Good night for Clare owners

CLARE owners had a good strike rate at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Thursday night, winning five of the 10 races on the card, including the feature A2 graded event, which went to the Killaloe-owned Varra Polly.
Trained by Donal Cooney from O’Callaghan’s Mills, the daughter of Head Bound-Varra Lark had a trap one draw and after an even break just shaded it at the opening bend from On Thaw Jarug and Miss Calculated. The winner was three lengths clear down the back from Miss Calculated and the 4/6 favourite, Noelles Hero. At the home bend she was still looking good and ran on to win by close on four lengths in 29.53 from the favourite. Varra Polly won for the second time for Donal Cooney and members of the Boys Club syndicate from Killaloe – Paddy Flynn, Mark Scanlan, Seamus McLeish, Tony Sinnott, Eamon Sinnott and Jason McMahon.
The first three races on the card were won by Clare-owned connections. First up was Bringbackbertie trained by Jimmy Normoyle, Doonbeg for Adolf Grauer, Dun Laoghaire. Playback Francie and Saddleback Lizzy were best away in the A9 graded race, with Saddleback Lizzy taking over in front racing down the back. However, coming to the third bend Outback Garcia and Bringbackbertie in trap four began to close on the leaders. Up the home straight it was anyone’s race with Bringbackbertie (Shelbourne Atson-Lady Geraldine) getting the verdict by a neck in 30.07 from Outback Garcia.
Ballyea-based John Browne won the next race on the card, an S9 graded 350, with Rathmeehan Yaiza in trap one. The pacesetter was Capturethedream owned by Martin J Keane, Kilmihil, who led by two lengths from the eventual winner, who went slightly wide at the first bend.
Martin Keane’s fawn dog was still two lengths in front as they turned for home but with a strong run on the inside, Rathmeehan Yaiza (Ballymac Maeve-Rathmeehan Maura) got in front to win by a length in 19.43 from Capturethedream. In the all-Clare finish, third place went to Aristo Duchess, owned in Clonlara by Diarmaid and Eoin Garrahy.
The first of the three in-a-row Clare wins was achieved by Blaze Panther, owned in Ennis by Anthony Brigdale and Margaret Burns. This was an S9 graded 525 and it turned out to be a very impressive debut for the son of Hondo Black-Knockdrum Lady, who led all the way for his eight-and-a-quarter-length win in 29.17. He was five lengths in front at the halfway stage and ran out an easy and impressive winner from Knockadrum Kaka with Herecomesjulie, owned by Imelda Grauer of Doonbeg and Dun Laoghaire, taking third spot.
Kilbeacanty trainer Sean Cooke won race number five, an S5 graded 350, with Loughcarn Lass owned by the Lydican-based Team PR syndicate. The winner in trap one and Night Rambler in the outside trap were best away and when they passed the opening bend, Loughcarn Lass had gone into a two-length lead from Willbrook Fame (Michael Davoren, Ennistymon). Willbrook Dame switched sides as they turned for home but Loughcarn Lass (Droopys Maldini-Twotensfive) just survived the challenge to win by a neck in 19.47. Third home was Night Rambler (Martin J Keane, Kilmihil).
Ennis owner, Frankie Sheehan and Sixmilebridge trainer, Stephen Murray won the last race on the card, an A3 graded event over 525 yards with I Remember Paddy in trap two. However, as they made their way to the opening bend it was Nemos Star who showed the way from Ad Lib and Manus Honey. Nemos Star was still the pacemaker down the back but at this stage I Remember Paddy started to make progress on the inside as they came to the second-last.
The eventual winner came on terms with the leader as they turned for home and from this onwards the daughter of Black Shaw-Sheehans Cottage went clear to win the race by three lengths in 29.29 from Rocks First Blue.

