Hollow Jack finds top form

The inaugural running of the €4,700 Bermingham/Hooper/Dolan Insurance A1 600 final produced an unlikely winner in Old Hollow Jack at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last Friday night.

Owned in Abbeyleix by Mrs Ann Scully, the son of Droopys Kewell-Sadie Vieri did not feature among the winners on his way to the final and was a 3-1 chance before the traps lifted on Friday night. The 5-4 favourite for the final was the Rathkeale-owned Bua Joey in trap one. True to form, he was best away to lead at the opening bend. By the second he had increased his lead to four lengths and was looking good. By this stage, Old Hollow Jack in trap six had moved into second place in front of Pennylane Jadar in trap three and it was after rounding the home bend that Old Hollow Jack showed the form that escaped him up to this. With his thrilling finish he got the better of the favourite to land the winner’s cheque of €2,500 for his midlands owner. The winning margin was five lengths in a time of 32.76. Musical Gaga (5-2) was runner-up and third place went to Bua Joey, one length back.

Elsewhere on the card, Mullagh owner John O’Kelly had his Cragaknock Hope (Black Shaw-Cragaknock Grey) in top form for his 29.34 win in an A5-graded 525. Leading from the opening bend, Cragaknock Hope made no mistake on his way to a three-length win over the money-on favourite, Ballygibba Hawk.

Bumped at the second bend, Liam Carroll’s Portdrine Prince finished third in the opening race, an A4-graded 525 won easily by Hometown Pa in 29.28 from Honeypound Mega.

John O’Kelly was hoping to make it a double on the night but his Cragaknock Shaw was beaten into second place in an A3-graded 525 won in a very fast 28.89 by Ballyregan Fifi, the 5-4 favourite, The winning distance was two-and-a-half lengths.

In the last race of the night, the Joe Collins trained and Shanakyle Syndicate-owned Scariff Hawk was slow away and finished third in an A2-graded 600 won by Knockbawn Sirus (5/2), who beat the 5-4 favourite, Gogetembabe, by four-and-a-half lengths. Scariff Hawk was three parts of a length back for third place.

The East Clare kennels of  Mary Crotty featured in the opening race in Limerick on Saturday night. The O’Briensbridge owner won the A1 550 yards race with Inislosky Pinny (Kinloch Brae- Pinnyday Lucy), who was smartly away from trap four to gain an early advantage and lead all the way for a four-lengths win in 30.11 from Whatwillyoudo in trap six.

Gort trainer Maurice Mullanney won the second race of the night, an N2/N3-graded 525 with his trap four runner, Micks Scolari, the even-money favourite. The son of Scolari Me Daddy-Sports Woman gained the upper hand down the back and drew clear to win by eight lengths in a fast 28.89 from Tallyho Billy.

Another East Clare winner was Rallying Raider, owned by Dan Flynn, Meelick and trained by Denis O’Malley, in an A2-graded 525. It was a great return to winning form by the son of College Causeway-Legal Moment, who set a blistering pace from trap four to lead all the way for his outstanding clock of 28.84, the best of the night. He won by two lengths from the more fancied Balline Chief in trap five. The 5-4 favourite, Turbo Dan, finished outside of the first three home.

Mary Crotty’s Inislosky Ron was runner-up in an A4-graded 525 won by Saleen Alfie, who led down the back to win by a length-and-a-half in 29.29. Third home was the Nicola Downes-trained Portroe Craic.
Also third home in a semi-final heat of the Sales@Limerick Novice 750 was Snuggie Babe, owned in Newmarket-on-Fergus by Breda Casey. The heat winner was Swedish Buirgitta in 42.46. The other semi-final winner was Saleen Island in 42.44.

Cluttahina Clare, owned by Bernard Coiffey, Sixmilebridge, finished third in an S1/S2-graded 350 won by Scarlet Danny in 19.16.

The Maurice Mullaney-trained Avocan also finished third in an A1-graded 525, which went to Barrack Ruso in 28.89.

 

Bunnow Glory in Thurles semis

Bunnow Glory ( Loyal Honcho-Sully Glory) is still going strong and has qualified for the semi-finals of the JJ McGrath Memorial €5,000 stake in Thurles. Owned in Ennis by Sean Heeney and Patrick Cronin, he was runner-up in a second-round heat on Saturday night. The Abbeyleix-owned Rackethall Ally won the heat by one length in 29.43. Beaten a length into third spot was Express Nation, the 4/6 favourite. Other heat winners were Slaneyside Whirl (29.62), Tedo Show (29.61) and Nodstown Flyer (29.24).

Aeneas, owned in Gort by Gerard O’Donoghue, finished third in a heat of the Aherlow House Hotel A6 525 yards stake in Thurles on Friday night. Rockview Gem was the 29.40 winner of the stake, coming home half a length in front of Boherash Ring. The Gort-owned black was three lengths back for third place.

