THE Ennis-owned Laoises First was the star of the show when first-round heats of the Galway Sea Festival A6 and A7 Stakes got underway at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Thursday night.

Owned by Pádraig and Joe Ward, the son of Black Shaw-Smooth Jean had an unlucky debut race at this venue on April 13 but more than made up for this with the  best performanceof the night in the A6 graded event. Drawn in trap three, he showed plenty of early foot to lead out the favourite, Howya Paudie, in trap one, and Upintheair, in trap two. Once they turned down the back, the race was all over as Laoise’s First simply pulled away from the rest of the field to win by close on 11 lengths with an impressive 28.74 clock.

The favourite and Howya Paudie filled the minor placings.

Heat one was won in 29.94 by the Loughrea-owned Clomboduian from Olly’s Louise and Ashhcarne Ella: the clock stopped at 29.16 for the Jerry Griffin-trained Future Joe when winning heat two from Ballinveala Deco and Swinford Sadhbh, while the fourth and final heat went to Snuggie Jack(Minnie’s Pavlova-Buddha’s Babe), owned in Newmarket-on-Fergus by Myles Cummins. Leading from the start, he made all the runnng to win the heat by three and a quarter lengths in 29.47 from Bold Inca with Hanover Buzz also qualifying.

There were five Clare-owned qualifiers from the four heats of the Galway Sea Festival A7 stake.

There was another Newmarket-on-Fergus winner in the opening heat, Snuggie Bubble, a litter sister of Snuggie Jack and owned by Breda Casey. Trap-one runner, Barbersfort Rose used her inside lane to take the early lead. But as they rounded the third bend, Snuggie Bubble came closer to challenge and just got up at the line to win by a head in 29.89 from Barbersfort Rose with third place going to reserve runner, Aulton Sandie, owned by Pat Hogan, Templemaley.

There was another impressive performance from the Killenaule-owned High Flying Lady in wining heat two in 29.06 from Winword Hothead,owned by Cyril Hewhir, Inagh.

Heat three was won in 29.24 by the Loughrea-owned Jumeirah Lord from Hollywood Rosa and Gangnam Style.

Clare had two qualifiers from the fourth and final heat, Lismadine Hawk owned by Alan and Brian Troy from near Kilkee and Winword Lucky, owned by Cyril Hehir and Thomas Hehir, Inagh.The locally owned Curious Thinking overcame interference at the opening bend and went on to beat Lismadine Hawk by four and a half lengths in 29.50. Winword Lucky was and a quarter lengths back for third place.

 

Galway double for Ennistymon family

THE Davoren family from Ennistymon scored a double at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday night, while another Ennistymon owned runner, Consequential, qualified for the final of the Carrrabane Community A2 final.

The Davoren were on the mark early in the night with Wilbrook Shivers (Sheepwalk MacMissouri Dame) winning the second race on the card, an N2 graded sprint for Claire Davoren. In what was her maiden race, Wilbrook Shivers was the early leader from Jumeirah Bow who shot through as they approached the opening bend. However, the new leader went wide around the bend and railing  well, Wilbroook Shivers was back in command. There she stayed to record a fine length-and-a-quarter win in 19.69 from Jumeirah Bow.

Litter brother, Wilbrook Madness, represented Mary Davoren in the next race, an N2/N3 graded 525. Also in his first outing, Wilbrook Madness went off the 7/4 favourite but was trailing Tyrur Thunder and Capoola Maeve from the start but showed good early pace to lead going into the opening bend. With trouble among the back markers, the eventual winner was now clear of Tyrur Thunder and Blaze Fantasy. And at the line, it was Wilbrook Madness by two lengths in 29.51 from Tyrur Thunder. It was  two lengths back to the third-placed Blaze Fantasy owned in Ennis by Anthony Brigdale.

Mine Velvet, owned by Mary Browne, Quin, was three lengths clear as they approached the home turn in in an S4 graded sprint. But in the run home, the Rachel Wheeler-trained and Cashel-owned Calminginfluence (Scolari Me Daddy-Lemon Soul) proved the stronger to win by a length and three quarters in 19.31from Mine Velvet.

Reserve runner, Denny and Donie, trained by Donie Duggan for Denis Torpey, Clarecastle was third in in an S2/S3 graded sprint which was  won in 19.05 by Peter Connolly’s Sellout Skip from Kilbannon Bertie.The clock was 19.05.

