THERE was huge support for the Clare Crusaders benefit meeting in Galway on Friday night when the feature race, the Clare Crusaders Clinic fundraiser for A2 graded runners over 550 yards, was won by the Liscannor-owned Kinielty Spice.
Six Clare-owned dogs went to traps and when they lifted, it was the West Clare runners, Lismadine Crash and Ad Lib who first showed and they led by a length approaching the first bend from Kinielty Spice. Racing down the back, Ad Lib was a length in front of Kinielty Spice, who made headway on the inside as they went to the second-last bend. Here, the Declan and Terry McDonagh-owned daughter of Brett Lee-Inagh Spice came good to take the lead. While Conor Cleary’s Kilcorcoran Manu launched a big challenge on the run home, the Liscannor-owned black was not going to be denied and she held on to win by a neck from Kilcorcoran Manu. A length and a half back for third place was Wall Street (Conor Heeney and Patrick Cronin, Ennis).
The card also featured a challenge race between Clare and Galway-owned dogs and the honours went to Galway with victory for the Jack Mahony-trained Fast Fit Maroon, owned by John Quinn, Gort and Fr Willie Cummins, Galway. This was an A3 graded 525 yards contest in which Frank Browne’s Mine Crash in trap five led from traps by two lengths from Fast Fit Maroon (trap five). However, Fast Fit Maroon railed well to go within a length of the leader when entering the back straight. Passing the halfway mark, Fast Fit Maroon (Royal Impact-Mitsibushi Flyer) became the new leader by three lengths. The Sean Fahy-trained Muddy Shoes then threw down a challenge but Fast Fit Maroon withstood the challenge to win by three lengths in 29.17. Clare claimed third place with Drimeen Border, owned byAoife and Johnny Burke.
Semi-finals of the ECC Timber A2 and A3 stakes were also on the card.
The first of the A2 semi-finals was won by Bogberry Kitty, owned by Tom Reynolds, Ennistymon. This was a keenly contested race with a number of fancied runners. As expected, there was a lively start with Bogberry Kitty just getting to the bend in front of Ezfrank and the Sean Hehir-trained favourite, Dunsallagh Milo. Bogberry Kitty continued to force the pace and as they approached the second-last bend, the daughter of Droopys Vieri-Rising Angel started to take control and she went on to win by nearly three lengths in 29.07 from the Seamus Fahy-trained Dan the Navigator. Third home was Frisco Rumble, owned by the Spelman, Riordan and McDonagh syndicate from Shannon.
The Rynal Ruane-trained Fire Stop won the second semi-final in 29.24 from Tyrur Leo and Go Sonny Go.
The A3 sem-finals were won by On Thaw Jarug (29.19) and Combo Lomu (29.14).
The opening race of the night, an A8 graded 525, was a very tight affair with Robeen the Brave just getting up to win by a neck in 30.12 from Good Lucy. Beaten by a neck into third place was the Clare-owned Landers Girl (John J Vaughan).
An S5 graded 350 contest saw Fast Fit Wok, owned by John Quinn, Gort and the locally-owned McHugh Lass (T3) being best away and the pair matched strides to the opening bend, after which McHugh Lass enjoyed a narrow advantage along the inside. Rounding the crown of the home bend, Fast Fit Wok (Knockabout Wok-Fast Fit Nikita) moved to the front on the outside and although McHugh Lass came back on the run in, Fast Fit Wok held out to win by half a length in 19.34.
Gowerhass Hill, owned in West Clare by Mary and Michael Liddane, came home third in an S3 graded 350 won in 19.44 by the Pat Guilfoyle-trained Ms Deltafire.
The Catherine O’Meara-handled North Gold in the inside trap won an S4 graded sprint race in 19.21, one length in front of O’Garney Mal, owned by Bernard Coffey from near Sixmilebridge. Two lengths in arrears for third spot was Roy of Inagh (Sean Arthur, Inagh).
Quin-based trainer, Frank Browne, had the final say when Tommy Tippy (trap five) won the last race on the card, an A4 graded 525. Owned in Quin by Tommy Corbet and Patrick Hassett, the daughter of Hades Rocket-Jumeriah Jess led on the run-up from Kalanisi.
Going down the far side, the eventual winner led by two lengths from O’Garney Belle with Kalanisis, who was carried wide at the first, trying to get back in contention. Tommy Tippy still held the advantage over the final two bends and won by a length and a quarter in 29.45 from the challenging Kalinisi.
Before racing ended Ann Norton, on behalf of Clare Crusaders Clinic, Barefield, acknowledged all who supported the benefit meeting.

