Quin-owned Hurry Back sets new Galway record

THE Sean O’Brien-trained and Quin-owned Hurry Back set a new track record for the 350-yard sprint in Galway on Friday night. This, coupled with the brilliant 29.88 run in unfavourable conditions by Razldazl George in an opening-round heat of the Ladbrokes.com Derby in Shelbourne Park on Saturday night, were among the weekend’s highlights.
In just his second start, Hurry Back stormed to the record-breaking 18.68 run in Galway on Friday night. A 19.29 winner in his first outing, the son of Head Bound-Janann broke well from trap four in the company of the Clare-owned Tarquynn Glen in the S4 graded event but was in front by the opening bend. After avoiding trouble at the bend, he showed a fantastic turn of foot when proceeding to open up a big gap.
When he crossed the line after a brilliant run, he had 11 lengths to spare on House of Queens. Much more should be heard of the August 2009 whelp in the weeks to come. He is trained by Quin-based Sean O’Brien, who is also a member of Malachys Bar syndicate, who own the black. Other members of the syndicate are Brian McCarthy, Donie Hassett and Gay O’Gara.
The new time of 18.68 is an improvement of two spots on the old record held by Balliniska Woods. Hurry Back won his maiden outing last May with six lengths to spare and in his second qualifying trial on April 8 last he set a time of 18.64 for the 325-yard distance.
In normal conditions the Derby runners would have posted 60 spots faster in Shelbourne Park on Saturday night. This puts into context the sensational run by Razldazl George from the inside trap. Clear at the opening bend, he went on to win by 11 lengths from Soviet Marco.
The Fahys from County Galway will be well represented in the second round next weekend with last year’s winner, Tyrur McGuigan, as well as Tyrur Lucky, Tyrur Monica and Tyrur Big Mike. Also through to the second round are the Kieren Fallon-owned Uncle Eoin and Fastaway King, owned by Dan Flynn, Meelick and Liam Costelloe.
A big disappointment was the first-round exit of the Parteen-owned Ocean Crash, who was expected to do well. In action in heat 13 on Thursday night, he was drawn in trap four and had a horrible start and found himself having to make up lengths from the word go. He eventually finished in fifth place, missing out for a place in the second round by half a length.
St Leger finalist, Inislosky Magoo, owned by Mary Crotty, O’Briensbridge also failed to make it past the opening round. He had a trap-five draw in heat 16 on Saturday night but was slow off the mark and had a mountain to climb after being baulked at the opening bend. He also finished in fifth place.
Another who crashed out in the opening round was the Ennis-owned St Leger winner, What a Tornado. In action last Wednesday night, he was impeded down the back straight and finished in fourth place in a heat in which only the first three home qualified.
Second-round heats will be decided on Thursday and Saturday night. Uncle Eoin is drawn in trap five in heat 11 on Saturday night with 1, Blackabbey King; 2, Rusty Coyote; 3, Westmead Maldini; 4, Ohio Rumble and 6, Tyrur Colombo.
Fastaway King is drawn in heat 16 on the same night. The trap draw is 1, Droopys Casanova; 2, Fastaway King; 3, Pennys Viking; 4, Star Head; 5, Tyrur McGuigan and 6, Assasin Blue.

