Return to racing in Galway

AFTER the interruption caused by the bad weather, racing resumed at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Friday night when there were two Clare winners and five Clare qualifiers from opening round heats of the Gain Garmivit A4 event over 525 yards.
The main race of the night was the A2 graded 525, which was won by the John McDonagh-owned and trained Tyrur Crowley in trap three. The trap two contestant, Chapelane Donie, owned in Shannon by Trina McLaughlin, was first to show in front of Tyrur Crowley but the Shannon-owned black went wide at the first bend, giving the advantage to the eventual winner, who went two lengths clear of TJ McMahon’s Bodyshop Flame as they entered the back straight. The Tuam-owned Tyrur Crowley held onto his lead and was well clear at the final bend to win by four lengths in 29.16 from Bodyshop Flame. Third home was Annagh Toffee, trained by Sean Cooke for Sean Cooke-Moore, Kilbeacanty.
The first of the heats of the Gain Garmivit was won by the Ballinasloe-owned Blue Scolari, who led from the start by two lengths on the inside from the Ballyvaugahan-owned Glenfort Ash, with Cherry Bomb in third place. This was still the order down the back but when Glenfort Ash attempted to go inside at the third, his way was blocked by O’Garney Belle, who swept into the lead. However, close to home Blue Scolari got his second wind to overtake and beat O’Garney Belle by half a length in 29.98. The runner-up is owned near Sixmilebridge by Bernard Coffey.
The Cathal Hough-trained Electro Digweed saw off a number of challengers before winning heat two by a length and a half in 29.48 from Earth Stap Gone. Third place was filled by Bernard Coffey’s O’Garney Flo.
The third heat provided a thrilling finish in which Scranton Express got up close near home to beat the long-time leader, Karalla State by a neck in 29.80.
There was a Clare-South Galway finish to heat three, which went to Knockdine Diva, owned in Miltown Malbay by Helen O’Brien. There was trouble at the opening bend, after which the Tom Flanagan-trained Pinnacle Roxy went four lengths clear of Knockdine Diva at the halfway stage.
However, Knockdine Diva put in a great finish from the home bend and the daughter of Premier Fantasy-Knockdine Lady sprinted clear to win by three parts of a length in 29.79 from Pinnacle Roxy, owned by Michael Costeloe and Douglas Culligan, Ballyvaughan. Third spot went to Rineen Dancer, trained by Maurice Mullanney for Gordon Nolan and Mike Finn, Gort.
Glasheen Angel, owned by Brendan Browne, Kilkee, was third in the first race of the night, which went to Minesue in 20.20.
A late effort by Inislosky Thrush was not enough in race two, an A6-A7 graded 525 and the fawn bitch, owned by Mary Crotty, O’Briensbridge, had to be satisfied with runner-up place. The 29.89 winner and by three parts of a length was Thanksgiving.
Tiermana Vieri and Knoppogue Hondo, both Clare owned, were in contention up to the final stages of an A5 graded 525 but both were deprived by the Seamus Fahy-trained Spioraid Jacket (Droopys Vieri-Foulden Slippy), who won the race by a length in 29.39. The runner-up spot went to Tiermana Vieri (Frank Casey, Stonehall) and third place was filled by Sharon Duggan’s Knoppogue Hondo.
Ennis owners, Martin Cronin and Robbie Markham, were back in the winners’ ring with their Cragbrien Black, who won an A3 graded 525. From the start the pacesetter was Bumblebee Bingo from Tyrur Paudi with the eventual winner in third place as they headed for the first corner.
Even though he went wide at the corner, Bumblebee Bingo was still in front as they turned down the back but at the halfway stage Cragbrien Black changed gears to become the new leader. While he went wide off the home bend, he had enough in reserve to hold out and beat Spioraid Cath by a head in 29.75. Three lengths adrift for third place was Bumblebee Bingo.