What a Tornado a dramatic winner

Better placed than usual down the back to make his trade mark lightning finish, the Ennis-owned What a Tornado won the 2011 Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger final in dramatic style at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night.
Before a huge crowd, the Paul Henessy-trained black gave another stunning performance to take the classic and the winner’s cheque of €25,000.
It was beginner’s luck as far as Michael Hogan is concerned. A joint owner of the new champion, he is originally from Dalcassian Park, Ennis and is now living in Kildysart Road. He is a relatively new face to the doggie scene. He owns What a Tornado with Peter Mulligan, the Dublin native based in Ennis, for a good many years and a man who has managed a few betting shops in his 25 years in the business.
The Michael O’ Donovan-trained Judicial Academy, third in last year’s Leger final, was the hot favourite in the lead up to the final. However, it was being asked how would he perform from trap five and would he be able to shake off those on either side of him, Varra Captain in five and Shelbourne Geoff in six. When the traps lifted What a Tornado ( 7/4) and Judicial Acamedy (2/1) were the clear market leaders.
Judicial Academy came out well but failed to get through at the opening bends because of the close attention of Shelbourne Geoff and Varra Captain. As they entered the back straight Shelbourne Geoff took control but What a Tornado was right up with the leaders and in a better position than earlier rounds to produce his now famous finish. While both Shelbourne Geoff and Varra continued to gallop on strongly, the connections of What a Tornado were waiting for their hero to pounce and go through his usual routine on the way home. Up the home straight, Shelbourne Geoff and Varra Captain were still out in front but What a Tornado came flying on the outside and while he lost some ground in the process he was still fast enough to overtake the leading pair and win a magnicicent final by half a lengtth in a good 29.58.
The relatively new stadium in Limerick got its first real taste of the Banner roar.
It was a proud moment for trainer Paul Hennessy, who had a double on the night with Tranquil Time winning the Leger Consolation in 29.65.
What a Tornado was reared at his Gowran kennels and was bred by his wife, Susan.
Prominent among the Ennis supporters in Limerick was Sean Heeney from Ennis. He had more than a passing interest in the outcome of the Leger as he once had a share in What a Tornado as well as training him earlier on. He was in charge when he won his first race in Galway and another in Shelbourne Park.
He said that the Leger champion took very well to the Limerick track and ran magnificiently throughout the classic.
Peter Mulligan, who bought What a Tornado from Susan Hennessy with this winnings from an each way bet on Mon Mone to win the Aintree Grand National, said he turned down an offer of €10,000 for the dog after wining his first race. Last Otober, he picked up a wirst injury and they did now know if he would run again. However, he made a good recovcery and a big boost for him was winning a terrific race with a good clock in Kilkenny prior to the start of the Leger.
A delighted Paul Hennessy also got the good news on Monday that What a Tornado has been invited to participate in the Boylesports International in Dundalk next Tuesday night. He is drawn in trap five. In trap one on is Droopys Twirl, the Irish Oaks winner, in two is English challenger Nambisco, in three is reigning champion Definate Champion, in four is Easter Cup winner Makeshift and in six is Bryan and Kathleen Murphy’s Murphy’s Barefoot Bullet, third in the English Derby.
What a Tornado is in great form and now is the time to strike, said Paul Hennessy, who is also entering his new champion in the Townviewfoods.com Champion Stakes.
For the Dundalk International Boylesports bet: 3 Droopys Twirl; Barefoot Bullet; 7/2 Definate Opinion, Makeshift; 5 What a Tornado; 8 Nambisco.