Clare success in semi-final heats

WHILE Hurry Back’s record-breaking run was all the talk in Galway last Friday night, more Clare-owned dogs were in the picture after the two semi-final heats of the Chudleys Fast Trap A3 575.
In the opening semi-final, Bellaghy Twink, Paradise Aruba and Old Fort Dynamo were the front runners as they lined across the track on the long run towards the opening bend. At this stage Paradise Aruba, owned by Miltown Malbay’s Sean Meade, went clear and was in front by a length down the back straight. He extended his lead to five lengths by halfway and railing well over the final bends he came home a six-length winner from Kilcorcoran Manu, also owned in Miltown Malbay by Conor Cleary. The time was 31.60.Third home was the Martin Fahy-trained Bellaghy Twink.
Cratloe owner, Pat Carey won the second semi-final heat with Holly Wood (Hondo Black-Cabin Rose). The Doon-owned Faithful Man led the way from trap three and had an advantage of three lengths on the Gort-owned and Jack Mahony-trained World Cup Wonder passing the halfway stage. However, as they came towards the home turn Holly Wood in trap four started to emerge as a big threat and picking off the front runners one by one he managed to get in front halfway to the run-in. He went on to win by half a length from Faithful Man in 31.99. Third place was filled by Wood Crash, owned by Carl Maguire and Adrian Ennis.
The Michael Downes-trained Carhugar Bobsie, owned by the Clare Connections syndicate from Quin, featured in the chief supporting race, the final of the Veterans (July 07) 525 and finished in third place. Fastest away was the Seamus Fahy-trained Dan The Navigator, who led by two lengths from Pochie Of Aus rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back the lead was still two lengths as Capoola Saving made ground out wide. Up the straight Dan The Navigator was all out but the Frank Malone-owned runner held his rival at bay by a length in 29.24, with Carhugar Bobsie taking third place.
There were five Clare qualifiers from five first-round heats of the St Thomas’ GAA Club Stake over 525 yards. In the opening heat, the reserve runner, Hastetothewind, owned in Kilmihil by Martin J Keane, was in trap one and was best away to lead by a length from Cool Shades and Nationwide Dash. He extended his lead to four lengths down the back but the Trevor Cummins-owned Cool Shades (Top Savings-Martinstown Sal) made up ground between the final two bends to hit the front in the run-in and win by a length from Hastetothewind in 29.42.
Glenbrack Paul in trap five and the Miltown Malbay-owned Knockdine Black in two set the pace in heat two and with the advantage of the inside lane, Knockdine Black went a length in front at the first bend. Owned by Michael O’Brien, the son of Hondo Black-Fastaway Baby led by three down the back but over the final two bends Blaze Panther started to close. However, Knockdine Black held out to win by a neck in 29.55 from Blaze Panther, owned in Ennis by Anthony Brigdale and Margaret Burns.
The Monivea-owned Ryehill Luke in trap six was first to show in heat three and led by three lengths at the opening bend to avoid trouble behind him. However, as the race progressed down the back, the Sixmilebridge-owned O’Garney Patch started to move in and as they raced neck and neck up the home straight, the Daniel Collins-owned Ryehill Luke just held out to win by a head in 29.65. The runner-up is trained by Bernard Coffey for Helen Coffey. The Gerry Holian-trained Good To Go took third spot.
Heat four saw the Seamus Leahy-owned Headford Ross as the fastest heat winner. He led at halfway and came home a 28.98 winner when beating the Frank Browne-trained Tommys Tippy (Tommy Corbett and Patrick Hassett, Quin) by nine-and-a-quarter lengths.
The John McDonagh (Tuam) owned and trained Phils Boy won the final heat in 29.39 from Mottos Share and Headford Hawk.
The locally-owned Willrose Jack in trap three and the Gort-owned Rathorpe Rancho in four were fastest away in an S5 graded 350 race. After disputing the lead in the early strides, the Madeline Walsh-owned Rathorpe Rancho (Droopys Kewell-Rathorpe Baby) went in front approaching the opening bend. Turning for home, Jemmys Maldini came through on the rail to challenge but Rathorpe Rancho responded to score by half a length in 19.55.

