Six wins for Clare owners

There were six wins for Clare owners over the three days of racing at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last weekend.

John O’Kelly from Mullagh was the sole Clare winner on Thursday night, his Cragaknock Tango doing the business in an A8-graded 525. The fawn son of Vans Escalade-Bodyshop Nikita became more prominent down the back where he took over the number spot. From here he drew clear to win by six lengths in 29.42.
Shanakyle Matt, owned by Joe Collins, Parteen, stumbled at the second bend in an S6/S0 graded sprint and finished in third place.

A strong finish earned runner up spot for Snuggie Babe (Breda Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus) in an A3-graded 550. Leading from the opening bend, Sporry King won the race by four lengths in 30.43.
Another runner up in an A0-graded 525 was Yeah Me, trained by Niciola Downes, Killaloe. Showing good early pace, Fahrenheit Manny led all the way for a one length win in a good 28.78.

Meelick owner, Dan Flynn, was the first of two Clare winners in Limerick on Saturday night with Rallying Rumble (Ace Hi Rumble-Killonaghgan Gal). Leading at the second bend, Rallying Rumble went on to win the A5-graded 525 by three-and-a-half lengths. His time was 29.26 when winning heat three of the Ocean Crash Stakes for A5 graded runners over 525 yards.

The other Clare winner was O’Garney Rock in the last race on the card, a semi-final heat of the Ocean Crash stakes for A2 graded runners over 525 yards. Trained by Bernard Coffey for his wife, Mrs. Helen Coffey, Sixmilebridge, O’Garney Rock led from the second bend for his fast win, 28.87. The son of Ballymac Maeve-O’Garney Pearl won by two lengths for his impressive win.

The Mungret-owned New Route won the other semi-final heat in 28.75.

Snuggie Boy (Breda Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus) finished third in the opening heat of the Ocean Crash A5 stake while Dromoher.

Snoopy (Megan Flanagan, Russa, Ennistymon was third home in another heat of the same stake.
Another third place finisher was Portdrine Bobby (Liam Carroll, Cratloe) in heat three of the Ocean Stake for A3-runners.

There were three Clare-owned winners at the family and RehabCare night at the Limerick Stadium on Sunday night.

Liam Carroll was again in action, this time in the Thomond Asset Management A4 final over 525 yards in which he was represented by Portdrine Prince (Premier Fantasy-Invincible Diva). Portdrine Prince led from the first bend but in a very close finish had to hold out to beat Rathdromin Babe by a head. The clock was 29.56.

Trained by Donie Duggan for Shannon owner, Peter Russell, Peaders Touch came in a reserve in trap three in the Rehab Care A2-graded 525. Breaking best, the son of Kinloch Brae-Claimes Kewell, raced on for a trap to line win in a fast 28.90. Two-and-a-half lengths back for runner-up spot was another Shannon-owned runner, Blue Tarquynn, representing Jim McLoughin and the JDD syndicate. Third place went to Cluttahina Clare owned near Sixmilebridge by Bernard Coffey.

Cratloe owners, Harry Galvin and Sean Dineen did not go away empty handed as their Upland Chill (Bit Chill-Fastaway Baby) was first to cross the line in an A4-graded 525 yards race. Showing good early pace from trap two, Upland Chill was in front all the way for his very impressive seven-lengths win in 29.04.
Portdrine Dodo (Mela Carroll and Ben Carroll, Cratloe) was runner-up and third placed was Gortglas Suzie  (Michael Kennedy, Killaloe Post Office) in the opening race of the night, an A4-graded 525, won by CorgriggRose in 29.15.

John O’ Kelly’s Cragaknock Lilly was third in a sprint race won by Wings of Maldini in 19.29.

 

Magic win for East Clare syndicate

East Clare trainer Donal Cooney had a winner in Galway on Friday night but failed in his bid to make it a double when his Varra Polly was beaten in the Race Week A2 final over 525 yards.

Owned by the Boys Club syndicate from East Clare, Killuran Magic (Ballymac Ruso-Killuran Blue) was second favourite for An A6 graded 525. The son of Ballymac Ruso-Killuran Blue got a good start from trap one, a start that gave him the lead at the first bend.

From there on it was all Killuran Magic who won the race by three and a half lengths from Capuka, the even money favourite. The time was 29.62.

Varra Polly, also trained by Donal Cooney for the Boys Club faced the favourite, Solvitas Boy in the Race Week A2 final. Trap five runner, Ardera Rabo, had the advantage at the opening bend but Solvitas Boy moved into higher gears down the back straight to head the field. At the line it was the favourite by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 29.14 from Varra Polly.

The first of three Clare wins went to West Clare owners Michael Meaney and Joe Hurley whose Small Dolly obliged in an A8-graded 525. Leading at the first bend was the joint 6/4 favourite, Thanksgiving, but after he faded from the picture Small Dolly took up the running at the third bend. The daughter of Shelbourne Aston-Inagh Heather remained in front for the rest of the race to secure a 29.73 win when beating Bishop Brennan by four and three parts of a length.

In winning an A5-graded 525, Pat Be Slick was winning for the sixth time for Cooraclare native Tommie Gallgher. The money was on Harbour Lark to win the race and he duly led from the opening bend. However, Pat Be Slick was always thereabouts and, in the run for the line, Pat Be Slick (Hondo Black-Bling Bling Flo) was first to cross the line with a length to spare. His time was 29.66. Harbour Lark was runner up and third home was Clonkelly Eagle (John O’Sullivan, Kinvara).

Doonbeg trainer Jim Normoyle was going well with his Gipsy Madam in an A2-graded 525, leading at the opening bend, However, the money on favourite Twosugaralice took over from the third bend and raced on for a two-and-a-quarter lengths win in 29.00 from Gipsy Madam.