The Niall Dunne-trained Fast Fit Dan, owned in Gort by John Quinn, finished third in an A0-graded 525 won by Exocet (28.49) in Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

Mullagh publican on the ball

A winner with three first-time runners in Limerick and Galway last week, Mullagh owner-trainer, Noel Moroney was again in the winner’s frame last weekend and again with a newcomer to the scene.

The venue for his latest triumph was the Galway track, where Tiermana Buss was one of three Clare-owned winners on Friday night. The daughter of Head Bound-Tiermana Hawk struck for an early lead and stayed in front for all of the trip for her 29.59 win. However, she was hard-pressed in the closing stages and crossed the line three parts of a length ahead of Mine Rocket, owned by Frank Browne, Quin. In the all-Clare finish, third place was secured by Rathorpe Ruso, a new runner for Martin Kelly, Tubber.

Frank Browne had earlier visited the winner’s parade ring with his Mine Ruso (Ballymac Ruso-Jumeirah Jess) in the opening S7-graded sprint. In a desperately close finish and with a renewed effort, Mine Ruso beat the even-money favourite, Runway Charlie, by a head in 19.51. The runner-up is trained by John Browne for Clare members of the Rineanna syndicate.

Also coming away happy from the College Road venue were Donie Duggan, trainer and Peter Russell, Shannon, owner, whose Peadars Touch was winning for the 10th time. The latest triumph for the son of Kinloch Brae-Climates Kewell was in an A2-graded 525. The early leader was Jumeirah Joe in trap four and Rynal Ruane’s white and black was in front up to the last bend. It was at this stage that Peaders Touch took over in front, having trailed Jumeirah Joe throughout. Once in front, Peadars Touch stayed in control to score a one-and-a-quarter lengths win in 29.37 from Jumeirah Joe. Beaten three parts of a length into third place was the Ennis-owned Blaze Ken (Anthony Brigdale and Margaret Byrne).

Drawing clear from the second bend, the Patrick Guilfoyle-trained Sizzling Sammie came out tops in an Inter
Track A5-graded 525. Baulked early on, Saucy Rascal, owned by Anne Carey, Cooraclare, was runner-up to the seven-and-a-half lengths and 29.60 winner. The Bernard Coffey-trained Ogarney Princess was third across the finishing line.

Mullagh publican Noel Moroney was hoping for a double but his Tiermana Streak, a winner here last week, was beaten into second place by the Patrick Guilfoyle-trained Russian Girl, the 29.09 winner of a semi-final heat of Ballyvaughan Church A5-graded 525. Third place was filled by the Donie Duggan-trained and Kay Lynch-owned Cragataska Flash.

The 29.60 winner of the second semi-final heat was Ballaugh Gift from Glensaul Star and Donie Duggan’s Knoppogue Storm.

In the final race of the night, the top graded A1 550, Bit View Kenny led from the opening bend but in a very tight finish he had to pull out all the stops to deprive Donie Duggan’s Knoppogue Mate by a neck. Beaten by three parts of a length into third place was the Gerry Holian-trained Starry Messenger, the winner’s clock was 30.55.

Skywalker Puma is Ladbrokes Irish Derby favourite

Shelbourne Park will house a capacity crowd for the blue riband of Irish greyhound racing, the final of the Ladbrokes Irish Derby on Saturday night.

With the attendance boosted by American visitors for the American Football game in Dublin over the week-end, headquarters had a huge crowd for the Derby semi-finals last Saturday night.

A night of thrilling racing was highlighted by the wins of ­Skywalker Puma and Cuil Cougar in the semi-final heats of the Derby. The Frances O’Donnell-trained Skywalker Puma got a clear passage in the early stages of the first ­semi-final on his way to a brilliant six-and-a-half lengths win in 29.45 from Camas, who got up late to relegate Coolykereen Imp into third place.

The Dolores Ruth-trained Cuil Cougar got off to a flyer in the second semi-final and led all the way for another outstanding win. At the line, he had four lengths on the Conor Fahy-trained Tyrur Sugar Ray.

The clock stopped at 29.69. The final spot in the final went to Razldazl George, also trained by Dolores Ruth.

Trap draw for the final: 1, ­Razldazl George; 2 Skywalker Puma; 3 Cuil Cougar; 4 Tyrur Sugar Ray; 5 Collykereen Imp, 6 Camas (w).

Skywalker Puma is now the clear favourite in all lists for the Derby final. Sponsors Ladbrokes have him at 7-4 and Cuil Cougar at 5-2 with Tyrur Sugar Ray at 4-1,Razldazl George is 7-2, Camas 10/1 and ­Coolykereen is the outsider at 16-1.

Owned by Daniel P Greene, ­Limerick and trained by Niall Dunne, North Bound produced a huge performance to win the opening semi-final of the Ladbrokes Derby Plate in 29.60 last Saturday night.