Ennis owner-trainer enjoys a nice double in Galway

Ennis owner-trainer Sean Heeney also had a good night at the dogs  at  Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Thursday night, coming away with a nice double.
His first success was with Santas  Lad, which  he trains for members of the syndicate from the well-known Ennis pub, the  Usual Place. This was an S9-graded 350 yard event, which Woodbine Express in trap two and Santas Lad in six got off to the best start.
They were two lengths in front as they made their way to the opening bend and although he went wide negotiating the bend, Santas Lad went a few lengths clear. In  what was his second race, the son of Scarty-Risk Everything  raced on to win by nearly three lengths in 19.67, much to the delight of his trainer and syndicate members Jamsie Gormeley, Michael Clohessy, Colm Fitzgerald and Kieran O’Connor, all from Ennis. Woodbine  Express was runner-up and third place was filled by the Kilrush owned, Ler Pickle.
The second part of the double came in race four, an A8-graded event over 525 yards. In the run to the opening bend Kilara Blonde  in trap three  led the way by a few lengths from Cahercalla Risk, a litter brother of Santas Lad, in trap two. Just after the half-way mark Cloncool Apache made a strong effort to come on top but as they swung for home it was Cahercalla Risk, owned by Sean Heeney and Tony Quinn, who was out in front and he won going away by two and a half lengths in 30.17. Kilara Blonde was runner-up followed home by Cloncool Apache (Rory Moloney, O’Callaghan’s Mills).
Popular West Clare owner, Tommie Gallagher won the chief supporting race of the night, the A4-graded 575, with his Master Slick.
Starting well from trap five, the son of Slick Leo-Bodyshop Flight was soon in a two lengths lead. As he raced down the back he had extended  his lead to six lengths but between this and the finishing line Florys Gift made inroads but Master Slick  still had two lengths to spare as he crossed the line for a  32.26 win.
County Limerick owner John Corbett won the main event of the night, the concluding A3-graded 525 with Debidee Dazzler (Razldfazl Billy- Debidee ­Belinda). Her time for the trip was 29.71.
The Clare-owned Small Chloe (Richard Pyne) was a first-time runner in the first race of the night, an A9-graded 525, finishing in third place. The 30.61 winner by one length was the locally owned Ballinakill Ben.
Jerry Molonery, also from Ennis, made it a good night for the capital town contingent as his Ballaghboy Grump was the winner of the third race on the card, an A8 sprint.
Drawn in trap five, the son of Droopys Scolari-Ballaghgboy Cool shook off the challenge from Blaze Dawn to take the advantage at the opening bend.
He was still well clear rounding the home turn on his way to a two-and-a-half lengths win in 19.70.  Blaze Dawn, also owned in Ennis by Anthony and Patrick Brigdale, was runner-up and Fitzler Bolt (Michael Fitzgerald, Kilrush) was third.
The McDonagh family from Kinvara came third with their Killea Rocket in an S4-graded 350 yard sprint won in 19.67 by Michael Corcoran’s Rinnwood Ella.
The Athenry-owned Outback Garcia came with a late run to win an A6-graded 525 by one and a quarter lengths in 30.14 from Knockalton Ellen and the third placed Fitzler Chip (Colm and Oran Fitzgerald, Kilrush).

Pal Duke strikes again

Kylea Dreamer, owned in Inagh by Irene Barry, was narrowly beaten into second place in the feature race in Galway on Friday night, an A2-graded 525.
The Seamus Fahy-trained Ezjohn, the eventual winner, was well away from trap two and had an advantage of two lengths at the opening bend. Kylea Deamer closed to within a length down the far side and was still a big danger as they swung for home. However, Ezjohn met the challenge and raced on to win by three parts of a length in 29.54. The West Clare-owned Ballegan Lad (Ann McInerney,) was third.
An A3-graded  550-yard race was the chief supporting event and it was won in 30.69 by the Martin Fahy-trained Bellaghy Twink. Third home was the Ennis-owned Mythical Tar (John Keaner, Frank White). There were two West Clare-owned qualifiers from two semi-final heats of the Masters Restaurant A5 over 525 yards.
In the first heat, the Davy Lavelle-trained Davris Joy showed great pace down the back to win by four-and-a-quarter lengths  in  29.32  from Gone to Garry. Third home was Knockdine Black (Michael O’Brien, Miltown Malbay).The very much in form Real Earnest was an easy 28.75 winner of heat two, finishing seven-and-a-half lengths in front of Hanover Bull. Third place went to Milesian Smurf (Pat Conlon).
A renewed effort by Eat Alot (Jennie and Teresa Griffin, Gort) just failed on the run home when beaten a neck by Tubbercurry Jodi (19.75) in an S7-graded 350. Miltown Malbay owner, Helen O’Brien won the second race on the card, an S8-graded 525 with Knockdine Dazl (Razldazl Billy-Knockdine Lady). In her maiden race, the winner disputed the lead at the  half-way mark with Trick Shot but the Miltown Malbay-owned black had edged clear after  coming from the back to set up a 29.97 win, beating Trick Shot by two and three parts of a length.
The Gort-owned Rathorope Rancho (Madeline Walsh) was the early leader in an S5-graded 350-yard race but Maximus Decimus took command on the wide outside at the opening bend and went on to win the race by four-and-a-quarter lengths in 19.15. Rathorpe Rancho finished in third place.
West Clare was back in the frame following the result of an A5-graded 525, which was won by Michael McDonnell’s Sunside King (Kinloch Brae-Sunnyside Rose). Outback Jareau, the favourite,  Sherco Sam and Peaders Touch were the pacesetters but coming from the back  the improved Sunside King in trap six started  to close in and he hit the front as they rounded  the home bend  the take the honours by two and a quarter lengths in 29.52.
Inagh owner-trainer Colman O’Loughlin continued his good run of late with Pal Duke in an A3-graded 525. This was the eighth career win and three on the trot for the son of Droopys Scolari-Cathy of Inagh. With Dan the Navigator he disputed the early lead and although he went wide at the opening bend, Pal Duke was clear by a few lengths down the back The  rest of the field came closer as they reached  the third bend but Pal Duke had enough in reserve  to win  by three lengths going away. His clock was 29.33.

