Three nights of racing returned to Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last weekend, with second-round heats of Thursday night’s from April 7 A7 sweep dominating the card on Thursday night.

The main race on the card was the Tote Payouts at Galway A5 final, which saw the Donie Duggan-trained Fred The Pilot, finish in runner-up spot. Inaminute (Head Bound-What a Diva) was sent off the money on favourite in trap four but the first to hit the front when the traps lifted was the trap one runner, Harbour Bullet who led Fred The Pilot (trap six) by a length. Behind them were Castlegar Lass (trap three) and Inaminute. As they came to the third bend, Fred the Pilot moved in front on the inside but the Mark Noonan and Tim Shanahan-owned Inaminute was making steady progress and eventually forced himself in front at the home bend and was on his way to a two lengths win in 29.76 from Fred the Pilot owned in Tulla by Aisling Hannon. Beaten half a length into third place was Castlegar Lass.

However, Donie Duggan was winner of the first of the second round heat of the Thursday Nights From April 7 A7 sweep with Denny and Donie (Black Shaw-Smooth Jean) owned in Clarecastle by Denis Torpey. The Fanore-owned Killonaghan Jess in trap three was first away to lead around the two opening bends from Stool Savings (trap one) and Denny and Donie (trap five). That was the position as they raced down the back but when they reached the home bend the leader went very wide allowing Stool Savings to take over the number one spot. But before they reached the line Denny and Donie came flying through to win the heat by half a length in 29.95 from Killonaghan Jess owned by PJ O’Donoghue, Fanore. Stool Savings was beaten a head into third place.

There was a brother and sister win in heat two, which was dominated by Loughan Lad owned by Michelle Mullaney, Tullamore and trained by her brother, Maurice Mullaney, Castletown Gort. The son of Droopys Scolari-Bua Gorm showed good early pace to lead all the way for his 29.25 win, two and a quarter lengths in front of Noelles Brino with Headford Cailin taking third place.

The Ennistymon-owned Master Tood in trap three was the early leader in heat three from Leamaneigh Jim in trap six. However, after switching inside down the back, Leamaneigh Jim was out in front after rounding the third bend. Even though swinging wide at the home bend, he went clear to win by three lengths in 29.67 from Master Tood, trained by Maurice Mullaney for Noel McMahon, Ennistymon.

There was another Clare qualifier from the fourth and final heat, Feed Me Scampi owned by Kim Knell, Mountshannon. The winner was the Mary and Margie Coughlin-owned Codiana (trap five) who led at the second bend before drawing clear from the third bend to beat Feed Me Scampi in trap six by four-and-a-half lengths in 29.79.

Boherash Torpedo, owned by Frank Casey, Stonehall, Newmarket-on-Fergus, was third home in an S5-graded sprint won by Unknown Buzz in 19.52. The winner is trained by Stephen Hegarty for Tony Hegarty, Cork.
The Hegarty team also won the next race, an A6 graded 525, with Unknown Cougar who clocked 29.54 when beating Ashcarne Ella by almost five lengths. A length-and-a-half back for third place was the West Clare owned Gowerhass Tune (Mary and Michael Liddane).

 

Griffins scores a double for Caherea kennel

’Bridge duo aim to cash in on Mad For Money Doubles for the kennels of Martin Griffin, Caherea and Tom McDonagh were highlights of the card in Galway on Friday night.

The Caherea owner-trainer won the opening race of the night with Muloc (College Causeway- Nebraska West) and followed up with litter sister, Faoie taking the featured race of the night, the A2-graded 525 sponsored by the AG2R La Mondiale Group from France who were dining at the stadium as part of their tour of Ireland. Faoie was well positioned in second place over the first two bends and managed to squeeze her way through at the third to take the lead and remain in front for the rest of the trip despite the late challenge by Sonny Tazz in trap one, the winning distance was half a length and the clock was 29.38. Third place went to the Maurice Mullaney trained and Philip Mullaney (Gort) owned Forest Sam, two and a half lengths back.

The litter double which was initiated in the opening contest for A4-graded runners over 550 yards in which both Martin Griffin’s Muloc in trap two and the trap five runner, Hurling Nun, owned and trained in Gort by Noel Mullins, disputed the lead from the start. At the first bend Muloc went clear by a length from the wide running Hurling Nun and extended the lead to two lengths down the back. Railing well over the final bends, Muloc enjoyed an advantage of four and a half lengths at the line in 30.47 from Hurling Nun.

