In-form Tyra Cool breezes to Oaks victory

Maintaining the splendid form that saw her win most of her qualifying heats on the way to the final, Tyra Cool was a trap-to-line winner of the Roche’s Feeds Oaks at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night.

Owned in Rathcoole by Gary Loughnane, the daughter of Big Daddy Cool-Tyrur Betty had a flyer of a start from trap three to lead all the way  and hold off the fast-finishing
Trixies Post (trap three) to win by a length-and-a-half in a fast 28.66. Airmount Swank was two-and-a-half lengths back to clinch third place. The 525 yards event was worth €12,500, with €5,000 and a trophy going to the winner.
Speaking about the successful sweepstake, Imelda Cahalan sales, commercial and operations manager of the Limerick Greyhound Stadium, said the  sweepstake was another positive and very welcome addition to the Limerick Greyhound Stadium.  They were delighted to welcome back Roche’s Feeds as sponsors of this sweepstake for the second year.
There was a fine supporting card, which included a number of finals. One of them was the Roche’s Feeds A2 550 final in which the Feohenagh-owned Bunoke Rumble  was in front all the way from trap three to win by two lengths in 30.46.
Two lengths back for runner-up spot was Ascot Ace (trap five), trained by Michael Downes for Janet Downes, Killaloe, while third home, three parts of a length away, was Starlight Miller (Thomas and Niall O’ Sullivan, Shannon) in trap two.
The eighth race on the card was the Inislosky Kennels Mini Open 525 final, which went to the Croom-owned Honeypound Chick, who led from the second bend. Baukled at the second bend, Starlight Bound (trap one) and again owned in Shannon by Thomas and Niall O’ Sullivan, was runner-up.
Tom Flanagan, Russa, Ennistymon, had a nice winner with his Contentious in a Roche’s Feeds A2 race over 525 yards. This was the second time around the Limerick circuit for the daughter of Droopys Kewell-Coldwar Baby.
The Graham Holland-trained Broadacres Buddy led the way from trap one but challenging well down the back, Contentious (trap three)  moved to the front to lead over the final two bends and win by three lengths with a clock of 29 from Broadacres Buddy.
The Rachel Wheeler-trained Camas Crash (trap four) was always in front  in an open A1-graded 525 to register a  six-and-a-half lengths win  in 28.40 – the best clock of the night – from the  Bernard Coffey-trained O Garney Rock, owned near Sixmilebridge by Helen Coffey.
William Keane from Shannon was the sole Clare winner in Limerick on Friday night, with his Sallofknockbrack in trap three in the 10th race of the night, a Roche’s Feeds A4 graded race over 525 yards. The brindled daughter of Kinloch Brae-Zoes Queen took up the running at the second bend and remained in front to beat Ballyelan Muppet by a length and a half. Her winning clock was 29.59.
In an earlier N3-graded sprint race, Upland Breeze, owned by Harry Galvin, Cratloe and Sean Dineen, was third home.
A few more Clare wins were recorded at the Monday night meeting in Limerick when the card featured a number of Limerick-Clare GOBA semi-finals.
The first semi-final heat of the Limerick-Clare GOBA A3 event over 525 yards went to the trap two runner, Fernpark Phanter, owned by Anna Carey, Cooraclare. Breaking fast, the son of Killahan Phanter-Express Smasher went into an early lead, one that he was not relieved of and at the finishing line had two-and-a-half lengths on Action Breaker. The time was 29.15. The Oola-owned Georgeous Sushi won the second semi-final heat in 29.36.
Killaloe trainer Michael Downes won  the second semi-final heat of the Limerick-Clare GOBA Dual Distance event with Bearhaven Gale (Balintore Brave-Tai Lass) owned by his wife, Janet Downes.
A trap four runner in this A4 graded 550 yards event, the black bitch was another to lead all the way for her two lengths win over Itellyaboy in a time of 30.69. Third spot went to Hawks Hill Lulu, owned and trained in Liscannor by Darryl Hopper.
The first semi-final heat was won in 30.74 by the Cappawhite-owned Shaws Bedlla. Third home in the same heat was Calling Belle, trained by Michael Downes for members of the Vodka and Pajamas syndicate from Ennis.
Nows Its Alex won the first race of the night for Cooraclare owner, Fionn Lillis. Drawn in trap two in this A3-graded 550, the daughter of  Westmead Hawk-Dalcash Diva, slipped into the lead at the third bend and with a strong finish had four lengths on Lissidale Hawk. The winner’s clock was 30.39.

