Wins for Clare at Galway Greyhound Stadium

THE spotlight was on Clare owners after winning the two finals on the Saturday night card at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium.
The successful Clare owners were David Browne, a native of Leitrim, Kilmihil and  Sean Hehir from Dunsallagh,Miltown Malbay.
The 12-race programme was part of the nationwide fundraising events on behalf of Down Syndrome Ireland and Garryfine Ben, the 7/4 favourite, was the winner for David Browne in the A4 550 final. The favourite, in trap two, and Clapton Master, in three, had the best breaks and in the race to the opening bend were in front of Winter Dream. Garryfine Ben (Royal Impact-Burnpark Hanna) started to come on top as they neared the halfway and was three lengths to the good over the final two bends. His winning margin was a length and three parts of a length in 30.54 from Winter Dream. Third home was Somebody Special, trained by Noel Mullins, Gort, for members of the Rooster Syndicate from Scariff.
Sean Hehir from Dunsallagh West, Miltown Malbay was a popular winner of the IGB iphone APP 550 final. The winner in trap one and  Own Collision, the 6/4 favourite in two, disputed the early lead on the run to the opening bend where Dunsallagh Lisa (Droopy’s Scolari-Dunsallagh Lucy) paved the way for her win. She was in front for the rest of the trip and while Own Collision challenged strongly on the run home, Dunsallagh Lisa held out to win by a neck in 30.85. Third spot went to Chrisola, trained by Frank Browne, Quin for local owners, Michael Browne and John Moran.
The concluding A2 525 was the top-graded event of the night, the Seamus Fahy-trained and Athlone-owned Bit Biew Kenny (Head Bound-Honcho’s Trix) was the front runner as they approached the opening bend. At one stage, he had six lengths of an advantage but  for a finish, was lucky to hold off the challenge from the East Clare-owned Glitter Freeze (Donal Cooney and Rory Moloney) to win by one length in 29.26. Ebony Blitz, trained by Frank Browne for Kinvara’s Murphy-Agri Syndicate, was third.
The best time of the night was recorded in the second-last race, an A3 graded 525, won by the Brian Johnson-trained and locally owned Glenbrack Shane (Swords Prince-Glenbrack Tina). From the start, he disputed the lead with the Inagh-owned Kylea Dreamer and the Shannon-owned Peadar Touch. Railing well, Glenbrack Shane went clear down the back and extending his advantage, he finished a six-and-a-half-length winner in 29.18 from Peter Russell’s Pedar Touch with third place going to Irene Barry’s Kylea Dreamer.
Gort owner, John Quinn, had a trap-to-line winner with Fast Fit Lar (Hades Rocket-Torpey’s Mai) in the second race on the card, an S8-S9 graded 350. His time was 19.41, winning by four and a half lengths from Corker Soviet (Kevin Fahey, Kiltartan).
Ennis owner, Jerry Moloney, scored with his reserve runner and Johnny Burke-trained Sue’s Rocket (Droopy’s Scolari-Ballaghboy Cool) in an S5 graded 350. This was a race dominated by the winner, who was away in a flash from trap five, went three lengths in front coming to the opening bend and won by almost six lengths in 19.16. This was her fifth career win.
There was another Clare win in the following race, an S3 graded 350 won by Capturethedream, owned in Kilmihil by Martin Keane and trained by Martin Fahy.This was another trap-to-line success, with Capturethedream (Ballymac Maeve-Montevani) in trap five winning by four lengths in 19.20 from Paris Jane (John Doyle, Ennis).
Tyrap White, owned in Shannon by Sean McAllen and trained by Done Duggan was always second in an A6 graded 525 and finished in that position, four and a half lengths behind the Pat Conway-trained Beagh Stryker, had a time of  29.48.
There was an all-Clare touch to the finishing stages of an A4 graded 525 won by Hold it Hades (Hades Rocket-Glenfort Rumble) owned by Mark Shannon, the Burren. Up to halfway, Willrose Jack, in trap three, and Tommy’s Tippy, a reserve in trap four, disputed the lead and were in front by four lengths. At this stage, HoldIt Hades, in two, started to come closer and railing quite well, he came up alongside the leaders and went on to beat Tommy’s Tippy, trained by Frank Browne for Tommy Corbett and Michael Brfowne, Quin, just short of three lengths in 29.61. Third place was filled by Snowey Princess (Enda O’Gorman, Lahinch).
There was no racing in Galway on Friday night because of a rugby game.

Fitzgerald family on the double

THERE were a few Clare winners over the two nights of racing in Limerick on Friday and Saturday. The Fitzgerald family from Parteen had a winner each night.
In the third race on Friday night, an S6 graded 350, Ocean Zorro showed great early pace to lead all the way for a two-and-a-half-length win. In his maiden race, the son of Royal Impact-Ocean Lucy) won in 19.05 for Rose Fitzgerald.
Ocean Crash, owned and trained by Tom Fitzgerakld, brought off the second part of the Limerick double on Saturday night with a win in an open 525. The son of Crash-Ocean Lady, also showed good early foot to lead at the second bend and go on to  win by two lengths from Avocan, trained by Maurice Mullaney, Gort. Third home was the Paul Hennesy-trained Tailteann Queen. The time was an impressive 28.68, the fastest of the night.
Back to racing on Fridaynight, Meelick owner Dan Flynn, had a winner in the eighth race, an S3 graded 350, with Rallying Raider in trap five. The son of College Causeway-Legal Moment, trained by Denis O’Malley, was the front runner from the opening bend and put in a good finish to win by six lengths in 18.89 from Crooked Banker.
Placed in their races were Goforithoney (Liam Shannon, Ballynacally); Tullabrack Mist (James O’Dea, Cooraclare); Clonreddan Julie (Tom Keane, Cooraclare); Cragaknock Rain (John O’Kelly, Mullagh); Exit One (JJ and Sean Crowe, Ennistymon) and Milesian Smurf, owned in West Clare by Pat Conlon.
The opening race in Limerick on Saturday provided another East Care winner in Inislosky Swift owned by Mary Crotty, O’Briensbridge. She too had a good clock when leading all the way for her four-length win,.The daughter of Kinloch Brae-Turbo Flight) had a clock of 28.84 for the A2 graded 525.
Miltown Malbay man, Gerry Burke, had the winner of the second race on the card, an N2 525 with Malbay Scobay (Droopy’s Scolari-Malbay Devikia ) in trap one. He came good at the third bend to take the lead and win easily by eight lengths in 29.06. Runner-up was Aulton Ron, trained by Michael Enright for Pat Hogan, Templemaley, Ennis and third was Tom Fitzgerald’s Ocean Rock.
Inislosky Ron, owned by Mary Crotty was beaten on the line by Triple Jay in an A4 graded525. The winning distance was a neck in 29.26.
Hold it Jennie, owned in the Burren by Mark Shannon, qualified for the final of the €1,400 March is on @ Stud A1 when he finished second in a semi-final heat.