In withdrawing Colossal Impact after winning a round of the Keen Laddies Stake at Clonmel, Ennis trainer George Gallery signalled his intentions for the JP McManus Irish Cup meeting this weekend.

As he heads off for the Irish Cup venue at Limerick Racecourse, Greenmount near Patrickswell, he will be carrying extra weight on his shoulders, as it appears that his white and fawn puppy might be Clare’s sole representative in the classics. However, there is a chance that the Pat Curtin-trained Windfarm Hill (Adios Alonso-Beyond Tivoli) may get a run in the big event. Owned by Michael Eustace of Ennis and Kevin Barry, Cashel, he is first reserve. A trial stake winner in East Dongal, there was a big gamble on him in Clonmel, where he failed to find his best form and made a first-round exit to the Portlaw-owned Droopys Betsie.

Nominated by Murty McMahon from Ennistymon and owned by members of the Colossal syndicate – George’s sister, Patricia, Ryan, her daughter, Leona and Leona’s boyfriend, Niall Warren, Kilmaley and his father, Thomas – Colossal Impact (Kyles James-Cillowen Gra) is drawn in the first quarter against the Croom-owned Cherrygrove Bolt, who went to the second round of Classics Club Champion Stakes in Clonmel and was just edged out by the Tarbet-owned Hope and Dreams, the eventual winner.

George Gallery told The Clare Champion this week that Colossal Impact is in good form following his exploits in Clonmel, where he was sixth reserve after qualifying from the Ennis-Clarecastle fixture. The dog took a heavy tumble in trials in Clonmel, was involved in a heavy hunt when beating Masterapprentice in the Keen Ladies Stake and that was the reason for withdrawing him. He felt the dog had too much work to do.

As well as Murty McMahon, there are a few more Clare nominators for the Irish Cup. North Clare man, Peter O’Loghlen is hoping for the best for the Clonmel-owned and Mitchelstown Derby qualifier Glendower, who was beaten in the second round in Clonmel by Barefoot Magnus.

Well-known coursing judge Tony Reddan from Sixmilebridge nominates the Wexford Derby qualifier Wyken Power; John Garrahy from Clonlara nominates Vacume Cool Dude, while Michael O’Donovan from Killaloe has his name with Barrow Saunders.

The fourth quarter of the Irish Cup will be a particularly tough one to come through, with quite a few big names in contention.

Bridewell Kieran (first quarter) is the long-odds favourite at 7-1 with Hopes and Dreams and King Rooney (both in the fourth quarter) at 8-1.

Clare’s hope in the Patsy Byrne and Landowners All Aged Bitch Stake reduced from 32 to 16 runners this year is Jeru Melody, trained by John Browne in Darragh, Ennis, for Cree owner, Ruth O’Donoghue.

The daughter of Sienna Steel-Jeru had a fairly busy season, reaching the semi-finals in Nenagh and Ennis-Clarecastle before rewarding her connections with a win in the final of the South Clare All-Age Bitch Stake at Cooraclare over the Christmas holiday period. In the all-West Clare final, she had a half-length on Job Done, trained by Pat Curtin for Cathal Meaney, Tullabrack.

Trainer John Browne reports everything in order in the preparations for next weekend.

Third reserve in the All-Age Bitch Stake is Larchhill Millie, owned by Michael O’Donoghue, Loughrea, who has Ennis connections. She reached the final of the Aylevarroo All-Age Bitch Stake at the Killimer-Kilrush meeting, where she was beaten by the West Clare-owned Shes All Talk (Cian Haugh, Kilkee).

Two new puppy stakes are being introduced this year for trial stake winners and runners-up and the first name out of the hat in the draw for the Cu Chulainn Bar Stake (8) was Kinielty Jazz, owned by brothers Declan and Terry McDonagh from Kinielty, Liscannor. They persisted with the daughter of Trajectory-Scartview Laura and after being beaten in Liscannor, Killimer-Kilrush and Ennis-Clarecastle, the Liscannor brothers were more hopeful after her improved performance at the South Clare meeting.

It was last-chance saloon as they headed north to Tubbercurry and they were rewarded at last with the ticket to Clonmel. At the national meeting, Kinielty Jazz had a first-round win over Missy Katie but was beaten a length-and-a-half in the second round by Red Orchid, who reached the last eight in the Oaks and was beaten by the eventual winner, Smart Ali.

