The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
The syndicate between the Garrahy brothers and the Clare hurling manager was forged over a game of golf in Dromoland and the job of purchasing a dog was handed to John Garrahy, the well-known veterinary surgeon from Clonlara.
He acquired the unraced sapling, Droopy’s Banner, from Mike Dunphy in Waterford and the dog, a son of Blackstone Gene-Droopy’s Bolero,went into training at the kennels of Pat Guilfoyle in Toomevara.
Early indications of Droopy Banner’s potential were encouraging and that confidence wasn’t misplaced when the dog went through the Fast Trap Stake Stake at Thurles, winning all three rounds,the final in 29.20 having clocked 29.02 in an earlier heat.
However, in winning the final in early December, the dog sustained a wrist injury and while the Con and Annie Kirby stake was always on the radar, that injury upset preparations..
“After picking up the wrist injury, the dog had to be held up. However, he has been rushed back a bit for this stake and has been getting beter with each round,” explained John Garrahy. He has been improving steadily even if he hasn’t been suited by the wide trap draws. In every run, he has been bumped and banged but has still managed to reach the final. He’s unbeaten from trap one but has been drawn in trap five for the final. We’d by hoping for the best,” he added.
Already the connections of Droopy’s Banner will pocket a cheque of €5,000 having qualified for the final but syndicate members are hoping to get in the frame.
Melees at the opening bends took somewhat from both semi-final heats of the sweep on Saturday night last.
The Fraser Black-trained Ashford Castle went off the 6/4 favourite for the opening semi-final. However, it was the trap-five runner Kisses For Cloda (Ace Hi Rumble-Droopy’s Kee), who dictated matters from the start to go a length clear from the opening bend. There was crowding behind him with Melody’s Gamble pushing Ashford Castle wide and he collided with the outside runners. Ashford Castle and Scolari Express crashed to the ground, while the Gort-owned Stone Boy King (Eleanaor Mullins and Mark Curtin) also met trouble. Down the back, Kisses For Cloda had three lengths on his nearest rivals, Droopy’s Banner with Melody’s Gamble well back in third place. Kisses For Cloda made no mistake to cross the line five lengths in front of Droopy’s Banner to score his third win in the competition. The time was 28.45. Melody’s Gamble was a further five lengths behind to take third place.
In heat two, Leamaneigh Turbo, in trap four, was first to show but the Owen McKenna-trained Roxholme Turbo outpaced him to the bend to take a one length lead. There was more mayhem at this bend when Oran Maestro (trap one) checked wide when seeking room. He bumped Leamaneigh Turbo, who crashed into Slippery Robert (trap five) with the later also colliding with Plus Five (trap six). With Slippery Robert and Plus Five crashing to the ground, Roxholme Bully had a good lead into the back from Royal Diva and OranMaestro. While Royal Diva put in a stromg finish, Roxholme Bully was not going be overtaken and he won by two lengths in 28.37. A further three lengths back for the last qualifying place was Oran Maestro.
Trap draw for the final. 1. Roxholme Bully; 2. Melody’s Gamble; 3. Kisses For Cloda; 4. Oran Maestro; 5. Droopy’s Banner; 6. Royal Diva.
The stake carries a total prize funds of €160,000 and is being sponsored by JP and Noreen McManus in memory of Noreen’s parents.
They have also pledged an additional €20,000 prize fund for an associated nominator event with each greyhound taking part being linked to a GAA club in County Limerick.
Monagae GAA are nominating Roxholme Bully; Mountcollins GAA are nominating Melody’s Gamble; Banogue GAA have Kisses For Cloda; Treaty Gaels GAA are linked with Oran Meastro; St.Kieran’s GAA have Droopy’s Banner and Adare Camogie are nominating Royal Diva.