Pinnacle Ash, owned by Michael Costello, Ballyvaughan, was third in a sprint race while Donie Duggan’s Knoppogue Storm and JJ, O’Dea’s Derrylough Top finished runner-up and third placed respectively in an A9-graded 525 won by the money on favourite, Sizzling Sammie in 29.73.

North and West represented

North and West Clare were represented in the winner’s arena after the outcome of the nine races in Galway on Saturday night.

Ennistymon owner, Michael Davoren, kept the North Clare flag flying with his Wilbrook Queen getting the verdict in an S2/S4-graded sprint. It was a race that provided a hectic finish and the camera was needed to determine the destination of the prize money. It was Wilbrook Queen (Prince Monalulu-Missouri Dame) who succeeded in registering her seventh career win after beating Rosshill Rover by a neck in 19.40. Also beaten by a neck into third place was Kilbannon Bertie.

It was Mrs Mary Browne from Leitrim, Kilmihil who kept West Clare in the picture, her Burnpark Alfie (Burnpark Champ- Burnpark Cuckoo) finishing tops in an A4 graded 525 to register his fourth career win.

The 6/4 favourite came away from the rest of the field after leading at the first bend and at the line he an easy winner by nearly nine lengths in 29.22.

Well-known Doon owner, Patsy Richardson, was the one to beat in an A2 graded 525. And the money on favourite did not disappoint his connections after leading at the first bend on his way to a a six-and-a-quarter lengths win in 28.80, the fastest time of the night. Runner up was Destroyer (Master Darren O’Donoghgue, Gort) and one length back for third place was Tommie Gallagher’s Good Slick.
Holly Luck, owned by Leo McNulty. Newmarket-on-Fergus, was always chasing Clydagh Jack in the opening race on the card, an A6/A7-graded 525. And at the line it was Clydagh Jack by over five lengths from Hollys Luck. The time was 29.56.

Bypass Blackie obliges Ennis owner

There were three Clare owned winners at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Thursday night, including Bypass Blackie in the top graded race of the night.

The Gerry Holian-trained Ice Lightening was the odds on favourite in trap four but a slow start hampered the chances of the black and white bitch. But Bypass Blackie (Royal Impact-Ardvagga Dazl) was in flying form from trap two and the 5/2 chance led the way from the opening bend. It was all Bypass Blackie as he headed for the finishing, giving Ennisman Paddy Darcy an eight length win in 28.78, the best clock of the night. Coming in behind him were Bubbles Catunda and Curragh Ju Ju.

Killimer native, Pat Madigan, was another Clare winner on the night with Clune Topps, the 4/5 favourite for the A4 graded sprint race. The son of Astronomic-Derrylough Topps soon get into his stride to lead at the opening bend. The Kilkenny-owned Touchpawsenage in trap three was his nearesr rival but her effort was not sufficient as Clune Topps passed the post with nearly three lengths to spare. His clock was 19.21. Third place went to Willbrook Dame (Michael Davoren,  Ennistymon),

Also returning home in good form to his home in Newmarket-on-Fergus was Brendan Carroll whose Steragel Mine (Westmead Hawk-Sarges Beauty) struck late to get the verdict in an A5-graded 525. The 6/4 favourite Balycrisane Boyo in trap three led at the home bend, was bumped and beaten a neck by Steragel Mine in a time of 29.90.

After being bumped at the opening bend, Donal Cooney,s Killuran May ran on  to be runner-up in first race of the night, an S8-graded sprint. The 19.59 winner by six-and-a-half lengths was Elvira Prince.
Pinnacle Hero, owned in Ballyvaughan by Douglas Culligan, was always chasing Glensaul Start from the opening bend in an A7-graded 525. At the line it was Glensaul Star by seven lengths in 29.61.

Not recovering sufficiently from a slow start, Glenfort Fantasy (Mrs Brigid D’Arcy, Ballyvaughan) raced on to finish third in an A4-graded 525 won in 29.48 by Tyrur Sonia.

Camogie fundraiser

The meeting at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium on this Friday night will be a fundraiser for Clare County Camogie Board. This will be a 10-race, all sponsored card.

The Limerick card on Saturday night will feature semi-finals of a number of sweepstakes, including the Bermingham Hooper and Dolan A1 600, the Ocean Crash, Limerick and Clare GOBA A5 525, and A3 525 as well as open puppy 525 and A0-575 two runs for €1,000.

There will be more racing in Limerick on Sunday night and again it will be a family themed occasion with attractions for the younger people. The Tipperary-Kilkenny All-Ireland hurling semi-final will also be shown on screens throughout the stadium. The card include semi-finals of the Ocean Crash, Limerick and Clare GOBA D1 600, A1 600 and A0 525 in conjunction with the Limerick and Clare GOBA fundraising night on Satrurday, August 25,

Liam Kennedy, racing support officer, reports that the new opening hours for Limerick racing office from Monday, September 3, will be Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm. Entries can be left on voicemail or emailed to liam.kennedy@igb.ie.

Thurles final
Ennis owners, Sean Heeney and Patrick Cronin made their trip to the Thurles Greyhound Racing Stadium a worthwhile one on Sunday night with their black and white dog Bunnow Glory.

Drawn in trap four in the Thurles Track Supporters Club A6/A7 final, the son of Loyal Honcho-Sully Glory was slightly off the pace in the early stages but came with a strong finish to win the race by a length and a half. For his second career win, Bunnow Glory had a clock of 29.59.

Ballymac Vic is still the favourite at 4//1 for the Ladbrokes Irish Derby after last week’s second round heats. Uncle Eoin, owned by Clare born jockey, Kieron Fallon, and James Robinson, Athy, made his exit when failing to come though heat 12 on Saturday.