Kinielty Jazz goes to slips in the puppy stake against the Gerry Holian-trained Pretty Stranger, who won her Oaks qualifier in Edenderry for Bernie and Basil Holian, Kilcolgan. She was beaten in the second round of the Oaks by Collect Me Now.

The last name out of the hat for the stake was Winsome Kate, the Tradaree greyhound and Pet World Oaks qualifier, trained by Donal Cooney, Killuran and owned by him and Sean Doyle, Barefield, Ennis and Rory Moloney, Dooras, O’Callaghan’s Mills. She was beaten in the first round of the Oaks by Minorcas Flyer. In the puppy stake, she goes to slips with Garrys Secret, the Enniscorthy-owned Oaks qualifier from Liscannor. She went on to reach the last eight in the Oaks.

In the other puppy stake, the Earl of Dunraven Kilbobbin Dog Puppy Stake (8), the first reserve is Ballymacnevin, owned in Sixmilebridge by Johnny and Mikey McInerney and trained by Stephen Murray, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge.

The County Limerick Coursing Club, have planned diligently for the event and have carried out a few changes to the Greenmount stretch in their effort to make the meeting a success.

The judge is Tom Lawler and slipper is Richie Quinn.

Order of running: Friday: First round of the JP McManus Irish Cup and first round of Purse. Saturday: Twice through JP McManus Irish Cup, first round of Bitch Stake, second round of Purse and first round of Plate. Sunday: start with Bitch Puppy Stake, Dog Puppy Stake and complete card.

Ballyjames beaten in Galbally final
The Sixmilebridge-owned and trained Ballyjames (Mafi-Magic-Cillowen Pearl) was beaten in the final of the Armshaw Puppy Stake (16) at the Tipperary and District coursing meeting at Galbally last Sunday.

The final was won by the Mark Mulholland-trained Screwdriver (Musical Time-
Ready To Sleep), who had already won a trial stake at this venue.

Owned by Johnny McInerney and his nephew, Evan Hehir and trained by Stephen Murray, Ballyjames picked up an injury going into the final and was beaten four lengths for the only score in the course.

The final of the Working Members Stake (16 two-course) was won by Son of Steel (Sienna Steel-Cleanaway Smurf) owned by N Liddy, Ballysimon.

 

Ealu West fails to catch Twosugaralice

Ealu West, trained by Martin Fahy for Darragh owner, Michael Sheedy, was runner-up to Twosugaralice, winner of the feature race at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday night.

The early leader was Martin Griffin’s reserve runner Faoie, in trap three but by the second bend the advantage was with Ealu West and Whatwillyoudo. However, as they came to the second-last bend, Twosugaralice came sweeping through and while Ealu West was still a danger, Twosugaralice went on to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 30.60 for his 11th career win.

The chief supporting race, an A2 event, went to the Stephen Hegarty-trained Unknown Tornado with a clock of 29.51. In a close finish, the winner just held out to beat Bumblebee Skippy by a neck. Third home was Tiermana Buss, owned by Noel Moroney, Mullagh, a length-and-a-quarter back.

There were three Clare-owned qualifiers from two semi-final heats of the Food Packages A4 event.

In the first semi-final, the Barry Connolly-trained Combo Taylor (Hades Rocket-Tyrur Hayley) was in control all the way to record a seven-length win in 29.09. Runner-up was Contentious, owned by Tom Flanagan, Russa, Ennistymon.

Feed Me Cherrys (Head Bound-Ashville Nikita), owned in Mountshannon by Kim Knell, was looking good at halfways in the second semi-final heat and she had no bother for her 10-length win in 29.16 from Mine Echo, owned and trained by Frank Browne, Quin. Third spot went to Hurling Nun, owned and trained in Gort by Noel Mullins.

Four Clare-owned runners will go into the hat for second-round heats of the St Michael’s GAA A3 event.

In the opening first round heat, the Rachel Wheeler-trained Crossdashannon made it two wins from two starts for the Abbeyknockmoy-based Westies Syndicate when beating Cahercalla Risk (Sean J Heeney and Tony Quinn, Ennis) by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 29.29. Third spot went to Canvas Aussie (Kim Knell, Mountshannon).

The Barry Connolly-trained and Tuam-owned Combo Ann won the second heat in 29.75 from Cumann Knievel and Tyrur Ella while Miltown Malbay owner Helen O’Brien won the third and final heat with Knockdine Zac (Westmead Hawk- Knockdine Lady). First to show was the trap three runner, Consequential, owned by Tom Flanagan, Ennistymon, who led from Heathlawn Blaze (trap four) and Knockdine Zac in two. Connsequential continued to show the way down the back but as they came to the third bend Knockdine Zac took advantage of a gap on the rail to get through. Consequential came again but at the line it was Knockdine Zac by a neck in 29.29.