The Clare-owned Winword Express (Master Thomas Hehir) came home third in race two, an A9-graded 525 won by Tyrur Dolores, trained by John McDonagh for Master Tom McDonagh, Tuam in 29.85.

John McDonagh made it a family double on the night in the S3-graded sprint with his daughter Winnifred’s Tyrur Winnie (Tyrur Kenny-Tyrur Kitten). The winner led from the opening bend to win by a length and a half from Cahercalla Risk (Sean J. Heeney and Tony Quinn, Ennis) in 19.44. Third home was Dunsallagh Pride (Sean Hehir, Miltown Malbay) one length back.

Killaloe trainer Michael Downes had Dicks Worldbound in fine form for a return to wining ways for his wife, Janet Downes. In the A3-graded 525 reserve runner Snuggie Blu, Dicks Worldbound and Tyrur Sammon disputed the early lead with Dicks Worldbound getting the better of matters after cutting to the rail and going clear at the opening bend. It was one-way traffic from this on with the son of Head Bound-Teds Miss World going further and further ahead and finally winning by nearly 13 lengths in 30.39 from Willrose Champ. Third spot went to Hold It Heather owned by Liam Shannon, The Burren.

However, Mark Shannon, The Burren, gained some measure of satisfaction with his Hold It Hazard winning his debut race. This was on an A7/A8-graded 525 which saw the son of Moral Duty-Mustang Laurel lead all the way for his five lengths win in a time of 29.33.He was smartly away from trap three to lead from Lizzie in trap one and Feed Me Cavier in four. By halfways the race was as good as over with Hold It Hazard making a very impressive start to his racing career.

Consequential a flying winner

Consequential, owned by Tom Flanagan, Russa, Ennistymon was the fastest of the winners from the three semi-final heats of the Holy Rosary College (Mountbellew) A3 event over 525 yards at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night.

Consequential was involved in the opening semi-final, getting a good start from trap three and leading by three lengths at the opening bend, The son of Droopy Kewell-Coldwar Baby was followed by O Garney Princess, rap five, and Danmar Mini, in two, both reserve runners. At the home bend, Danmar Mini had come to within one length of the leader but Consequential held out well to win by one length in 29.20.

Lismadine Jack, owned by Paddy Troy from outside Kilkee and Conor McInerney, Clarecastle, looked to be on his way to a win in the second semi-final heat. However, Tyrur Ella, trained by John McDonagh for Master John McDonagh, Tuam battled back close to line and went on to win the race by a length from Lismadine Jack in a time of 29.53.Outside the qualifiers in third place was Boleyphaudeen owned in Gort by Eleanor Mullins and Mark Curtin.

However, the third and final heat produced a Gort qualifier, Ardera Potty coming home in second place for Tony Walsh. The Stephen Hegarty-trained Unknown Suzi was four lengths clear down the back but had to battle hard to survive the challenge from Ardera Potty. The winning distance was three parts of a length and the time was 29.36.

Tom Flanagan came close to having a double; his Contentious being beaten by a neck in the first race of the night, an A5-graded 550. Contentious (trap four) and Hanover Maeve (trap six) led to the opening bend where the Ennistymon owned black bitch took the number one spot with the benefit of the inside lane. Two lengths clear down the back, Contentious moved off the rail over the final two bends allowing Hanover Maeve to get back on terms and get the verdict in a very tight finish. It was also a neck back to the third placed Clonlusk Spice (Liam Shannon, Burren). The time was 30.81.

Outback Dooley, owned in Athenry by Rynal Ruane, made all the running in the next race, an S8-graded sprint, to record a 19.65 win, a length and a quarter in front of the runner-up, Rathmeehan Maeve owned by John Browne, Ballyea.