Trap draw for the final: 1 Power of God; 2 Swift Marathon; 3 Ruthless Man; 4 Beany Tunes; 5 North Bound (w); 6 Katies Quadrigo (w).

Ladbrokes bet: 11-10 North Bound, 9/4 Power Of God, 5/2 Swift Marathon, 7 Ruthless Man, 10 Katies Quadrigo, 33 Beany Tunes.

There will be an earlier start than usual on Saturday night. The first race of the evening will be at 7pm and the last race at 10.05pm. The big final will be at 9.10pm. 

The live telecast on RTÉ 2 will be between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. Doors will open at 3pm and Aslan will be playing in the lead-up between 4.30pm and 6pm.

Third victory for Killaloe’s Worldbound

Clare owners recorded four wins in Galway on Saturday night, one of which was that of Dicks Worldbound, trained by Michael Downes from near Killaloe for his wife, Janet Downes.
For his third career win, the son of Head Bound-Teds Miss World took up the running at the opening bend in this A2-graded 550-yard race. He remained in front for the rest of the race but at the finish was hard pressed by the locally owned Comeonthebanner to take the race by three parts of a length in 30.43.

Pat Hogan from Templemaley, Ennis, also had a nice win, his Aulton Ron doing the business in an A3-graded 525. The son of Droopys Scolari broke fast from trap three and led French Blaze for the rest of the race to win by nearly six lengths in 29.03 for his second career win. The Donie Duggan-owned and trained Knoppogue Green took third spot.

West Clare owners Carl Maguire and Adrian Ennis had the honour of having the first Clare win of the night. They succeeded in race number three, an A5-A6-graded 525 with their Wood Leo in trap five. The son of Loyal Honcho-Sully Glory was a hot 4-5 favourite for the race and after drawing clear at the first bend he was out on his own as he crossed the line eight lengths ahead of his nearest rival, Pearls A Winner, owned by Helen Vaughan, Quin. The time was 29.59.

East Clare trainer Donal Cooney was another who scored on the night. He had Two Nifty (Kinloch Brae-Minnies Svetlana) in trap four in an in A5-graded 575 and the black bitch signalled her intention from the start with a lively break. She left the rest of the field behind her as she powered home for a seven-length win in 32.06.

With a strong finish, Danman Mini just got the better of the Gort-owned Destroyer in the final race of the night, an A2-graded 575. Danmar Mini won by a length and three quarters from the Darren O’Donoghue-owned Destroyer. The same distance back for third place was David Browne’s Garryfine Ben. Third home in her S8-S9-graded sprint was Donal Cooney’s Killuran May.

West Clare owners fly flag

West Clare owners kept the Clare flag flying with three wins in Galway on Thursday night.
Pat Madigan and Rachel Mulqueen were first up with their Clune Mystery (Shelbourne Aston-Ferryside Miss) in the second race, which was an A8-graded 525-yard affair. Installed as the 4-5 favourite, Clune Mystery was fast away from trap one to lead at the opening bend and go on to secure a length-and-a-half win from Monmore Gold, also owned in West Clare by Tommy Purtill. The time was 30.01.

Neighbour, PJ O’Halloran won the following race with Moyvana Cross, also in trap one, in an in A7-graded 525. Challenging well in the run home, the fawn daughter of Ballymac Ruso-Wood Sweet just got the better of the early leader, Tipp the Bonner, to win by three parts of a length in 29.87.

Ciara Burke from Miltown Malbay made it a hat-trick for the Banner with her Malbay Bawn in an S3-graded sprint. Hanover Blue went off the money-on favourite from trap one and he headed the field at the opening bend However, as they came nearer to the finishing line Malbay Bawn (Royal Impact-Rith Saor) was in top gear and got her nose in front to pip the favourite by a head in 19.30. A length and a half back for third place was O Garney Mavis (Helen Coffey, Sixmilebridge).

Trained by Donal Cooney for Frank O’Meara and East Clare members of the Green Leaf syndicate, Glenside
Evens recovered from a slow start to take second place in the final race of the night, anA3-graded 525. The 29.11 winner by over eight lengths was the Gerry Holian-trained Bewitching.
Ennistymon owner, Michael Davoren had to settle for third place with his Wilbrook Dame in an S5-graded sprint.

Coolmeen Ruso, owned by PJ O’Halloran and Pat Madigan, finished third in an A5-graded 525 won in 29.27 by Bondi Babe.

Limerick Card

 

This Friday, Limerick will stage the semi-finals of the Limerick stadium A4 550 while on Saturday it will have the first-round heats of the St Senan’s RFC A2 525 and the final of Sales @ Limerick Novice 750 – winner to receive €1,100 and trophy.

Next sales at Limerick will be the Leger sale on Tuesday, October 23 for which entries are now being accepted. Entries close Tuesday October 9 at 12 noon.