French Blaze railed well to open up a three-length gap on Tiermana Streak in the operning race on the card, an A4-graded 525. Owned by Noel Moroney, Mullagh, Tiermana Streak started to close in down the back but at the line it was still French Blaze by half a length in 30.02.

Liffeyside Sue, owned by Kim Knell, was third home in a novice 525 won by Castlegar Lass (29.24).
Ennis owners, Paddy and Kevin Darcy must have been satisfied with the running of their Bypass Joe (Royal Impact-Ardvagga Dazl), an imprressive winner of an S3/S4-graded sprint race.

Kilbannon Bertie headed the posse from the start but Bypas Joe was on terms by the opening bend to take control and win by a length and a quarter in 19.28. Mine Raven, owned and trained by Frank Browne, Quin, closed the gap late on but there was no stopping Bypass Joe in recording his fifth career win.

However, the Quin owner-trainer had his say in the next race, an A6-graded 525, which was won by his Mine Moment (Hades Rocket-Classical Moment). The black bitch made all the running from trap five to beat the hot favourite, Muloc, by two lengths in 29.37.

Raggletaggle Rio takes Feramo D final in thrilling finish

There was a nail-biting finish to the Vetsearch Feramo D Open 525 final at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night when Raggletaggle Rio got up in the last stride to deprive the favourite, Dear Pa.
Dear Pa appeared to have the race at his mercy when leading down the back but close to home Raggletaggle Rio (Crash- Raggletagglerosie) put in a strong finish to snatch the race and win the €4,000 cheque for the winning owners, the OL Syndicate from Roscrea.

Newmarket-on-Fergus owner, Brendan Carroll won the opening race on the card with Steragel Mine (Westmead Hawk-Sarges Beauty). Standinthegap challenged down the back but with a good finish Steragel Mine went clear for a two lengths win in 33.43 for the A4 600 race. Third place went to the Joe Collins-trained Scariff Hawk, owned by members of the Shanakyle syndicate.

Members of the Garrahy-Fitzgerald syndicate from Clonlara also appeared on the winners’ list, with their Patrick Guiklfoyle-trained Droopys Banner (Blackstone Gene-Drooys Bolero). This was an A2-graded 550 that saw Droopys Banner out in front by the second bend and stay there to win by two-and-a-half lengths. His clock for the 525-yard trip was 29.89. Voltair Rumble was runner-up and third home was Piper Mingo, trained by Maurice Mullaney from near Gort.

Bold Inca, also trained by the Gort man, was third in an A5-graded 550 won by Clounanna Pixie in 30.38.

Fast debut win for Barntick Dupree
Clarecastle owner Mary Reidy had a fantastic win in Limerick on Friday night with her new representaive, Barntick Dupree, who ran a flyer of a race for a very impressive win. In his first race, the son of Head Bound-Barntick Live challenged down the back to lead at the third and move on from there for a comfortable six-length win from trap six. The time was 28.84, the fastest of the night.

Although finishing well, Miamea, owned in Gort by Jennie Griffin and Padraic Feeney, just failed to catch Mohane Glory, the winner of an A5-graded 525 by a neck in 29.34.

Clonmel winners on parade
This Friday, Limerick will have an 11-race graded card while on Saturday night there will be a fundraiser for Ahane National School, with the feature race being the final of the Ahane National School N3 Buster 525 final.

Also on the card will be an Open bitch 525 sponsored by Bermingham/Hooper/Dolan Insurances and to celebrate Irish Cup weekend, Limerick will stage an S6 or lower 350 for coursing-bred greyhounds and both the Derby winner, Thomas The Tank and Oaks winner, Smart Ali will be present at the stadium for a presentation to be made on behalf of all at the Limerick stadium.

Limerick racing office is taking entries for the upcoming Con and Annie Kirby Memorial Puppy event, entries close at 6pm this Friday.

Limerick will stage a special recorded trial session on Friday, February 2 from 4.30pm until 6pm. Private trials run at Limerick every week on Tuesday from 9am to 3pm and again from 4pm until 8pm. Limerick also has private trials every Wednesday from 1pm until 2.30pm. Limerick stadium will accommodate every owner/trainer as much as possible with the times they request.

Sales at Limerick will take place on Tuesday, March 12. Entries are now being accepted.