Faithful win for Doon trainer Richardson

Patsy Richardon’s Faithful Man won the main race in Galway on Saturday night, the A1-graded 525.
The Gerry Holian-trained Ice Lightening in trap three and the Donie Dugan-trained Peadars Touch in  two were prominent on the inside from the  start and they were then joined by Faithful Man in six. After the first bend, Ice Lightening took it up by a length from Faithful Man  and it was a ding-dong struggle between the pair as they raced to the second-last bend. Moving well on the outside, the Doon-owned Faithful Man (Royal Impact-Josiva) went clear and stayed in front up the home run to win by close on four lengths in a good 28.83 from Ice Lightening. Three lengths further back for third place was Peadars Touch, owned by Peter Russell, Shannon.
The Gort-owned Destroyer and   Society St Flyer were fastest off the mark in the chief supporting race, an A2-graded 525. But they collided as they rounded the  opening bend, allowing the trap one runner Knockdine Black through along the inner to lead turning down the far side. Society St Flyer was back on terms at the halfway stage and she led by a length rounding the third bend but  the Frank Connolly-owned Combo Lisa (Collage Causeway-Tyrur Hillary) was closing on the outside and striking the front off the final bend went clear to win by  a length in 29.42. from the Ballinasloe-owned Society St Flyer. Third spot went to Knockdine Black, owned by Michael O’Brien, Miltown Malbay.
Mad For Money, trained by Bernard Coffey for Sixmilebridge’s JohnWhelan, was a qualifier from the opening heat of the Galway Hurling Board A3 stake over 525 yards. She trailed  Cumann Knievel and Hold It Melody by two lengths as they rounded the first bend and as they turned down the back Cumann Knievel moved to the front on his own. Railing well over the last two bends, Cumann Knievel won the race by five-and-a-half lengths from Mad For Money. His clock was 29.12.
Owned and trained by Donie Duggan from near Tulla, Knoppogue Mate was the winner of heat two. After an even break, the Limerick-owned Rubber Bandit headed the field and by halfways had a length on Twosugaralice with Knoppogue Mate (trap three) a further length back in third place. Moving well on the outside over the final two bends, Knoppogue Mate (Kinloch Brae-Cliamtes Kewell)  took over in the run home to win by two and a quarter lengths. His time was 29.40.
There was another Clare winner in heat three, Blaze Ken winning for the sixth time for Ennis owners, Anthony Brigdale and Margaret Byrne. From the start, the son of Kinloch Brae-Rackhill Lace  in trap three disputed the lead with Jumeirah Socks in six and Glenside Evans in one. Down the far side, Blaze Ken held the upperhand but Jumeirah Socks came again to come on terms  at the second-last corner. But as they headed for home, Blaze Ken came with a renewed effort  to win the race by a good four lengths in 29.18 from Magical Babi, with Jumeirah Socks beaten a half-lenght into third place.
John Quinn, Gort, and Peter Connolly won the final heat with their  Sellout Fast Fit in trap five.Over the final two bends, Twins Turbo tried to come on terms but  Sellout Fast Fit (Killahan Phanter-Posh Again) was in control for most of the trip to win by a length in 29.32 from Twins Turbo.
The Albert Long-trained Brickhill Lubos set the pace and was never overtaken when scoring a 29.17 win in the second semi-final heat of the Evilve Financial A4 stake. He had a length-and-a-half on Rockabilly Magic. A qualifier in third place was reserve runner and West Clare-owned Jacksies Lotto (Loretto Sexton).
The first semi-final heat went to Marty McFly (29.39).
Leading at the first bend and railing well after that, Traceya Destiny was the 19.59 winner of the opening race, the S9-graded sprint, from two West Clare owned runners. She won by close on two lengths from Wood Lee (Carl Maguire) and one and-a-half lengths back was Moyvana Cross ( PJ O’Halloran).
Doonbeg owner, Michael Finn did not go home empty handed as his Evelyns Fancy beat the rest of the field in the second race of the night, a 525 yards for A9 graders. From the start, Dynamo Charlie in trap one and Electro Montana in two led the way but as they passed the halfway stage, Evelyns Fancy came more and more into the picture as she progressed on the inside. When they came to the end of the back straight, the daughter of Killahan Phanter-Gold Rumble slipped through to lead from here to the line for a 30.01 win, beating Electro Montana by three parts of a length.

