THE 27th running of the Flaherty Markets Corrib Plate, worth €4,500 to the winner, was the feature contest at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Thursday night last with a number of mini-stake finals also down for decision.
Victory in the feature event went to the Niall Dunne trained and the John Quinn (Gort)-owned Fast Fit Tiger (Royal Impact–Fast Fit Nikita) who edged out the pre-race favourite Cute Tara (Ballymas Maeve–Teddy Hoe) by two-and-a-half lengths in a splendid time of 28.86
As the traps rose the red-jacketed Fast Fit Tiger was smartly away along the rail and although he moved off and collided with Nationwide Dash in the early strides he still managed to lead the favourite by a length approaching the opening bend.
Turning down the far side the Niall Dunne-trained Fast Fit Tiger again moved to the centre of the track as he extended his lead to three lengths over his rivals. Rounding the penultimate corner the leader railed pretty well as he set sail for the judge and claim the traditional race week feature for a delighted John Quinn.
Third home, over six lengths off the winner, was the Gerard Burke-trained Rith Royal. The son of Royal Impact–Rith Saor is owned by Brendan Hehir in Miltown Malbay.
The chief supporting contest was the GOBA sponsored Tri-Distance final over 575 yards and victory went to the Pat Conway trained and Annacotty-owned Kiwis Dilemma in 32.01.
Kiwis Dilemma showed good pace to lead up from Steves Sentinal in trap six, owned by former Clare and Sixmilebridge hurler, Sean Stack. Racing down the far side Kiwis Dilemma led by two lengths and the Kieran O’Brien-owned son of Tyrur Ted and Early Vintage looked well in control of the contest and although Lively Rocket railed well around the home turn, the winner stayed on well to land the prize by two-and-a-half lengths with Steves Sentinel in third.
The opening contest of the night was an A4 graded 575 and the spoils went to Martin J Keane from Kilmihil with Talk Bristol (Westmead Hawk-Montevani).
Hollywood Sinead showed pace along the rail to lead by a length from Talk Bristol as they approached the opening bend. Turning down the back the leader extended her advantage to two lengths as Roscliffe Jet emerged on the scene and pressed Talk Bristol for second place.
However, at the crown of the final bend Talk Bristol d Talk Bristol came through to challenge and she quickly asserted to win by a length and a half in 31.84.
Inagh’s Colman O’Loughlin was in the winner’s enclosure with Pal Duke (Droopys Scolari–Cathy of Inagh) in the final of an A6-graded final.
As the traps rose Rathin Rose and Pal Duke matched strides in front and as they rounded the opening bend but Pal Duke cut to the rail and he led by two lengths racing towards halfway. Approaching the third bend, Pal Duke looked to be in command as he set sail for home to win by a comfortable three-and-three-quarters lengths from Rathin Rose in 29.06.
The Millstreet Racing Syndicate were celebrating following this A4 graded mini stake final as their Big Thrills (Razldazl Billy-Previous) made every inch of the running for an impressive success over Martin Griffin’s Nebraska West (Westmead Hawk–Nebraska) in a superb 28.89.
Breaking well from his trap three berth the Seamus Fahy-trained Big Thrills had the race in safe keeping from an early stage. He was chased home by Nebraska West, owned by Martin Griffin from Caherea, Likssycasey and O’Garney Belle (Droopys Scholes–O’Garney Mist), owned and trained by Bernard Coffey from Oatfield, Sixmilebridge.
In the A3-graded 550 contest Athenry handler Seamus Fahy completed a double on the night as his Muddy Shoes made all to run out a comfortable winner over Sands Of Time (Hallucinate–In Good Hands) in 30.09.
The runner-up is owned and trained in Stonehall, Newmarekt-on-Fergus by Frank Casey while filling third spot was Knockbrack Yeman (Yeah Man–Dalcash Maxie), owned by Mrs Margaret Nestor from Miltown Malbay.
The bumper was an A2 graded affair and from traps the Birr owned Glenfort Dove was smartly away and he led by two lengths from the Frank Browne trained Mine Hazel rounding the opening bend . With trouble among the back markers, the pair raced clear down the far side. Exiting the back straight Mine Hazel, owned by Mary Browne in Quin, began to close along the rail but the Bridgid Darcy owned Glenfort Dove stayed on well to win by just under two lengths in 29.14.