The winning club will receive €10,000 as well as the opportunity to hold a fundraising night for their club at Limerick Stadium at no cost.The second club will receive €5,000, the third €2,000 and the three unplaced nominators will receive €1,000 each,
Elsewhere on the Limerick card last Saturday night, Portdrine Dodo, owned in Cratloe by Mela and Ben Carroll, was runner-up to Athlacca Charm (Black Show-River Charm) the 29.16 winner of an A4 graded 525. Leading at the opening bend, Athlacca Charm won by a length and a half,
Bling Bling Dana, owned by John Meehan, Newmarket-on-Fergus, missed out in a place in the GMHD Insurance Killarney A2 Bitch final when finishing third in one of three semi-final heats.
Following on from their successful golf outing to Woodstock Golf Club, Ennis and fishing trip to Fanore, patrons of O’Keeffe’s Bar, Lifford, Ennis, had a night out at the dogs in Limerick on Saturday night. It was a well supported and enjoyable and it was appropriate that one of the races on the card was named to mark ther visit. The Welcome James O’Keeffe Lounge Bar Ennis A7 graded 525-yard race was won by the Crecora owned Christy’s Amber (Westmead Hawk-Christys Diamond) in 29.49.
Placed in their races in Limerick on Friday night were Cragaknock Sonia (John O’Kelly, Mullagh); Deepindebt (Joe Keane, Carrigaholt); Slaheny Crystal ( Peg Lenihan, Newmarket-on-Fergus); Gorfotitjohney (Liam Shannon, Ballynacally); Rockmount Anide (Shane Flanagan, Ennis) and Ocean Maeve (Tom Fitzgerald, Parteen).
There will be racing in Limerick on Good Fridcy night when the card will include first-round heats of the JJ Flynn Memorial A2/A3 525 Rallying Stakes with the winner to receive €1,150 and a trophy.
There will be no official trial after racing on Friday night.
As well as the big puppy final, the Limerick card on Saturday night will have a number of open class races with the winner to receive €1,000 and a trophy.
The next sales in Limerick will be on Tuesday, May 14 and entries are now being accepted.
Double Delight for Caherea owner
CAHEREA owner-trainer Martin Griffin had a rewarding trip to the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Friday night when bringing off a double with litter brothers, Nebraska Gold and Muloc.
The Caherea man had a bright start to the night with Nebraska Gold (College Causeway-Nebraska West) winning the very first race of the night, an A4 graded one over 550 yards. After a fairly even break, Nebraska’s Gold in trap four and Glenbrack Cyril in two held a slight advantage going into the opening bend where the eventual winner went a length in front. Extending his advantage to five lengths down the back, Nebraska Gold then came under pressure from Kilcornan Manu (trap three) as they raced for home. But in the dash for the line, Nebraska Gold still had two and a quarter lengths to spare. His winning time was 30.68. Kilcornan Manu is owned in Miltown Malbay by Master Conor Cleary.
Litter brother Muloc completed the double in the eight race, an A4 graded 525. He was smartly away from trap four but was impeded as he approached the opening bend where the inside runner, Burnpark Alfie, slipped through on the rail to head the field, Muluc was again hampered coming into the third bend but he managed to get through on the crown of the home bend and was now well on his way to a 29.59 win, beating Tyrur Sonia by nearly four lengths. A further three lengths back for third place was Tiermana Cross, owned by Noel Moroney, Mullagh who had a fine treble at this venue last week.
Bumblebee Skippy outpaced the Clare-owned Feed Me Cherrys and Dicks Worlbound to win the featured race of the benefit meeting in aid of Annagh National School and the Volunteer Services Abroad. Trap-one runner, Dicks Worldbound,was the even-money favourite before the traps lifted but it was Bumbleebee Skippy (trap five) who made the early gains to lead by two lengths at the first bend from Glensaul Alfred in six and Feed Me Cherrys in two. Five lengths clear halfways, Bumblebee Skippy increased her advantage before the race was over. The daughter of Crash-Kings Lass had a winning margin of six and a half lengths with a clock of 29.15.
