ALL ROADS lead to Limerick Greyhound Stadium this Saturday night for the Final of the 2024 willwego.com Irish St Leger.
By Michael Maher
Winners of the semi-finals, Clonbrien Treaty and Ventry Faith are sure to head the market, the latter was fastest in the semis but Clonbrien Treaty the defending champion can win back to back titles on Saturday night.
Racing manager Jody Thomson has a top class card on offer for patrons featuring several other finals with a big entry of Clare Greyhounds.
The Final of the inaugural running of the Martin Fahy Memorial A4 525 yards stake took centre stage over Race week at Galway Greyhound Stadium and as the traps rose for the €3000 to the winner decider it was the Thomas Keane of Kilmihil owned Glynnscross Ted that trapped best on the wide outside and racing toward the opening bend the son of Droopys Sydney and Glynnscrosstyler just about lead from Peteles Phantom and Petes Noah.
Turning down the back Glynnscrosstyler led by over three lengths from Petes Noah as Guideys Bullet began to make ground along the inner. Between the final two bends the leader began to come back to his field and although Guideys Bullet closed with every stride Glynnscross Ted was home by three parts of a length in 29.42 to claim the inaugural running of a stake that commemorates one of the true gentlemen of sport and life.
On the long run towards the opening bend in the Crokers Kennels A5 550 Stake Final Crokers Barky showed pace to lead from Creevy Jet and Peteles Spirit with the front pair kicking three lengths clear of their rivals entering the back straight with Crokers Barky over a length to the good. Exiting the back straight the John Croker owned and trained by Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge Crokers Barky had a narrow advantage and he just about lasted home to defeat Creevy Jet by a short head in 30.92.
As the traps rose for the Watchman at Stud Stake Final the well fancied Konfu Tommy trapped well along the inner and racing towards the opening bend. The Donal Cooney and Pat O’Donoghue of Broadford owned runner showed good pace to lead Esme Lady by over a length rounding the opening bend. Racing along the back straight the son of Concrete Jungle and Here Comes Sally extended his advantage to over two lengths and from the third bend he extended his advantage with every stride to six lengths at the over Esme Lady in 29.40.
The opening contest of the night was an A8 graded 525 yards contest in which Confey Junior and Killdoo Lass both trapped well and led the field towards the opening bend. Rounding the bend Confey Junior switched inside his rival to lea day a lengthy entering the back straight but approaching halfway the Kerrill Wade owned Da Final Whistle began to lengthen his stride and was as they passed halfway and once striking the front the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained son of Broadstrand Bobo & Believer drew right away to defeat Ard Molly by eight and a half lengths in 29.56.
The Tony Brigdale of Ennis owned Blaze Bay made it fourth time lucky in the S7 graded contest as he made most of the running to comfortably see off the challenge of Lallys Legacy by a length at the line in 18.60. From traps Rathkerry Anne was best away in the centre of the track but once finding his stride along the inside Balze Bay really lengthened well on the run towards the opening bend as Lallys Legacy showed pace out wide. Between the two bends the pair raced stride for pride but on the run home Blaze Bay(Slippery Robert-Sports Olivia) proved the stronger and won well.
The Donie Duggan of Tulla owned and trained Rylane Lass stepped up markedly on his debut effort although he was hampered as he proved a length too good for the staying on Makaylas Dream in the A6 graded contest in a time of 30.04. The daughter of Burgess Bucks & Notimetotalk was away well in company with Calafia Park and rounding the opening bend Rylane Lass led by a length but running wide entering the back she allowed Calafia Park to lead down the back. Exiting the back straight Rylane Lass edged to the front and staying on gamely landed the spoils.
The concluding contest of the night was an A3 graded affair and as the traps rose the striped jacketed Hanover Storm was away well and racing around the opening bend the Leanne Fleming owned son of Slippery Robert & Be Slow Dor led Bay Firefly by two lengths. Turning down the back the lead was now three lengths as Baby Firefly and Knockdrum Charly gave chase. Exiting the back straight the lead had grown to four lengths and although the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained leader drifted a little wide off the home bend Hanover Storm eased home two and a half lengths clear of Baby Firefly in 29.16.