Slick win for Killaloe Rose

AMONG the winners in the finals at the Emly GAA Club night at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night were John Seymour and Pat Reddan from Killaloe, whose Killaloe Rose won the McGrath Oil (Emly) A1 graded 525.
Trained by Denis O’Malley, the brindled daugher of Hondo Black-Corporate Group was quickly into her stride from trap three to gain an early lead. She kept up the pace for the remainder of the trip to record a vey impressive trap to line win in 29.13. She won by four lengths from the Doon-owned Castleview Jayo.
Cratloe owner, Liam Carroll had his Portdrine Bobby in trap one for the Bennett Oil A4 final. However, his chances were not helped by bumping at the first bend and he finished in third place. The Kilmallock-owned More Melody in trap six took the lead down the back and raced on for a two-length win in 29.25 from Balliniska Duke.
Newmarket-on-Fergus owner, Breda Casey didn’t have any joy either in the Emly GAA Buster A3 final as her Snuggie Boy in trap five also finished in third place. He was slow away and while he put in a strong finish, it was not good enough to catch the 28.97 and two-length winner, Shelbourne Paul, trained by Brian King for John Marks, Nenagh. The runner-up was Coole West Pete and a further two lengths adrift for third place was Snuggie Babe.
Sordo Rose (Louise and Jason Meaney, Kilrush) was third in a 350 yard race. After leading at the first bend, Barntick Luke (Mary Reidy, Clarecastle) held the initiative for most of the way but was caught after the home bend by Shine and Hope, who went on to beat him by three and a half lengths in 32.03 for the grade A3 race over 550 yards.
Hold It Hades owned by Mark Shannon, the Burren was placed third in an A2 graded 525 won by Riverside Jess in 29.01.
There was no Clare winner in Limerick on Friday night. O’Briensbridge owner, Mary Crotty went close to winning with her reserve runner, Inislosky Skylark, who was beaten by a short head into runner-up spot by Ballyregan, Fifi, the 29.99 winner of the opening race, which was anA9 graded 525. Also pipped at the post was Mark Shannon from the Burren, whose Hold It Jennie was also beaten by a short head. The 29.15 winner of the A4 graded 525 was the Brendan Moore-trained Brave George.
Pat Hogan from Ballyalla, Ennis also had a runner-up with his newcomer, Aulton Leo, who was beaten by half a length by the Graham Holland-trained Riverside Tim in an A5 graded 525 in 29.42.
Third in their races were Joshs Jewel (Josh Harte, Kilkee), Cyprus Apollo (Albert Burke, Shannon) and Steragel Fawn (Brendan Carroll,Newmarket-on-Fergus).

Victory on the double

THERE were four more Clare successes at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Friday night when Ennis owners Martin Cronin and the Markham family scored a nice double.
They won the fifth race with Cragbrien Honcho and the concluding A4 graded 525 yards race with Cragbrien Black, who was one of the most impressive winners of the night.
Shrewd Buy and Tyrur Nancy led the way from Cragbrien Black in the last race on the card. However, the picture started to change down the back where Cragbrien Black started to gain ground on the outside and overtake Shrewd Buy at the halfway stage. Cragbrien Black was now in flying form and by the second-last bend had three lengths of an advantage on Tyrur Nancy. At the line, the son of Hondo Black-Rachels Picture, owned by Martin Cronin and Robbie Markham, had three and a half lengths on Tyrur Nancy for his 29.35 win.
The card also featured first-round heats of the Fonez-Sim Free Phones A6 525. The Armagh-owned Longstone Hawk (Westmead Hawk-Longstone Lizzie) won the opening heat in 29.83, while Miltown Malbay owners Helen O’Brien and Michael Mahony won the following heat with Nells Fantasy.
The daughter of Premier Fantasy-Knockdine Lady was the leader from the opening bend, where she led her rivals by three lengths. She extended her lead down the back and at the line was two lengths faster than Tinreach Tully. Her clock was 29.33.
Heat three went to Headford West (29.40), while 29.78 was the clock for Neomas Scolari in winning heat four. The Nenagh-owned Brave Bally won heat five in 29.61 from Nodandawink and Somebody Special trained by Noel Mullins for the Rooster Syndicate from Scariff.
There was a Clare winner in the sixth and final heat with Kilcornan Lark obliging for Ennistymon owner, Tom O’Connor. The front runners from the start were Glitter Freeze in trap one, Manus Snowdrop in six and Kilcornan Lark in trap three. With the remaining three runners all involved in crowding, the three front runners had the contest between them racing down the far side.
Glitter Freeze led by two lengths coming to the third bend from Kilcornan Lark but Kilcornan Lark (Judicial Post-Kilonaghan Lark) found another gear on the run home and got up to win by a neck in 29.54. The runner-up was Glitter Freeze, owned by West Clare native Pat Curtin, Monard and Jonathan Miles, England. Third place went to Manus Snowdrop (Siofra McInerney, Manus).
The first part of the Cronin-Markham double was achieved in race five with their Craghbrien Honcho (Top Honcho-Castleview Lady). This was an S3 graded 350 in which Shandangan Lough, trained by Stephen Murray for himself and JJ O’Dea, Derrylough, and Nine Minus Two in trap three were first to show. Near the bend Shandangan Lough hit the front and rounding it Nine Minus Two ran a little wide, allowing Preacher to come through on the rail to briefly strike the front.
On straightening for home though the Martin Cronin and Jack Markham-owned Cragbrien Honcho (Top Honcho-Castleview Lady) came with a great run on the outside to win by a length and a quarter in 19.27 from Nine Minus Two, trained by Darryl Hopper for members of the Nine Minus Two syndicate from Clarecastle.