Runner-up, Feed Me Cherrys, is owned in Mountshannon by Kim Knell while a length and a half back for third spot was Dick’s Worldbound, trained by Michael Downes for Janet Downes, Killaloe.
In race two, an A8 graded 525, the Rynal Ruane-owned Lee Bandit (Tyrur Lee-Parkaside Edel) just about made all the running to beat Inagh Star, owned in Inagh by Michael McGuane and Noel Hehir, by a length and three quarters in a time of 29.56. Third home was Glynnscross Eden, owned by Tom Keane, Kilmihil.
Stephen Heagarty, trainer and Tony Hegarty, owner, had the first part of a double with Unknown Sally (Hondo Black-Unknown Lulu) in an S5 graded sprint. The winner went clear at the opening bend to beat reserve runner, Derrylough Boy, owned by JJ O’Dea, Derrylough, by three and a quarter lengths in 19.33.
The double was completed by litter sister Unknown Suzi when winning an A6 graded 525 with a clock of 29.56 and by a length and three quarters.
Also on the card were two semi-final heats of the Back To Slips Novice 350 confined to dogs sired by a recognised coursing sire.
The West Clare-owned Wood Kylie (trap three) broke best in the centre of the track in the first heat and she led on the run to the opening bend where she was joined and passed on her inside by the improving Cloonturk Spark in the inside trap. She went on to win the race by seven lengths in 19.53 from Wood Kyle owned by Carl Maguire from near Kilrush and Adrian Ennis, Kilkee.Third spot went to Ring Twice owned by Jimmy Normoyle, Doonbeg.
The Loughrea-owned Blushing Annie (Razor Ashmore-Needham Beauty) won the second semi-final heat in 19.66 from Volga Rover and Creevy Fred.
Shyan Pippa, owned in West Clare by Monica Callinan and Cathal Creedon, was runner-up to Buster Savings (Top Savings-Nanna’s Stool) the 19.31 and three and a half lengths winner of an S6 graded sprint.
The Clare-owned Buddha’s Boy (Master Rian Cummins and Master Christian Cummins) was also runner-up in the ninth race, an A5 graded 525. The Castlegar-owned Willrose Cheetah (Burnpark Champ-McHugh Sonia) led from the opening bend to hold off the late challenge by Buddha’s Boy to win by a length in 29.69.
The 10th race on the card, an A3 graded 550, was declared void following the late opening of the traps and will be rerun on Friday night next.
Blue winner for Nenagh owner
CLONROOSKE Blue, owned in Nenagh by Pat Moore, won the big race in Galway on Saturday night, the Follow Us On Twitter A3 final,worth €1,680 to the winning owner.
Oran Style, in trap four, was the even-money favourite for the final but he missed his break and the Maurice Mullaney (Gort) trained Swift Milo (trap two) came away with his customary fast start to open up a three-length lead. Swift Milo still dictated matters down the far side but from the third bend, Clonrooske Blue started to come more and more into the picture. Halfway up the home run, he shot to the front and reached the line two lengths in front of Winter Dream with Swift Milo taking third place. The clock for the final was 29.17.
The Mullaney family did have success, however, in the chief supporting race, the A2 graded 525.The winner here was Forest Sam (Royal Impact-Forest Swallow), trained by Maurice Mullaney, Castletown and owned by Philip Mullaney. Forest Sam in trap four, and Faoie, in trap one, disputed the lead from the start but at the opening bend the advantage was with Forest Sam. Eventhough he kept a wide berth down the far side, the black was not going to be denied and he crossed the line two and a half lengths in front of Faoie, owned by Martin Griffin, Caherea. The time was 29.28.
There were two Clare-owned qualifiers from four heats of the Tote Payouts At Galway A5 event.
Good Slick, owned by Cooraclare native Tommie Gallagher, qualified from heat one. Willrose Chief, the 6/4 favourite in trap two and Good Slick in four broke best with the favourite going on by a length at the first bend. As they turned down the far side, Good Slick was now in third spot. Willrose Chief railed very well to go four clear by halfway and at the line had three and a quarter lengths on Good Slick. The time was 29.65.
