauer, of Doonbeg and Dublin, the well-known photographer on the doggie scene. In the A3-graded 525, Gipsy Madam had a flyer of a start from trap four to lead by three lengths from another Clare-owned runner, Take, in trap one. Now four lengths clear at half way, there was to be no denying Gipsy Madam on this occasion as she raced on for a four-and-a-half lengths win in 29.10 from Take, owned in Caherea by Martin Griffin. Third place went to the North Clare-owned Hold It Heather (Liam Shannon, Burren).
Placed in their races were Clonlaheen Hero (Thomas Warren, Kilmaley), Knockdine Dazl (Helen O’Brien, Miltown Malbay) Moneypoint Ray (Madeline Walsh, Gort) and Knoppogue Green (Donie Duggan, Quin).