Three wins in three provinces for Sixmilebridge trainer

HAVE dogs will travel could well be the cry from Sixmilebridge trainer, Stephen Murray, who hit an exciting winning vein in the past week with three winners on successive nights in three provinces. He started the ball  in big company in Shelbourne on Wednesday, May 16 when Young John (Hondo Black-Money Go Lucky), owned by Frankie Sheehan, Ennis, dead heated for first place with the Dublin-owned Jimmythreesticks in a semi-final heat of the Extreme Stunt Show Dual Distance A3 event. The time was 29.49.

The Sixmilebridge man was in Galway Greyhound Stadium on the following night when he was again in the winner’s arena, this time with Winterfell (Ballymac Ruso-Lady Freckles), owned by Kevin Ryan, vice-chairman of the Ennis-Clarecastle Coursing Club. This was an A6 graded 525 which saw Winterfell in trap five move into a one-length lead as they came towards the opening bend. With those behind him getting into trouble, Winterfell went six lengths in front by the halfway stage and came home an easy six and a half lengths winner with a clock of 29.55.

The action swung to Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium on  Friday night when the Sixmilebridge trainer had Bees Wing in trap six in an S3 graded sprint. Again owned by Frankie Sheehan of Ennis and also by Michael Lillis of Cooraclare, the son of Nobooth for Gary-Mona the Minx got in front by the opening bend and stayed there  for his two lenghths win in 19.03, completing a splendid hat-trick for Murray.

Malbay Tiberio powers through hurling board heat

CLARE owners had a number of winners and qualifiers from four quarter-final heats of the Galway Camogie Board A5 Stake and two semi-final heats of the Galway Hurling Board A6 525 at the Galway Stadium on Thursday night.

With  conditions on the fast side, stewards rated the track .10 and .20 fast for the 350 and 525 trips respectively.

In the opening semi-final of the Galway Hurling Board A6 Stake, Rosshill Rover in trap three and Killuran Rocky in two were promient from the start and the later went in front by a length after rounding the bend. However, as they came to the third  bend, Rosshill Rover (Coolratty Parade-Rosshill Gwyenne) was back on terms. Halfway up the run  home, the Joe Long and Ger Walsh-owned Rosshill Rover got in front to win by three lengths in 29.33 from the Darren Cooney (Broadford) owned Killuran Rocky.

Gerry Burke from Miltown Malnbay won heat two with Malbay Tiberio in trap five. The daughter of Swords Prince-Malbay Lark  just moved in front at the opening bend from Curragh Ju Ju in six, with Willrose Hawk (trap two) in third place. Still in control at the halfway stage, Malbay Tiberio was challenged on the outside by Curragh Ju Ju but held her ground to win by a length from Willrose Hawk in 29.46.

Trained by Noel Mullins for Eleanaor Mullins, Gort and Bernie Curtin, Chocolatesoldier was third in the opening quarter-final heat of the Galway Camogie Board A5 Stake. The race was won in 29.44 by Last Lap from Kilcormack Boy.

Shannon’s Jim McLoughlin (trainer) and the JDD Syndicate (owners) won heat two with Blue Tarquynn (Hondo Black-Money Go Lucky). From the start, Fast Fit Mandy in the inside trap and Aulton Tony in six were prominent. Turning towards the back, Fast Fit Mandy went two lengths clear but in the next few strides, the slow starting Blue Tarquynn (T3) made great progress from the rear and moved up to go past Fast Fit Mandy as they came to the  third bend. There he stayed to register a two and a quarter lengths win in 29.32 from the Donie Duggan-owned and trained Knoppogue Green. A length and a half back for third place was Fast Fit Mandy (John Quinn, Gort).

The Michael Gilmore-trained Ardera Rambo made all the running in heat three to win by two and a quarter lengths in 29.25 from Glynnscross Shaw (Thomas Keane, Kilmihil). Beaten a neck into third place was Wooly Spiral (John Darcy, Ennis).

The Castlebar-owned Hedge Trimmer won the final heat in 29.37 from Albert Long’s Capoola Bogey and Caislean Pearla.

Long takes top race

TRAINED by Albert Long for the Bogey Boys Syndicate, Ballyhaunis, Brickhill Lubos won the feature race in Galway on Friday night, the Evolve Financial Planning A4 final.

The red-jacketed Brickhill Lubos showed fine early pace  along the inside to lead by a length from Rockabilly Magic with Marty McFly also prominent.  Brickhill Lubos (Royal Impact-Looghanboy Molly) extended his lead to three lengths approaching halfway. Rounding the third bend, it was as good as over when Brickhill Lubos kicked on for a fine 29.08 win, beating Marty McFly by nearly five lengths.