Win for rail-hugging Cragbrien Hondo

CRAGBRIEN Hondo won the second semi-final heat of the Pearse Piggott Memorial A2 over 525 yards in Galway on Saturday night.
The first semi-final heat went to the Borrisokane-owned Killea Fancy, who showed the best early pace to lead at the opening bend from Glenfort Lee, trained by John McDonagh for Gina McDonagh, Kinvara. Down the back the Kinvara-owned runner went to within half a length of the leader but over the final bends Killea fancy railed exceptionally well to extend his lead and win by one and a half lengths in 29.21. Third home was the Limerick-owned Rubber Bandit.
Ezjohn as usual was best away from traps in the second semi-final but there was nothing between all six runners as they were lined across the track at the opening bend. Here the Martin Cronin and Jack Markham-owned Cragbrien Hondo railed well to emerge with an advantage of one length over Toorphelim Lad in six and the West Clare-owned Liasmadine Jack in three. Toorphelim Lad went for a run on the inside at the second-last bend but the rail-hugging Cragbrien Hondo (Hondo Black-Rachels Picture) held his spot and raced on to win by three parts of a length in 28.90 from Toorphelim Lad. Third home was Lismadine Jack, owned by Paddy Troy and Conor McInerney.
The top graded race of the night, an A1 event, went to the John McDonagh-trained and Glenamaddy-owned Kilbannon Tess (Brett Lee-Tyrur Temptress). She was quick away with Ebony Blitz not far away. Railing well, Kilbannon Tess opened up a lead of three lengths down the back and went on to win the race by four and a half lengths in 28.93 from Ebony Blitz, trained by Frank Browne for the Murphy Agri Syndicate from Kinvara.
Ardkyle Tango, owned by former Sixmilebridge hurler, Michael Barron was third home in an A3 graded race won by Tyrur Sally Ann in 29.03.
The Rynal Ruane-owned Outback Prentiss was a trap-to-line winner of the opening S7 graded race. She won by three lengths in 19.26 from Viper Hider, owned by Michael Clancy, Kilrush.
Kevin Marmion’s Kickback Larry was in control of an N2 graded novice 525 race from the start. He led by a few lengths but passing the halfway mark, the lead was down to one length,. At this stage Gorforitblack, owned by Liam Shannon, Ballynacally, put in a strong challenge but Kickback Larry responded well and went on to win by three lengths in 19.26 from Gorforitblack.
The Burnpark prefix and the Browne family from Leitrim, Kilmihil were back in the winner’s arena after the result of an A6 graded 525. The pace was set by Cooneen Bawn in trap two but at the opening bend the dog went slightly off the rail and collided with Burnpark Leonard in five. After some bunching the pair found themselves clear going down the back with the advantage to Cooneen Bawn by two lengths. However, as they negotiated the home bend the Mary Browne-owned Burnpark Leonard (Droopys Maldini-Burnpark Dora) railed well and got up close to the line to win by half a length in 29.54.
The Miltown Malbay-owned Knockdine Dazl in trap six and Roxanes Rocky in two had an A7 graded 525 yards race between them after the rest of the field bunched at the second bend. Going to the third bend the Martin McDonagh-owned Roxanes Rocky slipped through on the inside to head Helen O’Brien’s Knockdine Dazl and win the race by one and a half lengths in 29.62.
The Jack Mahony-trained New Quay Lad started well in an S6 graded sprint race to lead by two lengths at the opening bend from the Sean Cooke-trained Loughcarn Lass. That was the way they finished, with New Quay Lad succeeding by one length in 19.38.

Clare treble with Wilbrook Paddy, Alythia and Colossal Man

AFTER hectic Race Week action, it was back to normal at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Thursday night.
The top race of the night, the concluding A4 graded 550, went to the John McDonagh trained and Tuam-owned Tyrur Paudi (Hades-Tyrur Margaret), who beat Wood Crash and Barrybeg Locker into the minor places. In the long run to the opening bend, Tyrur Paudi showed the way from Wood Crash and Barrybeg Locker. Railing well, the winner extended his lead to five lengths coming to the third bend. Continuing to progress well on the inside lane, Tyrur Paudi came home in a time of 30.41, having almost five lengths on Wood Crash, owned by Carl Maguire, Kilrush and Adrian Ennis. The third dog home, Barrybeg Locker, is owned and trained in Gort by Maurice Mullanney.
In an N2 graded novice race, the Gerry Holian-trained and Pamela Holian-owned Goodnight Kate led at the first bend and was two lengths clear down the back. Goodnight Kate eventually pulled clear to win by almost six lengths in 29.89 from Milesian Belle, owned by West Clare man, Paddy Conlon with Corker Soviet (Kevin Fahey, Kiltartan) taking third spot.
Michael Davoren had the first Clare winner of the night with Wilbrook Paddy in race three, an S9 graded 350.After breaking well from traps with John Quinn’s Fast Fit Lar in trap five, Wilbrook Paddy led by a length at the opening bend with the Kilrush-owned Fitzler Bolt moving into second place. As they turned for home, Wilbrook Paddy (Ciaras Castle-Missouri Dame) was still out in front and while Fast Fit Lar came with a great late effort, Wilbrook Paddy held out to win by a neck in 19.65 from the Gort-owned black. Third home was Fitzler Bolt (Michael Fitzgerald).
The Mervue-owned Theresa’s Dilemma led early in another 350-yard race and stayed in front all the way to beat the Liscannor-owned Kinielty Black, owned by Declan McDonagh, by four lengths in 19.29. A length and a quarter back for third place was Wilbrook Jake, owned by Mary Davoren, Ennistymon.
The Loughrea-owned Dusty Magpie (Loyal Honcho-Sahara Sue) won an A6 graded 525 on the night. Moving to the rail after the opening bend, he went three lengths clear as they moved down the back and had six and a half lengths at the line on John Browne’s Rathmeehan Yaiza. The winning time was 29.11.
The second Clare winner of the night was the Kevin Ryan-owned Alythia (Ballymac Maeve-Lady Freckles). For her impressive win, the fawn bitch got off to a flyer from trap six in the A6 graded 525.
Clear by two lengths at the first bend, she was eight lengths to the good at the halfway stage and in the all-Clare finish cantered home a winner by just under 12 lengths in 29.29 from Fitzler Chip (Colm and Oran Fitzgerald, Kilrush). Third spot went to Bodyshop Legacy (T J McMahon).
The third and final Clare winner on the night was the reserve runner, Colossal Man (Hondo Black-Volcanic Ridge), owned by Leona Ryan, Ennis and the Colossal syndicate. At the opening bend in the A5 graded race, Gone to Garry led from She’s Fantastic, with Colossal Man in third place.
Moving to the rail after passing the halfway stage, Colossal Man was now a bigger danger and took over the number one spot when rounding the second-last bend. He stayed in front to win his fourth race, this time accounting for the Noel Mullins-trained Somebody Special (The Rooster syndicate, Scariff) by a length and three quarters with a clock of 29.50.

