Clare greyhounds continued their good form over the past weekend at the Galway Track with Lissycasey’s Martin Griffin having the extra charm on his counterparts.
Racing towards the opening bend on Saturday night in this S9 sprint contest, Besloe Katie showed pace along the inner in company with the white jacketed Charmed and the pair raced as one until just shy of the turn where the Martin Griffin of Lissycasey owned Charmed took command of the contest in the centre of the track. Rounding the crown of the bend Mousy Megan closed on the leader inside but in straightening for home Charmed asserted again to score by two lengths at the line in 19.74.
In the early strides of race 2 Alluno was first to show but she was quickly joined and passed on the run towards the opening bend by the Killian Browne of Ennis owned Seekers Magic. At the opening bend Seekers Magic led by a length but with bunching among the chasing pack daughter of Kinloch Brae and Seekers Vision found herself six lengths clear turning for home and at the line she had seven and a half lengths to spare over West Clare Lass in a time of 19.58.
As the traps rose for the opening heat of the A3 525 yards sweepstake the wide seeded Wishful Ben was very smartly away on the wide outside and showing plenty of pace he led by three lengths from Drombeg Diva and Springwell Janey as they rounded the opening bend. Cutting the corner well entering the back straight Wishful Ben led by four lengths passing halfway as Springwell Janey and Drombeg Diva continued to give chase. Approaching the home bend, the Niall Arthur and Bernard Farrell of Inagh owned son of Ballymac Vic and Wishful Flyer began to tie up but he lasted home by half a length from Springwell Janey in 29.10.
The S6 graded contest developed into a match from an early stage as the John Collins and John Browne of Ballyea owned Brickhill Paulio and Fast Jake were both very smartly into their stride and racing towards the opening bend Brickhill Paulio held a half length advantage over Fast Jake on his inside. Rounding the bend, Brickhill Paulio extend the advantage to just over a length but once in line for home the son of Laughill Blake and Rathmeehan Holly eased away to score by three and a half lengths in 19.23.
On Friday night at the College Road venue there was a thrilling finish in heat three of the A4 525 Sweepstake as the pace setting Lillies Joy just held the challenge of Confused Hassett by a neck at the line in 29.52. The winner showed pace on the run towards the opening bend in company with Remarkable Lady and Millrose Minnie. Railing well around the opening bend the Michael Corry and Michael Daly of Clarecastle owned daughter of Baallymac Vic and Brookeville Dash opened up a three length advantage racing to halfway as Confused Hassett began to improve out wide. Off the home bend Lillies Joy looked in trouble but the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained lady dug deep to hold on close home.
In the second round heats of the Bar One Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk on Saturday night, the Gerry Holian trained Buttsys Bengal was first into action, making every inch after a flying start from trap three in the opening heat. Brodys Magic was the hot favourite but he missed the start and lost further ground on the turn as he was forced to check wide. Owned by the Buttsy Syndicate of Shannon, Buttsys Bengal made it win number 14 and brought his earnings to just over €10,000 for the Clare lads.