Dunarus a seven length winner

The four opening round heats of the St Thomas’s GAA Club A3-graded 525 formed the centrepiece of Friday nights card at the Collage Road venue with the Gort-owned Dunarus Corker delivering the top effort of the night in the second heat.
In the opening heat all six runners were away on terns with Chill The Jets just leading as they approached the opening bend from Drimeen Crash, owned by Patrick Coote in Ennis.
Passing halfway Drimeen Crash went to the front and as they turned out of the back straight Drimeen Crash (Crash-Drimeen Sparrow), trained in Ballyea by John Browne, led by a length from Chill The Jets. On the run in Chill The Jets challenged again but Drimeen Crash held him at bay by three quarters of a length in 29.44.
The stake really sprung to life in the second heat as the Jennie Griffin-owned and trained Dunarus Corker spread-eagled his rivals on his way to a seven length success over Lady Richmore in a slick 28.93.
The winner, a son of Hondo Black and Soviet Victoria, was headed on the run to the opening bend by the eventual runner-up but approaching the bend Dunarus Corker took command on the outside. Stretching clear down the back Dunarus Corker led by five lengths exiting the back straight as he strolled home in splendid isolation for his seventh career success.
The third heat went to the Denis Hannon owned Springwell Dill who came in as a reserve. The daughter of Razldazl Billy and Springwell Sukey made all the running to defeat Dunsallagh Jake, owned and trained in Miltown Malbay by Sean Hehir, by three lengths in 29.34.
Smartly away Springwell Dill led by two lengths at the opening bend where there was trouble among the back markers. Passing halfway the lead had grown to four lengths and although Dunsallagh Jake never gave in he was still three lengths adrift at the line in 29.34.
The concluding heat went to the David Griffin-trained Forty Two Fifty who led at the home turn before holding the late thrust of Confused Jose by half a length in 29.47. The runner-up is trained in Gallows Hill, Cratloe by Ger Manley.
On the run to the opening bend Newport Dan and the eventual winner matched strides before Newport Dan went on to lead by two lengths approaching halfway. Beginning the swing for home, Forty Two Fifty loomed up on the outside and, although two lengths clear halfway up the run-in, he was all out close home to hold off the late surge of Confused Jose.
Clarecastle owner Denis Torpey claimed the spoils in the opening race, an A7 525 with Mias Magpie (Droopys Kewell–Baby Rumble).
The winner showed pace to lead up from Heat And Fore with the wide running Noirs Travis in third place. Racing down the back Mias Magpie kicked on by three lengths from Heat And Fire who began to get closer exiting the back straight but although Mias Magpie was tying up close home she lasted it out by a length in a time of 29.34.
Former ‘Mills hurler Donal Cooney was just touched off with Killuran Hawk (Westmead Hawk–Lady Alison) in an A6 525.
The Cathal Hough-trained Electro Gold returned to winning ways in this event as the son of Electro Jack and Star Bright led at the opening bend on her way to a half-length success over Killuran Hawk in 29.90. The winner just managed to get through a narrow gap along the inside rail rounding the opening bend as Killuran Hawk kept to the centre of the track.
From halfway the pair were locked in battle clear of their rivals with the eventual winner saving more ground than what he won by on the home turn to record his second career success.
Third in other races were: Michael Davoren Willbrook Queen (Prince Monalulu–Missouri Dame); the Johnny Burke and Crusheen-owned Crusheen Flyer (Droopys Kewell–Rathorpe Baby) and Liam Carroll, Cratloe with Portdrine Bobby (Hades Rocket–Jumeirah Jess).

McDonagh’s rapid fire double

Liscannor handler John McDonagh was the man of the moment at the College Road venue on Saturday night when he recorded a rapid fire double.
McDonagh, who is now based in Kinvara, picked up the winner’s cheques in the second and third races with You Never Left and Ebony Blitz that he trains for the Kinvara-based The Girls Syndicate.
In an A8-graded contest over 525, You Never Left (Tucks Mein-Sing Loud) made virtually all the running to record a sevan and three quarter lengths success over Jennie Griffin’s Dunarus Ralf in 29.59.
The winner, who came in as a reserve, just outpaced Glenfort Dancer on the run up to the opening bend and despite moving wide led by half a length at halfway stage. From the third bend home, the winner readily asserted for an effortless success, the first of her promising career.
The Kinvara based handler was back in the winner’s circle the following race, an S7-graded 350, with the trap four runner Ebony Blitz. The daughter of Droopys Kewell–Rathorpe Baby defeated Everylittlehelps by four lengths in 19.22.
As the traps rose all six runners were away on terms with Coolarne Billy on the rail just in front as they approached the opening bend. Rounding the bend the leader eased slightly as Ebony Blitz stormed through to take up the running. She maintained her relentless gallop to the line for an impressive victory.
An all graded 11-race programme faced punters on Saturday night last with the concluding two A2 graded contests the twin features on the card.
The concluding contest of Race Week went to Ennis pair Conor Heaney and Pat Cronin with Wall Street who arrived late on the scene to collar the longtime leader Full Essence and win by a length and a quarter in 29.24.
Full Essence showed pace to the bend to lead and despite running wide down the far side he still led by two lengths exiting the back straight. Turning for home, the distress signals were out as Wall Street (Crash-Bummow Twighlight) swept by to win going away.
The opening contest of the night was an A9 graded contest in which victory went to Breda Casey from Newmarket with Snuggie Babe.
Drumhill Express and Poncho Paddy matched strides on the run to the opening bend where there was general crowding following which Drumhill Express and Snuggie Babe went clear of their rivals racing down the far side.
Between the final two bends Snuggie Babe (Group Rooster-Christians Lady) began to assert as she went on to win by a little over two lengths in 29.33.
The Michael Fitzgerald-owned Fitzler Zion (Barnane Bit-Susie Bumblebee) who came in as a reserve in this A6 graded contest recorded his third career success by a length from Lady Rooster, owned by Eugene Cummins, in 29.58.
The Johnny Burke trained Drimeen Border recorder his eleventh career success in an A4 graded contest as the son of Honcho Classic and Clonmore Nikita made all the running for an impressive three and a quarter lengths for Clare owners Aoife and Johnny Burke.
Having led by two lengths rounding the opening bend, Drimeen Border extended his advantage over O’Garney Flo, owned by Bernard O’Dowd from Sixmilebridge, to five lengths passing halfway. Railing well around the third bend the winner was never in any danger once he straightened for home to win from the staying on Sandstorm Rocker in 29.16.
There was a thrilling conclusion to the ninth race on the card, a A3-graded contest as the Sixmilebridge and Stephen Murray trained Peggy in trap two got up right on the line to gain a head success over Ezjohn in 29.19.
The son of Black Shaw and Sheenans Cottage, owned by Frank Sheehan in Ennis, was only in third place rounding the opening bend as Ezjohn led from Headford Mack. Approaching the third bend Ezjohn led by two lengths but he left a narrow gap on his inside rounding the home bend and this allowed Peggy to slip through close home to gain his narrow success.