Electric finish from Quarter Poet

THE feature race in Galway on Saturday night was the A2 graded Cunniffe Electric bumper race over 525 yards and it was won in style by the Seamus Fahy-trained and Dunmore-owned Quarter Poet (Hondo Black-Inca Queen). Third place went to Pal Duke, owned and trained in Inagh by Colman O’Loughlin.
The winner was smartly away from traps to lead by three lengths from Pal Duke in six and Clonkelly Tiger in three. The winner continued to rail superbly and go further ahead down the back straight and he romped home an easy seven-and-a-quarter-length winner in 29.02 from Clonkelly Tiger with Pal Duke a further length back for third place.
Gort owner-trainer Jennie Griffin won the chief supporting race, an AS4 graded 575 with Jennick, which she owns with Nick Bailey. From the start, Outback Woody in four led from Bodyshop Flame (trap five) and Jennick (trap three). The eventual winner saved valuable ground by railing well around the opening bend and down the far side he gradually closed in on the leader and as they passed halfway, the son of Hondo Black-Soviet Victoria went to the front and quickly took control to win by three and a quarter lengths in 32.02. The runner-up spot went to the Athlone-owned Baylin Survivor and TJ McMahon’s Bodyshop Flame was third home.
Shannon owner, Jimmy McLoughlin won the opening race of the night an S8 graded 350, with Fergus Come Home in trap three. The son of Ballymac Maeve-O’Garney Pearl went off the hot 4/5 favourite but it was the Gort-owned Fast Fit Sky who showed the way when the traps lifted. He led by a length from Longer Awhile and Fergus Come Home as they made their way to the first bend. Here Fast Fit Sky went further in front by three lengths but up the straight, Fergus Come Home started to move really well to go in front and win the race by one and a quarter lengths in a time of 19.56. The runner-up spot went to Fast Fit Sky (John Quinn and Ella Cantwell).
Also on the card were three semi-finals of the Thursday Nights A5 Stake. The opening heat was won in 29.45 by Leos Bettina from Zoes Bell. The Oughterard-owned Jules Flyer won heat two in 29.71 from Outback Hotchner, while Dirty Frank improved down the back to win the final heat in 29.72 from Tyrap White (Sean McAllen, Shannon).
Irene Barry kept the Inagh flag flying with her Kylea Dreamer winning an A4 graded 525. The daughter of Droopys Scolari-Cathy of Inagh had a trap-five draw and she was fast off the mark to lead the field by two lengths at the opening bend. By the time they had reached the back, she had gone four lengths clear and still moving well over the last two bends, she came home an easy seven-length winner in 29.28 from Dusty Magpie. Third place went to Boundry Dispute (Frankie Sheehan, Ennis).