In-form Ocean Crash claims Con Kirby Open

PARTEEN owner, Tom Fitzgerald, senior, had a big win at the Limerick Greryhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night with his Ocean Crash showing brilliant form to win the Con Kirby Memorial Open 550.
The Limerick track record holder broke well from trap four and although hard pressed in the run to the opening bend, he managed to go clear at the bend. Saint Bernard, in trap one, and Royal Patrol, the  5/4 favourite in trap six, tried hard to catch up with him but Ocean Crash stayed in front to come home a two lengths winner in a time of 29.98. The winner, who had good times in this year’s Leger, is trained by the owner’s son,Tom Fitzgerald,junior.
Newmarket-on-Fergus owner, Myles Cummins also had a rewarding trip to the Dock Road venue after his Snugborough Gent was first to cross the line in the Shaneboy Lee at Stud A2 575 final. The son of Group Rooster-Christains Lady was smartly away from trap four and was prominent throughout. In the run home, he was challenged by the Kilmallock-owned Tromora Crystal, the 6/4 favourite, but held out to win by by a length in 32.05. Third place was filled by Coolready Shaun (Billy Murphy, O’Briensbridge).
Shannon owner, Jim McLaughlin was represented in another of the big finals of the night, the Shane O’Brien/Barnbara Reeves Memorial A3. His Fergus Come Home (trap four) challenged for the lead at the second bend but failed to catch the 28.97 winner Soviet Josie in trap one. Fergus Come Home was runner-up, a length and a half behind the winner.
Costa Courta, trained by Brendan Moore for the Stillhouse Syndicate from O’Briensbridge, was runner-up to Magical Rover, the 18.61 and three-and-a-half-length winner of a 350-yard race.
John McInerney’s Manus Hero was also runner-up to Jims Top Pick, the-four-and-a-half-length winner of an A3 graded 525 in a time of 29.03.
The  Cooraclare-owned In Bound (Eimhear Lillis) finished third in  the Ballyregan Bob Memorial A4 600 final won by Three Guesses in 33.54.
Gort trainer, Maurice Mullanery also made it a worthwhile trip as Avocan (Hondo Black-Inca Queen), which he trains for Dunmore ower, Jimmy Glynn, was first to cross the line in an Open Bitch 525. She won by one length in a good 28.99.
Mullagh owner, John O’Kelly, had a winner at the Limerick track on Friday night; his reserve runner, Craggaknock Kilan (Killahan Phanter-Safari Princess) getting the verdict by a neck in a 350-yard race. His clock was 19.32. Tromora Katie, owned in Quilty by Kathleen Hogan, finished third in a 525-yard race.

Clare qualifiers from Galway semi-finals

THERE were a number of Clare qualifiers from the semi-finals of the 1890 269 969 A4 525 and The Christmas Party A6 Stakes at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Thursday night.
The Miltown Malbay-owned Knockdine Ash, the early leader by a length and Jules Flyer were best away in the first semi-final of the Christmas Party stake. Down the back, Juler Flyer (Boherduff Light-Coldwar Baby) forged in front and stayed on to win by four and a quarter lengths in a time of 29.90. The runner-up was Flandy’s Secret owned by Conor Flanagan from near Ennistymon and third home was the Kilmaley-owned Rathkerry Mick (Rachael Maher). The second semi-final was won in 29.03 by Headford May from Winter Dream and Aulton Hawk.
Sellout Fast Fit led by two lengths after the traps lifted in the first semi-final of the A4 stake. Down the back, Sellout Fast Fit led by a couple of lengths as Dirty Frank in trap six gradually came more into the picture and as they headed for home, Dirty Frank (Ningbo Jack-McHugh Sonia) joined Sellout Fast Fit before edging out in front  close to home to win by three parts of a length in 29.54. Sellout Fast Fit, the runner-up, is owned by Peter Connolly and John Quinn, Gort and third home was Chrisola, trained by Frank Browne for Michael Browne and John Moran, Quin.
In the second semi-final, the Jack Mahony-trained Radharc Na Padre led at the first bend and stayed on to win the heat by by two and a quarter lengths in 29.14 from Pinnacle Muffin owned in Ballyvaughan by Douglas Culligan and Michael Costello. Third spot went to David Browne’s Garryfine Ben.
The honour of having the first winner of the night fell to Lahinch owner, Enda O’Gorman, whose Snowey Princess won the A9 graded 525. Snowey Princess (Swords Prince-Malbay Shakiara) was well away from trap two with Tyrap Torries in trap five. It was a battle between these two down the back where Snowey Princess managed to edge out in front to record a 29.63 win, beating Tyrap Torroes by one and a quarter lengths.
Tom O’Gorman from Miltown Malbay won the third race on the card, an A7 graded 525 with Giftfrom Helen in trap two. Micks Buff in the outside trap  made best progress from the start to lead by two lengths going down the back from Giftfromhelen with Conbo Ellie a further two lengths adrift. The lead was reduced to two lengths at the halfway stage and as they turned for home, Giftfromhelen (Razldazl Billy-Knockdine Lady) was now the front runner and she went on to win by a length in 29.64 from Combo Ellie.
Leading at the opening bend, the Des Flaherty-trained Rinnwood Prince won the first of the sprint races, beating Wilbrook Dame (Michael Davoren, Ennistymon) by a length and three quarters. The time was 19.57.
The Michael Davoren-owned Wilbrook Fawn finished third in an S4 graded sprint race won by Captain Brittles in 19.52.