The Athenry handler also won the next race, an S6-graded sprint, with Outback Murphy (19.73).
Doonbeg owner-trainer, Jimmy Normoyle, got into the winner’s frame with Ring Twice in the first of two semi-finals heats of the Back To Slips Coursing Bred 350. In the opening semi-final Spuds and Gravy (trap two) was first to show and had the advantage of a few lengths approaching the opening bend. As he negotiated the bend he was challenged by Blushing Annie, in three, and Glenrock Rebel, in six. Making great progress on the outside and switching inside at the home bend, Ring Twice moved up a gear or two and at the line the daughter of Mafi Magic-Tyrur Rihanna was two and a quarter lengths in front of her nearest rival, Spuds and Gravy. The time was 19.59.

Wood Kylie, owned by Carl Maguire from near Kilrush and Adrian Ennis, Kilkee, was the early leader in the second semi-final heat but the wide running Creevy Fed in trap six managed to move in front on the crown of the home bend. Striding out well Creevy Fred won the race by nearly six lengths in 19.55 from reserve runner, Tarbrook Suzy. Beaten a short head into third place was Wood Kylie.

An easy 10 lengths winner of an A5 graded 525 was the Mick McGrath-owned Harbour Lad (Slip the Lark-Black Stick) who had a clock of 29.56. The runner-up was Drumhill Star and third place went to Confused Bigbang (Gerry Manley, Cratloe).

’Bridge duo aim to cash in on Mad For Money

The Sixmilebridge combination of trainer, Bernard Coffey and owner, John Whelan will be represented by their blue bitch, Mad For Money, in the final of the JJ Flynn A2/A3-graded 525 Memorial Rallying Stakes at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium next Saturday night.

The daughter of Hondo Black-Money Go Lucky was involved in the second semi-final heat of the stake last Saturday night with a trap one draw. She came away well to take the lead at the second bend but encountered bumping at the third but managed to take runner up spot, five lengths behind Banbas Sapphire, the 29.45 winner. Third place went to the Roscrea owned Florida Beauty.

The Wall family from Rathkeale won the first semi-final heat with trap one runner, Tallyho Lee. In a desperately exciting finish the black got the verdict by a neck from Ballyana Foxtrot with a fast 28.94 clock. Seven lengths back for third place was Carhumore Flash.

There was no Clare winner at the fundraising night in aid of Estuary Rugby Club.

Slow off the mark from trap one, Wood Nina, owned by John Conway, Kilrush, finished well to take third spot in the Munster Crushing S3 graded 350 won by Fionntra Nikita in 19.23 and by half a length from Bellagors Slippy. It was half a length back to Wood Nina.

After leading from the first bend, Inislosky Diva owned by Mrs. Mary Crotty, O’Briensbridge, was overtaken in the run home and beaten a length and a half into second place by After Tracey, the 29.91 winner.

The Michael Downes trained Portroe Craic was also a slow starter in the Carrons Windfarm Ltd A4 600 and finished in third place. Raggtaggle Ron won the race by half a length in 33.12 from Clounanna Pixie who finished three parts of a length in front of Portroe Craic.

Clare owners also drew a blank in Limerick on Friday night.

However, Portdrine Dodo owned by Mela and Ben Carroll, Cratloe, qualified for the final of the Saturday Night Pick 6 A4 Novice 750 when finishing runner up in the second semi-final heat. The seven lengths winner of the heat in 42.66 was Under the Radar owned in Rathkeale by Joe Williams.

Con Lucey travelled from Mallow to win the first semi-final heat with Mollys Hope. The time was 42.42 and the winning distance was eight lengths from Cashen Sara.

Third home in S7 syndication S6 Or Lower 350 was Deepindebt owned by Joe Keane, Carrigaholt. The 19.14 winner was Garys Glory.

Gort trainer, Maurice Mullaney, had Mickys Scolari in trap five in an A3-graded 525 and finished in second spot, four lengths behind the Stephen Burns trained Side Order who completed the trip in a fast 28.89.

On this Friday night Limerick features the final of the Saturday Night Pick 6 A4 novice 750 with €700 and a trophy for the winner. The big race on Saturday night will be the JJ Flynn Memorial Rallying Stakes A2/A3 525,worth €1,500 and a trophy to the winning owner.

The next feature event in Limerick will be the Roches Feeds Limerick Oaks, an event for 48 entries and commencing on Saturday week, April 20. The winner will receive €5,000 and trophies. Entries close on Tuesday, April 16 at 10am.

There will be sales in Limerick on Tuesday May 14 and entries now being accepted.