Donie Duggan did have a winner later on, White Gal, owned by the Five Chancers’ Syndicate, doing the business in an A4 graded 575. In the long run to the first bend, Willrose Champ was in front of Bumblebee Robin with White Gal in third place. Down the back, it was Willrose Chief by four lengths from White Gal but the leader started to lose ground from the home bend. In the run to the line White Gal (Head Bound-Kilonaghan Girl) shot in front to win by nearly three lengths in 31.64 fromWillrose Champ. Third home was Hurling Nun, owned and trained in Gort by Noel Mullins.

The final race of the night, anA3 graded 550,was won in 30.61 by Tyrur Hannah from Unknown Cougar and Mine Rocket owned by Frank Browne, Quin.

The Pat Guilfoyle trained Twosugaralice (Premier Fantasy-Ms Firecracker) ran a superb 28.71 to win the first semi-final heat of the Carrabane Community A2 event. Consequential,owned by Tom Flanagan, Russa, Ennistymon,led from the opening bend where Twosugaralice railed well to come within a length of the leader as they turned down the back. Moving ahead on the inner as they reached half way, Twosugaralice was in control for the rest of the trip to win by five and a half lengths from Consequental with third place going to An Ould Habit, owned by Jason O’ Donoghue, Gort.

The Tuam owned Combo Taylor ( Hadas Rocket-Tyrur Hayley) won the second semi-final heat by almost three lengths in 28.87 from Ronnie Rumble and OGarney Princess.

Marmion wins featured race

SIGNED and Sealed, owned in Oranmore by Kevin Marmion, won the featured race in Galway on Friday night, the Like Us On Facebook A7 final over 525 yards.

Moving two lengths in front at the home turn, the son of Van Escalade-Shanti Sue) went on to win the final by two lengths in 28.86 from Headford Sam, with Noelles Prinmco taking third place. Outside the first three home was the Donie Duggan, owned and trained Knoppogue Care. A non-runner was Katieonfaya, also trained by Donie Duggan for Peter and Enda Mulrooney.

The card also featured first-round heats of the Festival of Sea A4 and A5 stakes.

Lismadine Jack, representing Paddy Troy (Kilkee) and Conor McInerney (Clarecastle) won the opening heat of the A4 stake. With all six runners charging inwards as they negotiated the first bend, Lismadine Jack managed to slip through and go in front by a length. As the race progressed, the winner  increased his advantage down the back, coming home a five-and-a-quarter-length winner in 29.04 from Unknown Suzi with third place going to Erris Kid.

Malbay Keane, owned by Gerry Burke, Miltown Malbay, was a qualifier from heat two. Malbay Keane led by two lengths down the back but Noelle’s Briollo came good from the third bend to take the lead near the line and win by three parts of a length from Lismadine Jack. The time was 29.01.

Clare owners dominated heat three, with all three qualifiers coming from the Banner County. Trap five runner, Unknown Tornado, looked the likely winner from the start with a three -length lead racing to the first bend.

However, he moved slightly wide at the bend where  Glasheen Sally railed exceptionally well and was just a half length behind Unknown Tornado as they made their way down the back. Contentious (trap six) was a close third by this stage and the third bend Glasheen Sally again railed very well and the daughter of Eden Brett-Rathmeehan Angel was on her  way to a three-and-a-half-length win in 29.20 for Kilkee owner, Brendan Browne. Cragbrien View (Martin Cronin and Jack Markham, Ennis) was runner-up and third home, one length back, was Snuggie Blu owned by Breda Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Third home in the final heat was Knockdine Holly (Helen O’Brien, Miltown Malbay). The 29.24 winner was Combo Ann from Unknown Ava.

The Limerick City-owned Garryowen Hawk (trap six) won the first of the Galway Sea Festival A5 stake. The early leader was Glenside Evens but just about in front as they raced from the back was Garryowen Hawk. For the remainder of the race, he held off the challenge from Glenside Evens to win by three parts of a length in a time of 29.24. The runner-up is trained in East Clare by Donel Cooney for Frank O’Meara and members of the Green Leaf Syndicate. The West Clare-owned Good Slick (Tommie Gallagher) filled third place.

The Doonbeg-owned Ring Twice, with a hat-trick of Galway wins to her credit, was runner-up in heat two, which went to the reserve runner and Stephen Murray (Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge) trained Bullseye Tops.

Kilbannon Casey and Bumblebee Bingo  were the front  runners after the traps lifted and as they passed the halfway stage, Kilbannon Casey had two lengths on Bullseye Top (Head Bouind-Mariah Dubh). But edging in front by the rail as they rounded the third bend, the Tralee-owned Bullseye Tops went clear to win by four lengths in 29.20 from Ring Twice owned and trained by Jimmy Normoyle, Doonbeg.