The Cork-owned Hunter’s Profit (Head Bound-Creamery Mist) won heat two in 29.18 from Harbour Bullet and Leonie’s Blacky, while Inaminute (Head Bound- What A Diva) was first to reach the line in heat three. The time was 29.99 and the winning distance was four and three parts of a length from the Oranmore owned Fagan’s Vidic. Third place went to Castlegar Lass.
Heat four went to Fred the Pilot (Cashen Legend-Shiraz Surprise) trained by Donie Duggan, Tulla for Aisling Hannon, Tulla. The winner was out in front by a length from Scariff Bound (trap six) as they came to the opening bend. While trap one runner, Our LittleAmy, railed well over the first two bends to make up for lost ground after a bad start. Fred the Pilot was still leading the way and was still in front as they crossed the finishing line. Fred The Pilot had a clock of 29.53 when beating Our Little Amy by three and a half lengths. Scariff Bound, trained by Michael Downes for Janet Downes, Killaloe, was third, two and a quarter lengths away.
In the opening race of the night, an A4 graded 550, the John McDonagh-trained Tyrur Sammon (Kinloch Brae-Tyrur Nuala) showed the way at the first bend and had a three-length advantage as they raced down the back. He stayed on well to beat Carhumore Ego, trained by Stephen Murray, Kilmurry, for the Gurtenree syndicate, Feakle, by two lengths in 30.76. Trap-two runner, Clonlusk Spice, owned in the Burren by Liam Shanon, took third place.
Mervue Parish Priest Fr Willie Cummins won race two, an A6 graded 525 with Maroon Night (Kryptonite-Assasin Mali), trained by Jack Mahony. The time was 29.39.
Ennis owners, Anthony Brigdale and Margaret Burns, won the third race on the card, an N2/N3 graded sprint, with Blaze Bandit (Swords Prince-Blaze Flame). First to show was Sadhbh’s Princess in trap five to lead by a length from Crafty Cabresto in one and Blaze Bandit in six. Despite running wide on the opening bend, Blaze Bandit joined the early leader on the crown of the home bend and became the new front runner as they turned for home. He went on to win the race by a length and a half in a time of 19.70 from Crafty Cabresto.
The Noelle McCarthy-Divilly-owned Noelles Fabio (Noelle’s Kido-Noelle’s Amarillo) made an impressive winning debut in an N2 graded 525 at the expense of Glenbrack Cody and Noisey Boy. The winner was well clear by half way and remained in front to take the race by nearly nine lengths in 29.28 from the second-placed Glenbrack Cody owned by Billy Kilroy, Kinvara. Third home, nearly two lengths back, was Noisey Boy, owned by John Moloney, Clarecastle.
Quin owner, Mary Browne, had success in the fifth race, an S8/S9 graded sprint. After an even break the inside trio began to dominate as they approached the first bend with Harbour Tulla in trap two a fractional leader. After negotiating the bend, Mine Velvet shot in front and the daughter of Slip The Lark-Mine Cash was four lengths clear when turning for home. The Frank Browne-trained black bitch had three lengths to spare over Harbour Tulla at the line in 19.59. Third spot was filled by Whistling Tiitan, owned by Gina McDonagh, Kinvara.
First away in an A3 graded 525 were Honcho’s Diva in trap two, and Leonie’s Chloe, in five.
At the opening bend, the Roscrea-owned Leonie’s Chloe (Hondo Black-Try Again Chloe) led by a length with the Kilkee-owned Glasheen Sally, in trap three, filling second place as they made their way to the far side. Passing halfway, the lead was three lengths but saving ground on the inside. Glasheen Sally closed all the way to the line but not quite quick enough as Leonie’s Chloe held on by three parts of a length in 29.41.
