The long trip to Shelbourne Park on last Friday night proved successful for Banner greyhounds.
In the final of the Tote Betting A1 N8 525 Sweepstake worth €2,000 the winner was Ballyea Warrior owned by Noel Gavin of Ballyea and trained by Declan McDonagh of Liscannor, the winning time here was 28.17.
Race two was round one of the 1XBet Islandbridge SSO Stake here Tiermana Dream was the winner in a time of 18.30, the Clare greyhound is owned by the Zero-Zero-Syndicate and trained in Kilrush by Colm Fitzgerald, Colm will be returning to the same venue with double interest on this Friday night for the second rounds as Flyers Penney which he also trains runs in her heat.
Friday night’s ten race Galway card featured three stake finals all over 525 yards in Novice, A5 and A6 grade’s with the concluding A2 graded contest the top graded event on the card which drew an excellent attendance to the College Road venue. In the top graded A2 525 Norfolkandchance in the red jacketed was away smartly as Rydar Rocket and Glenwood Sheamus began well towards the outer as they raced towards the opening bend where the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained Norfolkandchance tracked well to extend his advantage to two lengths over Glenwood Sheamus as they entered the back straight. Racing along the back the son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Raha Gogo extended his advantage to four lengths as Glengar Sofia joined the chase but the Norfolk-And-Chance owned Norfolkandchance was home and hosed on the crown of the home turn scoring by four & a half lengths from Glengar Sofia at the line in 29.27.
Cragataska Black and Alva Chase were both away well in the A5 graded 525 yards contest and as they reached the opening bend the Declan McDonagh trained Alva Chase used the inside line to take a couple of lengths out of his rivals as he turned down the back straight. Racing along the back Alva Chase (Jaytee Taylor & Luna Rocket) opened up a three length advantage on his rivals as Pronto Bucks and Cragataska Black gave chase. Off the home bend the Declan and Gerard Lillis of Cooraclare owned runner began to tread water but he saw off the renewed effort of Cragataska Black by a length and a half in 29.63. It proved to be a night to remember for the Declan McDonagh Kennels with these two winners at Galway and one winner at Shelbourne Park.
The opening contest of the night was an A7 graded 525 yards contest in which Drimeen Jetty was away well in the centre of the track and show pace to lead from the wide running Lissatouk Robbie with Heathlawn Devil in third place as they reached the turn. Taking the bend the Seamus McMahon of Cooraclare owned Lissatouk Robbie ran right round his rivals to show narrowly in front entering the back straight.. Racing along the back Lissatouk Robbie and Drimeen Jetty continued to match strides before the former went a length clear off the home bend. Close home Drimeen Jetty rallied again but Lissatouk Robbie (Deerjet Sydney & Lissatouk Poppy) prevailed by a short head at the line in 29.44.
Cloonoon Annie was away well towards the inside in the S4 graded sprint contest but she was quickly joined on the outside of the track by Crinkhill Ranger and the striped jacketed Glasheen Model who just edged to the front as they closed in on the opening bend. Continuing her progress out wide the Brendan Browne of Kilkee owned Glasheen Model led by two lengths from Crinkhill Ranger on the crown of the home bend. Clear off the home turn Glasheen Mode l(Dromana Bucko-Glasheen Covid) had two and a half lengths to spare over Grangeview Rocko at the line in 19.29.
As the traps rose for the final of the Talking Dogs A6 525 Stake Mollys Ambition was just a bout best away from her trap five berth but on the run towards the opening bend she was joined by Ballygibbon Smok along the inner as Island Ivy appeared on the wide outmoded as they rounded the opening bend . Swinging down the back Island Ivy took over in front from Mollys Ambition but approached the halfway mark the Johnny Burke of Tubber and Gerry Maloney of Clarecastle owned Threebagsofmeat swept through along the inner before taking a definite advantage at the third bend. Quickly taking command the daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet and Grangeview Nifty drew right away to defeat the staying on Guideys Freaky by three and a half lengths in 29.59.
Down Limerick way there was a nice double for Myles Cummins of Newmarket-on-Fergus as both Snuggie Tasha and Snuggie Carson landed their respective contests. The first to prevail was ‘Tasha’ as she sealed a two length victory over Tally Ho Storm in second. The 3/1 chance arrived late to seal a two length victory, in 28.91. In the very next race, ‘Carson’ sealed the double as he made every inch of the running. Drawn in trap one, the 5/2 chance came home three lengths clear of Foyle Con in 28.74.