There were two  qualifiers from Clare, Hold It  Hades, owned in the Burren by Mark Shannon and Sean Hehir’s (Miltown) Dunsallagh Lisa from the two semi-final heats of the Galway Hurling Board A4 575.

In the opening semi-final Clairwell Ruby just held off the challenge of Hold It Hades to win by half a length in 32.26. There  was plenty of excitement at the conclusion of the second semi-final with less than a length covering the first three home. Once the traps lifted, Dunsallagh Lisa in three and Winter Dream in five disputed the lead from Tyrur Hannah in six. Down the far side, Winter Dream moved into a one-length lead fromTyrur Hannah and in the thrilling finish, Winter Dreamjust held off the effort  of Tyrur Hannah to win by a head in 32.24. Hehir’s Dunsallagh Lisa was beaten a neck into third place.

Sean Hehir was also in action in the second semi-final heat of the  Supermacs Galway Hurling Board A7 over 525 yards with Alexandra, which he owns with Sean Meade, also from that part of West Clare. Breaking smartly from trap three, the daughter of Head Bound-Paradise Allana was quickly into a two-lengths lead from  Mark It Down as they rounded the first corner. Extending her lead down the far side, she was well in control and came home in 28.96, three lengths in front of Mark It Down, Eleanor Mullins, Gort and Mark Curtin. The Roscrea-owned Wheres Donie won the first semi-final heat in 29.23 from Unkown Gem and Barbersfort Jane.

Trap draw for final: 1 Wheres Donie, 2 Barbersfort Jane, 3 Headford Rumble, 4 Unknown Gem, 5 Alexandra, 6 Mark It Down.

The PJ Fahy-owned Tyrur Brogan made a winning debut in the first race of the night, an S5 graded 350. He showed plenty of early pace on his way to a  five lengths win over Pixie Lou Lou owned in Liscannor by  Declan McDonagh.

Glenfort Dusk, owned by Ballyvughan native Brigid D’Arcy was third in an A6 graded 525 in 29.70. Fanore publican PJ O’Donoghgue was back in the winner’s arena with Fanore Mac in an A3 graded 525. The leaders from the start were Outback Delboy and Leos Bettina from Serious Dream. Down the back, Outback Delboy was in front of the improving Fanore Mac in trap two. After making up a lot of ground, Fanore Mac (Elite State-Lake Lodge) was now the front runner as they came from the back. The  Donie Duggan-trained black and white gradually pulled away to score an easy 29.02 win by  over ten lengths from Gipsy Madam (Joan Normoyle and Imelda Grauer, Doonbeg).

Sean Hehir had another runner, Dunsallagh Pride, in an S2 graded sprint. It was he who showed first but was quickly joined by Tyrur Jonfrancis who went in front to win in 19.21.

Two Limerick winners

ONLY two Clare wins were recorded at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium over the weekend, Bees Wing owned by Frankie Sheehan, Ennis and Michael Lillis, Cooraclare and Bearhaven Gale, trained by Michael Downes for Janet Downes, Killaloe.
The win by Bees Wing  on Friday night   marked the third win of the week for Sixmilebridge trainer, Stephen Murray.
On Saturday night, Bearhaven Gale (Balintore Brave-Tai Lass) won the Limerick-Clare GOBA Dual Distance A4 575 final for her Killaloe connections. The black bitch was fast off the mark from trap four to set up an early lead. She retained her lead throughout to win the final by six lengths in a time of 32.00.
Third home in the Limerick-Clare GOBA A3 final over 525 yards was Fernpark Phanter, owned by Anna Carey, Cooraclare. The trap-to-line winner of the race in a fast 28.82 was the Crecoora-owned Action Breaker in trap four.
Third placed in their races in Limerick on Friday night were Princess Express (Maura McDonagh, Kilnamona) and Portdrine Magpie (Alan Neville, Cratloe), while Trefnant Girl (Terry Roberts, O’ Briensbridge) and Rudi  Blue (trained by Darryl Hopper for Cheryl Hopper, Liscannor) were runner-up and third respectively in an A4 graded 525 yards won in 29.12 by the Cappawhite owned Cappagh Suarez.
Meanwhile, the Limerick card on Monday night produced two Clare qualifiers for the Limerick and Clare GOBA finals in Limerick next Monday night.
Pansy Patch, owned by Anne Carey, Cooraclare was third in an A5 525 semi-final, while Contentious was runner-up in an A1 semi-final over 525 yards and will represent Tom Flanagan from Russa, Ennistymon in the final. Trap draws for the finals:
A5 – 1 Storm Mania, 2 Hazors Dave, 3 Crooked Banker, 4 Pansy Patch, 5 Penola Dingle, 6 Raymonds Tuttle.
A1 – 1 Contentious, 2 Cutters Lady, 3 Cloon Fantasy, 4 Swift Kattelyn, 5 Adamant Bluesm, 6 Scala Fiona.