Ennistymon owner, Tom Reynolds, won heat three with Bogberry Molly (Droopy’s Vieri-Rising Lyric). The front runners from the start were Velvet Spencer, Tyrur Sammon, Spioraid Erin and Bogberry Molly. At the first bend, Velvet Spencer led BogberryMolly by a length but there was nothing between the two as they raced down the back. However, off the home bend, Bogberry Molly started to get on top and she raced on to win by two and a half lengths in 29.22 from Tyrur Sammon with third spot going to Velvet Spencer.

The  Glanmire-owned Glanmore Star won the final heat in 29.17 from Old Fort Banjo and Fagan’s Vidic.

Murray wins in Shelbourne

KILMURRY (Sixmilebridge) based trainer, Stephen Murray had two rewarding trips to Shelbourne Park recently. On May 11, he won an A1 graded 525 with Out of the Sky (Allmighty Jack-Newlawn Nellie) owned by Martin Williams, Clooney. It was his third win in-a-row in a fast 28.85.

He was back in headquarters with the same dog last Saturday night and he again obliged with a fast 28.59 win in another A1 graded 525. For his four in-a-row and eighth career win, Out of the Sky beat Tour Ali by four and a half lengths.

Ballymac Juice, also trained by Stephen Murray for members of the X In Bed Syndicate (Clare employees of De Beers, Shannon) was runner-up in an A3 graded 525 race in Shelbourne Park on May 11. The race was won in 29.79 by Chic Corea.

Among the winners in Shelbourne Park last Saturday night was Uncle Eoin (Droopy’s Vieri- Dark Rose) owned by James Robinsion and Clare-born jockey Kieron Fallon, Uncle Eoin won the Open 575 was by a neck from Abbeyville Tipp in a time of 31.13.

Inislosky Jacko to run in Lattin Cullen semi-final

INISLOSKY Jacko, owned by Mary Crotty, O’Briensbridge, has qualified for the semi-finals of the Lattin-Cullen AFC 5 525 in Limerick this Friday night.

First-round heats were decided last Friday night when Inislosky Jacko finished third in the heat won by Loughlea Rush in 29.34. Other heat winners were Kileline Oxo (29.59), Cloon Pippa (29.41) and Varra Blackstone (29.13). A £1,000 cheque and trophy will go to the winner.

Runner-up in in an A9 graded 525 in Limerick on Friday night was Doctor Bill owned in Feakle by Seamus McGrath. The half-length winner in 29.64 was the Athea-owned Dacent Kacy.

Runner-up in the next race, an A8 graded 525, was the Mary Crotty-owned Inislosky Mossy. The seven lengths and 29.02 winner was Landale Rachel.

The Reidy family from Clarecastle were back on the winners’ trail in Limerick last Saturday. Winner of a semi-final heat of the Croom Community Development A3 over 525 yards was Barntick Bound (Head Bound- Barntick Live). Trained by Gerry Reidy and owned by Mary Reidy, the winner was slow away from trap five but came back good to snatch a win on the line from Athlacca Amy in trap six. The winning distance was a neck and the time was 29.01. The second semi-final heat was won in 28.77 by Merlin Hawk.

The final will be on Saturday night’s card, which is an all-sponsored fundraiser for Croom Community Development. The winner gets €750 and a trophy.

Stonepark Maie, trained by Stephen Murray for the MADJ Syndicate from Cree was third in an S6 graded sprint in Limerick last Saturday night,

Jamesville, owned in Liscannor by David Hopper, was runner-up in an A7 graded 525 won by After Midnight with a clock of 29.29. The winning distance was three lengths.

O’Garney Patch, trained by Bernard Coffey, Sixmilebridge and owned by his wife, Helen, finished well to take third spot in an A3 graded 550 won by Racenight Boss in 30.19.

Terror on the track

SHE’S a Terror, favourite for the competition since the opening round, was an impressive and worthy winner of the €8,000 to the winner Lee Strand 550 final in Tralee last Saturday night. Trained by Eamonn Cronin, She’s a Terror (Crash-Bulgaden Gypsy) won by four lengths from Ring a Chris in 29.77. Third place went to Yeah Giovanni who recovered well after being badly baulked at the opening bend. He is trained by Paul Hennessy for members of the Toby syndicate (Keith Mungovan, Quin and Peter Mulligan, Dublin and Ennis).