A double for Sixmilebridge’s Stephen Murray was the highlight for Clare greyhound followers in Galway over the weekend while Kilmaley owners also showed they have the aces on the track.
In the early strides of race two at the Galway Track on Friday night last in this S5 graded contest both Ballyvoe Ace and Burnpark Lexi were away smartly towards the wide outside with Burnpark Lexi taking two lengths advantage as they approached the opening bend as Ballaghboy Panda closed on his inner between the two bends.
On straightening for home though the John Maher and Richard Pyne of Kilmaley owned Ballyvoe Ace really found his stride on the wide outside as he swept through to win going away by two & a half lengths from Ballaghboy Panda in 19.28.
Racing opened with a Novice 525 Yards contest in which Moes Dilemma and Coolavanny Robin were away well with the latter taking over at the head of affairs as they approached the opening bend. Rounding the bend the leader cut towards the rails and turning down the back the Noel Hehir of Inagh owned Coolavanny Robin held a three length advantage over Malbay Donie. Leaving the back straight Coolavanny Robin was in control of proceedings as he stayed on well to defeat Jumeirah Digger by two & a half lengths in 29.54.
Race five went to the Kim Bends and Tony Brigdale of Ennis owned Blaze Hero who just held the renewed challenge of Dynamic Blake by half a length at the line in 30.26. Dynamic Blake showed pace to lead on the run to the opening bend where the eventual winner burst through in his inner to take command. Racing drown the back Blaze Hero led by three lengths but he was all out closer home to just hold Dymanic Blake at the line. The highlight of Saturdays night card at the College Road venue was a double for Sixmilebridge handler Stephen Murray
As the traps rose for the S2 graded eleventh contest the Rachel Murray and Sean O’Riordan owned Derra Misty was very smartly into her stride from her trap two berth and racing towards the opening bend she led Brickhill Shelby by over a length. Railing well at the opening bend Derra Misty forced her rival to switch outside to deliver his challenge but Derra Misty was in control as she stayed on well to score by two lengths in 19.15 and complete a double for trainer Stephen Murray.
The opening leg of the kennel brace came in the A5 graded seventh contest over 575 Yards in which on the long run towards the opening bend Loose Woman and Miss Cindy both showed pace towards the inner as Cloneyogan Zippy tracked the pair two lengths adrift in third place. Turning into the back straight the Helen Vaughan owned Loose Woman began to gradually take command of the contest and as she past halfway the Stephen Murray trained daughter of Laughill Blake & Ranchers Rainbow was in command of proceeding as she galloped clear to score by five and a half lengths in 31.63.
The outcome of race three which was an S9 graded sprint contest was effectively settled at the opening bend where crowding towards the inner allowed the eventual winner Tromora Sunshine skip clear around the wide outside. From traps Pal Drew led in the centre of the track and approaching the bend with Beslow John Ri ands Astro Ollie closed along the inner. At the bend there was little room on the inner and this saw the Kathleen Hogan of Quilty owned Tromora Sunshine to race clear and defeat Pal Drew by six and a half lengths in 19.68.