Galway double for Griffin

An exciting double for Martin Griffin of Caherea and  wins for Clare owners in first round heats of the Galway Hurling Board A6 event were the highlights of the card from the Clare point of view at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Thursday night.
It was a great night for Martin Griffin, striking early for his two wins.  His first winner was Take in trap three in the third race of the night, an A8-graded 525. In her maiden race, the daughter of College Causeway-Nebraska West got away  fast to lead Glensaul Star by three lengths at the opening bend. Six lengths clear at the halfway stage, she came home in great style with nearly eight lengths to spare from Ballyhale Emma in trap six, with a clock of 29.55. Third spot went to Killuran May, owned in Broadford by Donal Cooney.
The Caherea man did not have long to wait for the second part of the double as his Faoie, another first-time runner and a litter sister of his first winner, was in action from trap one in the following race, an N2-graded 525. She too had a fantastic start  and moving to the centre of the track as they approached the opening bend, she had a length on the Ballyvaughan-owned Pinnacle Ash. However, this was as near as the rest of the field got as Faoie  had gone six lengths to the good by the halfway. Although  Sargeants Katie  put in a determined effort as they headed for home, Faoie still had nearly five lengths to spare. Her clock was 29.54.
The Rosshill-owned Rosshill Rover was a 29.45 winner of the opening heat of the Galway Hurling Board A6 Stake.
Killuran Rocky, owned in Broadford by Darren Cooney, was in action in trap three in heat two and he and Curragh Ju Ju were prominent from the start. However, the East Clare-owned white and black railed exceptionally well over the first two bends to go into a  four lengths lead. The son of Head Bound-Killuran Premier swung a little wide off the home bend but was still a clear six-and-a-quarter lengths winner in a time of 29.81.
There was another Clare winner in heat three, Bypass Blackie doing the business for Ennis owner Paddy Darcy. Another newcomer to the scene, the son of Royal Impact-Ardavagga Dazl got off to a good start from trap five to lead Velvet Captain to the opening bend. Leading by three lengths and railing well over the last two bends, Bypass Blackie went on to score a fine four lengths win in 29.37 from Gerry Burke’s Malbay Tiberio.
There were  Clare and  Galway qualifiers from the fourth and final heat won by the locally owned Willrose Hawk (Westmead Hawk-Durham Lass). Tyrur Jessica, Manus Classic and Willrose Hawk were all well in contention from the start but the latter, with the aid of the inside lane, went a length clear. With crowding at the third bend, Willrose Hawk raced on to win the race by two lengths in 29.57 from Whiplash Willie, trained by Noel Mullins, Gort, for Gort owners Eleanor Mullins and Mark Curtin. Beaten a half-length into third place was Manus Classic, owned by Pat McInerney Senior, Manus, Clarecastle.
In earlier races, Willbrook Paddy (Michael Davoren, Ennistymon) was third in S8-S9 graded sprint while Clogher Road, owned by Mullagh men Alphonsus Tubridy and Dr Paddy O’Kelly, was runner-up in an S5-graded sprint won all the way by Scottish Deal.The winning distance was three-and-a-quarter lengths and the time was 19.43.