Clare dogs qualify for ECC Timber Stakes

Peggy, owned by Frankie Sheehan, Ennis; Kylea Dreamer, carrying the hopes of Irene Barry, Inagh and Knockdine Joker, representing Helen O’Brien, Miltown Malbay, were among the qualifiers from  the semi-finals of the ECC Timber A4 and A5 Stakes, which were the featured races in Galway last Thursday night.
In the opening semi-final of the A4 event, the County Westmeath-owned Springwell Echo led from the opening bend but had to withstand a grand stand finish from Jules Flyer to win by a neck in 29.25. Five lengths back for third place was Kylea Dreamer.
PJ Fahy’s Tyrur Alice came with a great run from the home bend to take the lead close to the line and beat long-time leader, the Gerry Holian-trained Catunda Bernard by a length in 29.05 in the second semi-final. The Seamus Fahy-trained Clone Mettle Rum took third spot.
The County Galway-owned Corrandulla Star (trap one) avoided crowding at the opening bend to go well clear in the opening A5 semi-final. Down the back, he was out on his own and he raced on for a 12-length win over Peggy, trained by Stephen Murray for Frankie Sheehan, Ennis. The winner’s clock was 29.05.
Newport Dan showed the way for a long time in the seccond semi-final but in the run home he was overtaken by Tyrur Crowley, who won the race by close on two lengths in 29.20. Knockdine Joker was a length back for third place.
In the opening race of the night, an A9 graded 525, the County Galway-owned Farewell Flight was quickly into her stride to lead from Bellgrove Cherry. She led all the way to win by four lengths in 29.90 with Lismadine Jack, owned by Paddy Troy from near Kilkee and Conor McInerney, taking runner-up spot.
Rathmeehan Babe, trained by John Browne, Ballyea for Luke Browne, was prominent from the start in an S9 graded 350 but at the opening bend, Rinnwood Niamh shot in front and stayed in that position for the remainder of the race to beat Rathmeehan Babe by five lengths in a time of 19.43.
In an S4 graded 350 yards race, Triggs of Inagh, owned by Aisling Arthur, Inagh, shot into the lead at the opening bend. However, Another Legend, owned by a syndicate in County Meath, came strong in the run home and just got there by a neck from Triggs of Inagh. The time was 19.75.
The Tom Burke (Dunmore) trained Garryvadden Star was never bothered in an A6 graded 525 and won by 15 lengths in 29.30 from Glenwood Carrie. Rumble King (Jimmy Noymoyle, Doonbeg) was third. The chasing pack all got in each others’ way at the third bend.
In the final race of the night, an A4 graded 525, Aiming Upwards, owned by Martin Griffin, Caherea, was quick off the mark from trap three and led over the first two bends. Down the back, however, Croftys Choice posed a threat and joined the leader at the second-last bend. He then passed Aiming Upwards and as he headed for the line he had to withhold a great surge from Sandstorm Rocker to win by half a length in 29.48. Aiming Upwards took third spot, a length and a half in arrears.