Gort’s Jeddies Star a winner in a thriller

The top race of the night in Galway on Saturday night, the  A1-graded 525, was a thriller and was won in style by Gort owner-trainer, Maurice Mullanney with his Jeddies Star. Less than than three parts of a length separated the first three home.
The  wide-running Hatchet in six and Carols Contender in four were best away and they matched strides to the opening bend, where Hatchet took a narrow advantage. However, there was nothing between them down the back, where Jeddies Star started to make his presence felt with a run on the inside. Coming from the back straight, Jeddies Star continued to keep up the pressure and there was little between the front three runers as they made the dash for the line. Nearer the line, Jeddies Star (Boherduff Ligght-Heard the News) stuck his neck out to get the verdict by half a length in a time of 29.17. A neck away in third place was Carols Contender.
The Seamus Fahy-trained Ezfrank was in command  down the back in an A2-graded contest, which he went on to win by six lengths in 28.87 from  Bumblebee Bingo. Third spot went to Snuggie Boy (Breda Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus).
Seamus Fahy completed a double when he won the bumper race for A3 graders with Rebellious Diva (29.22). Varra Bruno was runner-up and third home was Glenbrack Paulo, trained by Noel Mullins for Kinvara owner Billy Kilroy.
Hurlers Cross owner Dermot McInerney had the honour of winning the first race of the night, an S6-graded sprint, with his Tarquynn Glern. Well away from trap three, the son of Droopys Maldini-Derightful Glin led at the opening bend from Willrose Junior in six. He remained in charge for the rest of the race to win by a length and three quarters in 19.32.
Snuggie Bearin in trap four and Gleannrue Eddie in trap one disputed the lead  in the early stages of an A5-graded 525. At the half-way mark it was Snuggie Bear by two lengths but over  the final two bends the field started to close, with four runners well in contention as they headed for home. In a very tight finish, it was Gleannrue Eddie who got the verdict, beating Snuggie Bear (Breda Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus) by a neck in 29.89.
O Garney Mavis was making her second outing on Satuurday night and was a trap two runner in an A6-graded event. Owned near Sixmilebridge by Helen Coffey, the daughter of Ballymac Maeve-O Garney Pearl trailed  Knockdrum Kaka by a length over the first two bends, The pair drew away for the rest of the field down the back and in the run home O Garney Mavis  challeneged on the oitside and got to the line first, one length in front of Knockdrum Kaka. The time was 29.61. Third spot was filled by Sues Sparkle (Johnny Burke and Gráinne Burke, Tubber).
Brickhill Frank, trained by John Brown for the Bogey Boys syndicate from Ballyhaunis, was third in an S2-graded sprint won in 19.42 by Birrogue Jer.
Astons Diamond, trained by Monard’s Pat Curtin, recorded his second career success in an A4-graded contest as he made all the running to  beat Serious Dream by two lengths in 29.24

Limerick fundraiser for St Joseph’s Foundation

Limerick Greyhound Racing is hosting a fundraiser in aid of St Joseph’s Foundation, Charleville, on Friday night.
Racing manager Liam Kennedy said it is an all-sponsored race programme with two finals down for decision, the Breda Finn Memorial A3 525 and the Charleville Cheese A2 525.
Saturday night it’s Red Mills night with four quarter-finals of the Red Mills All-Ireland A3 525.
The card will also feature the two semi-finals of the Bambury Bookmakers A3 525.
The final of the Respond Rambler D1 750 was not run off last Saturday due to a mechanical problem and will be run off instead this Saturday. The one-off open sprint will also be run.
Next sales at Limerick will be on Tuesday, August 30 and entries are now being accepted.