Plenty of Spice in the Limerick Recharge Open

While not in record-breaking form on this occasion – she set a new time of 28.27 for the venue last week – Calling Spice was nonetheless the star of the show again when setting the fastest clock for second-round heats of the Vetsearch Recharge Open 525 at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night.
Trained by Graham Holland for Pat O’Donovan, Mallow, the daughter of Ballymac Mave-No Joke Spice (trap one) was led in the early stages by the Paul Hennessy-trained Colourful Champ, in trap two. However, she then stepped up a gear to go clear of the rest into the back straight and the race was as good as over at this stage. The runner-up was the Paul Hennessy-trained Airforce Newyork who, after a very slow start, made inroads by the rail and his flying finish earned him runner-up spot, six-and-a-half lengths behind Calling Spice, who had a clock of 28.31.
The next best on the clock was the Rachel Wheeler-trained Boherna House (Head Bound- Hondo On Air), in trap two, in heat three. He led all the way for a five-length win in 28.38 from Crossfield Star (trap four). Beaten a short head into third place was Holly Wood (trap four), owned by Pat Carey, Cratloe.
Other heat winners were Saleen Tompajoe (28.98) and Ogie Tom (28.41).
Draw for the semi-finals next weekend: Heat 1: 1. Holly Wood, 2. Airforce Newyork, 3. Dims His Eyes 4. Calling Spice, 5. Crossfield Star, 6. Oh Johnny (w). Heat 2: 1. Maximus Decimus, 2. Cashen Mafuma, 3. Boherna House, 4 Ogie Tom, 5. Rockburst Delta, 6. SaleenTompajoe.
West Clare owner, Joe Keane had the runner-up with Zapatara in the second race of the night, an A7-graded 525 won by Compass Biscuit in 29.31.
Also second home in the next race, an A2-graded 350, was Paris Jane, owned in Ennis by John Doyle, The 18.82 winner by seven lengths was the Chris Houlihan-trained Cashen Malouda.
Another West Clare owner, Pat Conlon, Cree, had a winner and a runner-up in Limerick on Friday night. Drawn in trap three, his Milesian Smurf (Climate Control-Milesian Magic) was an impressive trap-to-line winner of an A3-graded 550-yard race. His time for the trip was 30.22. Milesian Smurf won by six-and-a-half lengths from Sailing, trained by Mick Downes for Janet Downes, Killaloe. Third home was Jennick, owned in Gort by Jennie Griffin and Nick Bailey.
Pat Conlon went very close to making it a double when his Milesian Mark, a reserve in trap two, was beaten a neck into runner-up spot by Action Breaker in an A3-graded 525. The time was 29.34.
Mark Shannon, from the Burren, also had a winner on the night, his reserve runner, Hold It Jennie (Hades Rocket-Glenfort Rumble) winning the last race on the card in style. She led all the way from trap three for her two-and-a-half length win from Manuas Hero (John McInermey, Manus). The clock was 29.11.
Another runner-up in another tight finish was Shanell Coco, owned in O’Briensbridge by Bridget Casey. She was beaten by a short by the 30.27 winner, Pine Wilma.
North Clare owner, Tom Flanagan also had to content with second place with his Contentious, who was beaten four lengths by Darian Storm (29.04) in an A2-graded 525.
Fernpark Phanter, owned in Cooraclare by Anna Carey, was placed third in an A2-graded 525 won by Terrys Gift (29.17).