Sweet victory for Annagh Toffee

THE spotlight was on South Galway trainer, Sean Cooke from Kilbeacanty when Annagh Toffee won the big race of the night, the final of the www.fasttrap.net A3 575 in Galway last Saturday night.
On a night when Mullagh publican, Noel Moroney had a nice double, Worth a Wager, trained in East Clare by Donal Cooney for the Boys Club syndicate, headed the market at 6/4 for the big race of the night but it was Annagh Toffee in trap three and Glenbrack Tina in five who were first to show.
Annagh Toffee led by a length at the first from Shaneboy Vegas in six. Down the back, the son of Yeah Man-Twotensfive extended his lead to four lengths as Worth a Wager started to improve his position, as did Barntick Luke in trap one. Coming from the back, the lead between the winner and  the next best was cut to three lengths.
In the run home, Barntick Luke made up a lot of ground but Annagh Toffee held out to reach the line half a length in front of Barntick Luke. Annagh Toffee won in a time of 31.78 to collect the cheque for €1,700 for owner Sean Cooke-Moore. Barntick Luke is trained by Gerry Reidy for Mary Reidy, Clarecastle.
The Saturday night card also featured two semi-finals of the ECC Timber A1 over 525 yards.
The first semi-final was won by four lengths and in an exciting time of 28.73 by the well supported and Seamus Fahy-trained Ballyahesa Peg from the locally-owned Burnpark Julie and Liscahane Ben.
There was a trap-to-line success in the second semi-final won in 28.79 by the Rynal Ruane-trained Jumeriah Joe. He won by two lengths from the Noel Mullins-trained Lorenzos Magic.
The Clare-owned Kafuffle (Niamh Quinn) was the runner-up in the first race of the night, an A7 graded 525, which was won in 29.96 by the Loughrea-owned Pegs Beauty.
Derrylough Himac, owned by J J O’Dea, Derrylough, was well placed in the opening stages of an S8 graded 350 race but he ran wide at the first and gave the advantage to Hanover Ningbro, who ran on to win the race by one a half lengths in 19.55 from Derrylough Himac.
Clare hurling manager, Ger O’Loughlin tasted success in the third race, an S7 graded sprint, which went to Sparrows Banner (Astronomic-Melua) owned by the Road To Shelbourne syndicate from Shannon, of which the hurling manager is a member. Drawn in trap four, the black dog, trained by Donie Duggan, was fastest off the mark and opened up a half-length lead on Coolarene Billy, who hampered the rest of the field after checking at the first bend.
It was all Sparrows Banner from here to the finishing line where he had an advantage of six and a half lengths on Clonmany. The winner’s clock was 19.54.
Tiermana Hawk (Westmead Hawk-Castlehill Alice) won the first part of the double for Noel Moroney from Mullagh. This was an A4 graded 525, which saw the winner lead on the wide outside to the opening bend where she went two lengths in front of Caulry Pearl. Tiermana Hawk kept wide down the back but cut inside when coming from the back straight.
In the run home, Caulry Pearl came closer but Tiermana Hawk held out to win by half a length in 29.23.
Confused Jose, representing Gerry Manley from Cratloe, was the early leader in an A3 graded 525 but the Tom Ryan-trained Lady Richmore slipped through on the inside and went on to win the race by a length and a half from Merciful Robyn in 29.75. Confused Jose was half a length back for third place.
The combination of trainer Albert Long and the owners, Martin Keane and the Profit and Loss syndicate from Kilmihil, came through successfully in an S6 graded 350 with their Trial Balance. There was only one length between all six runners at the first where Trial Balance went in front by two lengths, avoiding crowding among the rest of the bunch, which almost brought down Blackcastle Step.
In the concluding stages, the rest of the field was coming nearer Trial Balance but the son of Bar Time-Catunda Hyland just held out to beat Blackcastle Step by a neck in 19.85.
The eight race on the card, an A3 graded 575, brought the second part of the double for Noel Moroney. In this race he had Tiermana Legend (Dromora Kewell-Tromora Queen) in trap five but he was put at a disadvantage when forced wide at the first where he lost three lengths.
Racing down the back, reserve runner Phils Boy, who led from the start, had opened up a five-length lead on Tiermana Legend. However, Noel Moroney’s black was now full of running and after the final bend, the lead was cut down to two lengths and in the charge for the line Tiermana  Legend got up to win by a neck in 30.95.

Cup heat win for Hurry on Black

HURRY On Black, Kennedy Cup winner and 28.77 winner of an open 525 in Shelbourne Park recently, could have a big say in the outcome of the Thurles Fresh Milk Tipperary Cup. Owned by members of the Malachy’s
bar syndicate from Quin and trained by Sean O’Brien, he won his opening round heat of the event in fine style in Thurles last Saturday night. Drawn in trap four, the son of Boherduff Light-Fast Point led the charge to the opening bend, led all the way and wound up an exciting 28.83 winner, three and a half lengths in front of Forest Rover.
The fastest first-round winner was the Murt Leahy trained Leomon Jet, who had a clock of 28.82 for the 525 yards trip.
Elsewhere, Cool Ivy Hill (Big Daddy Cool-Dark Diamond), owned by Noel Hehir, Inagh, qualified for the final of the Dundalk Stadium S2 400. The firm favourite won his semi-final heat in 21.49, beating A Ok by a length and a quarter. Parnell Jo won the other semi-final in 21.74.
Trainer Pat Curtin had a winner in Shelbourne Park last Satureday with Shanaway Rex, owned by the Curtin-Loughrey-Day syndicate. He challenged down the back and finished well to win the A2 graded 550 by three lengths from The Other Sonic in a time of 30.37.

Limerick winner

MEELICK owner, Dan Flynn had a winner with Rallying Caul in a first round heat of the Limerick and Clare GOBA A6/A7 event over 525 yards in Limerick last Saturday night. Winner of his first race on June 24, the son of Black Shaw-Goodbye Lucy won his heat by four lengths in 29.02 from Malbay Torroes, owned by Kevin Burke, Miltown Malbay.
The big race on the card, the Dave Cremin Engineering A5 final over 525 went to the Kilmeedy-owned Gulleen Rose in 28.71.
Clare dogs placed in their races were Rocking Rilla (Patrick and Geraldine Nagle) and Upland Lake (Harry Galvin, Cratloe).