Headford Premier heads heat winners

With a clock of 29.08, Seamus Leahy’s Headford Premier was the fastest of the quater-final winners of the €5,000 Supermacs- Galway Hurling Board A7 event over 525 yards in Galway on Friday night.
Headford Premier dominated heat three to win by nine-and-a-half lengths.
The opening heat was won in 29.29 by Tony Hegarty’s Unknown Gem when beating Wheres Donie by a neck.Two lengths back for third place was Glasheen Queen (Brendan Browne, Kilkee).
There was another West Clare qualifier from heat two, Alexandra, owned in the Miltown Malbay area by Sean Meade and Sean Hehir.  The front runners from the start were Kilara Blonde and Definate Appea. Kilara Blonde still set the pace down the back but now Mark It Down, Alexandra and John Browne’s Rathmeehan Bonus, started to move in. As they turned for home it was the trap six runner, Mark It Down, who was going best and the son of Westmead Hawk-Wicked Marita shot in front. However, the race was not over yet as Alexandra tried to get up in the last few strides. But at the line it was Mark It Down by a short head in 29.60 for Gort owners Eleanaor Mullins and Mark Curtin.
The fourth and final heat was won in 29.59  by Rockfield Regina from Shiloh Valley and Barbersfort Jane.
Trap draw for the semifinals: heat one, 1 Glasheen Queen; 2 Unknown Gem; 3 Wheres Donie; 4 Barbersfort Jane; 5 Kilara Blonde; 6 Rockfield Regina (w). Heat two: 1 Mark It Down; 2 Shiloh Valley; 3 Alexandra; 4 Headford Premier; 5 Significant Bet; 6 Weather Bar (w).
A winner with Bypass Blackie on Thursday night, Ennis owner Paddy Darcy returned with  litter brother Bypass Joe (Royal Impact-Ardavagga Dazl) to win the opening race in Galway on Friday night.
A hot 4-5 favourite to win  his second race from two starts, the white and black did not disappoint his connections. He broke well, was first to the bend and remained in front for his three-and-a-quarter lengths win from the trap five runner, Gone toVegas, owned by Martin Keane, Kilmihil. The time was 29.63.
The lead spot changed a few times in an A7-graded 525 before the Clare-owned Alva Alice took over as they negotiated the third bend. However, at the home bend the Loughrea-owned Hollyhill Mist came with a great surge on the outside to take the lead and win by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 30.07 from Alva Alice, trained by Stephen Murray for Michael Lillis in West Clare and Frankie Sheehan, Ennis.
There was nothing between runners  once the traps lifted in an S7-graded sprint. The Donie Duggan-trained Moya Mae in trap four just held the advantage coming to the opening bend but as they rounded the bend, Woodlawn Rumble in trap two  went in front along by the rail. The John Browne-trained Brickhill Dubh in trap three tried to get on terms but Woodlawn Rumnble (Ace Hi Rumble-Ferryside Miss) prevailed for West Clare owner John Conway. The winning distance from Brickhill Dubh  was three parts of a length and the time was 19.69.
Rynal Ruane’s Outback Hotchner made all the running  in an S3-graded sprint to win by four lengths in a time of 19.00 from the Ennistymon-owned Dromoher Snoopy (Megan Flanagan). Beaten a neck into third place was Fanore Mac, trained by Donie Duggan for Fanore publican Paddy O’ Donoghue.
Kylea Dreamer, owned in Inagh by Irene Barry, was the front runner for a lot of the time in the second-last race on the card, an A4-graded 525. However, from the third bend Tyrur Yagerbomb, owned inTuam by Master Tom McDonagh, started  to close in and he got up before the line to win by three parts of a length with a clock of 29.20. Kylea Dreamer was runner-up.