Faithful Man wins in top-graded race

THE top race in Galway on Friday night, an A1 graded affair, went to well-known Doon owner, Patsy Richardson, with his Faithful Man.
Setting the pace from trap four was Cragbrien Hondo, owned in Ennis by Martin Cronin and Jack Markham. He had advantage of a length lead on Faithful Man and Pat Hogan’s Aulton Leo rounding the first bend. The lead was reduced to half a length down the back and sailing in front as they approached the third bend, Faithful Man (Royal Impact-Josiova) went clear of the rest of the field  to win by over three lengths with a clock of 29.07. Reserve runner, Menlo Polly was second home and half a length back for third place was Cragbrien Hondo.
Another well-known owner, Tommie Gallagher from Cooraclare, won the chief supporting race, the A2 graded 525, with his Good Slick in trap two. At the opening bend, Good Slick just shaded it from Haveweannie and Bit View Kenny. Drawing clear from the half way stage, Good Slick (Ballymac Maeve-Bling Bling Flo) was in command for the rest of the race to win by eight and a quarter lengths in 29.27 from Malbay Bawn (Ciara Burke, Miltown Malbay).
The card also included three first-round heats of the Carrabane Community A3 525. In the opening heat, the pace was set by Tommie Gallagher’s Master Slick and Grennanstown Lady. They were then challenged by the inside runner, Chapellane Charm, who in moving through to lead on the rail ran wide off the bend, carrying his rivals with him. The Ger Carew and Sean Geoghegan-owned Cavansheath Mesi (Hades Rocket-Anville Dame) then swept through to win the race by five lengths in 29.43 from Master Slick.
Reserve runner, Glenfort Lee, in trap three, was early into his stride in heat two and the Miss Gina McDonagh (Kinvara) owned son of Hades Rocket and Glenfort Rumble led Be My Bird by two lengths rounding the opening bend with Outback Kirsty in third place turning down the far side. Be My Bird challenged the leader as they came to the third but Glenfort Lee responded and raced on to score for the Kinvara kennel of  John McDonagh in 29.41 from Outback Kirsty. Third place went to Somebody Special, trained by Noel Mullins for the Rooster Syndicate, Scariff.
Dick’s Worldbound, trained by Mick Downes for Janet Downes, Killaloe, was runner-up in heat three won by Sonny Tazz by a neck in 29.49. Dick’s Worldboind had led by three lengths down the back but Sonny Tazz got through on the inner at the home bend and just got up for the narrow win.
Gort owner Tony Walsh was on the ball in the opening race of the night with his Burgoyne Bingo (Westmead Jo-Bingo Bridgy). Breaking fast from trap five to lead by three lengths at the opening bend, Burgoyne Bingo had extended his lead by the halfway mark and came home in impressive style for his debut win. The winning distance was a huge 10 lengths and the time was 29.14. The runner-up was Glenfort Fantasy  (Brigid D’Arcy, Ballyvaughan).
The Ennistymon-owned Wilbrook Paddy was two lengths in front as they approached the first bend in an S7 graded sprint. Even though he ran a little wide off the home bend, the County Offaly-owned Clonkelly Eagle (trap four) joined the leader as they swung for home and managed to reach the line first to beat Wilbrook Paddy (Michael Davorern) by a neck in 19.52. Third place was filled by Woodlawn Rumble (John Conway,Kilrush).
The Birr-owned Clonkelly Lauren made all the running in an A6 graded 525 to win by nearly four lengths in 29.49 from Kerrane, owned in Gort by Willie Carr and Shane Counihan.
Trainer, Stephen Murray and owners, Michael Lillis and the MADJ syndicate from West Clare, also made their trip worthwhile as their Speed Tramp came out best in an anA4 graded 525. There was just a length between all six runners at the opening bend where Electro Digweed (trap one) led from Speed Tramp in five and Gone to Garry in two. There was little between Electro Digweed and the eventual winner as they raced down the back. But when they came from the back, Speed Tramp had the advantage and from here on, the son of Crash-Banner Honcho took control of matters to win the race by over two lengths  in 29.56. Eletro Digweed was runner-up and third home was Tell Me Skinner (Janet Downes, Killaloe).
The Tuam-owned and John McDonagh-trained Tyrur Paudi was an easy winner of an A4 graded 550-yard race by nearly 10 lengths in a time of 30.37 from Sunside King (Michael McDonnell, Kilrush).