Two runners for Houlihan in derby final

TRAINER Chris Houlihan will have two runners in this weekend’s Limerick Ladbrokes.com Irish Greyhound Derby trial stake final, Blake’s Cash and Cashen Mafuma.
Cashen Mafuma, which he handles for Richard Vickers, won the second semi-final heat in Limerick last Saturday night. Leading from the first bend, Cashen Mafuma won by one length in 29.95 from the County Kerry-owned Sean Rangers. Beaten a head into third place was the Graham Holland-trained Bawna Missile.
Trained by Eamon Finn for County Waterford owner, Michael O’Keeffe, Lisnakill Ross was the 29.64 winner of the first heat, beating Blake’s Cash by three and a half lengths. The Pat O’Connor-trained Saleen Islandtwo was half a length farther back for third place.
Trap draw for Saturday night’s final: 1. Bawna Missile; 2. Blake’s Cash; 3. Cashen Mafuma; 4. Sean’s Rangers; 5. Saleen Islandtwo; 6. Lisnakill Ross.
East Clare trainer Donal Cooney struck in the very first race of the night, Varra Polly leading all the way in an A2 graded 525. Owned by the Boys’ Club Syndicate, Varra Polly (Head Bound-Varra Lark) had a fast clock of 28.95 for a four and a half length-win from Borheen Droopy.
The first three races of the night were claimed by Clare owners. Inislosky Jacko won race two, an A7 graded 525, for O’Briensbridge owner-trainer, Mary Crotty. Disputing the early lead, the son of Ballymac Ruso-Inislosky Daisy proved strongest on the way home when getting there by half a length in 29.52 from the Stephen Murray-trained Gurteenree Lad.
Shannon trainer Jim McLoughlin made it three in-a-row for Clare when Blue Tarquynn was first to cross the line in an A4 graded 525. Owned in Shannon by the JDD syndicate, the son of Hondo Black-Money Go Lucky missed his break from trap five but moved through the field to lead at the fourth bend. His winning margin was three lengths from Bluffer Scolari. The time was another fast 28.95.
The Mary Crotty-trained Trefnant Girl (Ballymac Ruso-Inislosky Daisy) was the only Clare winner in Limerick on Saturday night. Drawn in trap one in a 525-yard race for A5 graders, the white and brindled bitch took up the running at the first bend and went on for a two-and-a-half-length win in a time of 29.52.
The County Limerick-owned Black Bick was the 29.07 and all the way winner of an AO graded 525. She won by four lengths from Ocean Rock (Tom Fitzgerald, Parteen). Third home – four more lengths back – was Shyladee Lass (Bridget Casey, O’Briensbridge).
Middlepark Mal, a winner of his last three races in Limerick for trainer Tom Flanagan and Ennistymon owner, Michael Marrinan, also Ennistymon, finished third in the last race of the night, an open 550 won in 30.11 by Mohane Misty. Beaten two and a half lengths into runner-up place was Lisnakill Hamish and a length and a half farther back was Middlepark Mal.
Clare owners had little joy when the Limerick-Clare GOBA finals and semi-finals were decided in Limerick on Monday night.
The only two to feature were the Sixmilebridge-owned O’Garney Rock (Helen Coffey) and Rallying Raider, owned in Meelick by Dan Flynn, which finished runner-up and third placed respectively in the A1 final over 525 yards. The 28.80 winner of the race was the County Limerick-owned Ballymartin Wok (Knockabout Wok-Getaway Jordan).