Banner dogs victorious in Limerick

A NUMBER of Clare owners came away happy from the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night when the card featured first-round heats of the €2,500 Ivan’s Caherdavin A5 event over 525 yards.
Shannon owners, Thomas O’Sullivan and Niall O’Sullivan were winners of the first heat with Starlight Miller in trap two. The son of Top Honcho-Hillcroft Josie was in flying form when producing a 28.92 win and beating Misringsend Rose by one length.
There was another Clare winner in heat two, when Geronimo Joe, owned by Edel O’Flynn, was first across the line with another good clock, 28.89. The son of Catunda Harry-Bangers Vieri beat Kildroum Impact by three parts of a length.
Elsewhere on the card, the Cooney family won an A3 graded 550 with Would He Alan. Trained by Michael Cooney and owned by him and P J Cooney, the son of Droopys Scolari-Treacey Beaker had a clock of 30.14 when getting the better of Dakaja Babba by one and a half lengths.
Liscannor trainer, Darryl Hopper also had a worthwhile trip to the Limerick stadium when his reserve runner, Hawks Hill Lady (Westmead Hawk-Quanns Lady), owned by Christine Hopper, won an A3 graded 525 with another exciting clock of 28.65, the best of the night. The brindled bitch won by five and a half lengths.
Steves Sentinel, owned by Sixmilebridge’s Sean Stack, was just pipped at the line when beaten by a short head in an A1 graded 525 by Bohereen Lad. The clock for the race was 28.77.
In the second-last race of the night, Yeah Man (Yeah Man-Minnies Divine) obliged Killaloe owner, Nicola Downes. He contested an A0 graded 550 and in another tight finish he won by a short head from Cabra Noel. The time was 30.12. Third home was Snugborough Gent, owned by Myles Cummins, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Dicks Woraldbound, trained by Michael Downes for Janet Downes, Killaloe, was third in an A4 graded 525 in Limerick on Friday night.

Memorial final win for Ballyhannon

BALLYHANNON won his 19th race for Clare owners Seamus and Aidan Duggan at the Limerick Greyhoubnd Racing Track recently.
Trained by Denis O’Malley, the son of Tuckes Mein-Adorableiventia was in flying form when winning the Mary Bridget Dunford A2 Memorial final. He won by three lengths in 29.71.
On the same night, Sixmilebridge owner, Pat Holland had a winner with Luath Gabriella. The daughter of Bexhill Eoin-Great White recorded a trap-to-line win in an S7 graded 350. She had a clock of 19.16 when beating Sawadee Natt by six lengths.