LISCANNOR TRAINED Alva Chase was best from trap two to claim a spot in the Liam Brussels Memorial final.
By Michael Maher
The three semi-finals of The Liam Brussels Memorial 525 were the centrepiece of the action on last Saturday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium with the A4 graded competition once again sponsored by the Brussels family in memory of one of the great gentlemen of the sport who enjoyed many great success in his days at the Collage Road venue.
The outcome of the first semi-final was effectively settled at trap rise as the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained Alva Chase trapped best from his trap two berth and racing towards the opening bend the son of Jaytee Taylor and Kishlawn Amelia led Killaruss Jet by two lengths with Company Man taking the opening bend in third place. Racing along the back Alva Chase led Killaruss Jet by two lengths with Company Man in third place passing halfway. Leaving the far side the leader seemed to be coming back to his rivals who were now lined across the track. Off the home bend though Alva Chase still held the call and although Company Man closed all the way to the line the Declan and Gerard Lillis of Cooraclare owned Alva Chase saw the challenge of by three parts of a length in 29.61.
An A1 graded fifth contest over 525 yards was the top graded event of the night. The inside duo of Brickhill Moana and Heathlawn Storm were both smartly into stride and racing towards the opening bend the raced stride for stride with Flyers Hobbit in third place but running slightly wide as they negotiated the opening turn. Racing into the back straight Brickhill Moana led by two lengths a lead which became three lengths at halfway. Striding further clear as she approached the exit form the back straight the Clare natives Albert Long and John Collins owned Brickhill Moana (Ballymac Bolger & Twentylittletoes) had her rivals strung out like Monday morning washing as she powered clear to defeat Heathalwn Storm by eight and a half lengths in a superb 28.57.
The opening contest of the night was an A4 graded 525 yards affair and in the Early strides Ard Roxy and Mirabel were prominent with Knppogue Blue in third place as they raced towards the opening bend where the Harper Ward of Spanchill owned Mirabel took two lengths out of her rivals and set sail for the judge as she entered the back straight. Racing along the back Mirabel led by five lengths from Bells Greet with Knoppogue Blue back in third place. Maintaining her lead as she approached the home bend Mirabel (Droopys Sydney-Cactus Sapphire) stayed on well to record her eleventh career success by two & a half lengths over Bells Greet in 29.19.
All six runners were away virtually as one in the A3 graded 525 contest with Claudegreengrass and Laois Lightening leading the charge to the bend just ahead of Portumna Syd on the wide outside. At the bend the Gordon Vaughan owned Laois Lightening seized the coveted rails berth and turning down the back he led by three lengths from Portumna Syd. Approaching the third bend Portumna Syd was now the only threat to the Donie Duggan of Tulla trained Laois Lighening(Ballymac Anton-Old Treasure) who although tying up slightly was still a length and a half to the good at the line in 29.27.
The final of the Race Entries By Text S7 350 Yards Stake was the feature contest on Friday night’s card at the same venue.
The top graded contest of the night was the A3 graded fourth contest and following a pretty level break Derrymoyle Bono and Cricket Box disputed the lead racing towards the opening bend rounding which little separated the pair. Turning down the back the leaders had a slight coming together and this allowed the Emma Lynskey owned Fantasy Penny to take over in front racing into the back straight. Striding out well the daughter of Redzer Ardfert and Fantasy Lane opened up a three length advantage over Foxwood McGowan who began to close between the final two bends but the Albert Mullins of Gort trained Fantasy Penny dug deep close home to see the challenge off by half a length in 29.40.
The opening contest of the night was a Novice 350 yards contest in which Gimmie That in the centre of the track and Rosshill Storm out wide were both away well with Gimmie That holding a half-length advantage into the opening bend. Racing between the two bends the Albert Long and John Collins owned Brickhill Robin began to creep closer to the leaders along the rails . Swinging off the home bend Brickhill Robin slipped through along the inner to join issue before quickly asserting with the daughter of Good News and Brickhill Daisy scoring by two lengths from Gimmie That at the line in 19.56 after hitting the post on three previous occasions.
Querrin Scott entered the winners enclosure at Limerick on last Thursday’s evenings card for Gearldine Troy from Querrin, with a 29.09 victory in an A3 graded contest, a son of Ballymac Bolger and Ballynew Bambi, he is trained by Gerry Burke from Miltown Malbay.
