Popular Ballyea owner Noel Gavin was the man in form last weekend with a double strike at the Limerick Track on Saturday night.
Both winners are handled by Ennistymon trainer Tom Flanagan who has his kennels in top form at the minute, first off the mark was Ballyea Sydney who had a trap to line win in the Covid 19 protocols A3 525 race, boxed in trap 4 Sydney had five and a half lengths win in a time of 29.04.
The double was completed in The Slan Abhaile A1 525 race where Ballyea Scrutiny battled his way to the front on the back stretch and maintained his position to win by one length in a fast time of 28.64.
At the same venue on the previous Thursday night there was four Clare winners to cheer home. Getting the Banner roar going was the performer of the night Sugan Snowey who recorded career win number two and back-to-back victories in a fantastic 28.76. Snowey is owned by Cooraclare father and son team, Anthony and Mark Cusack and is a daughter of Skywalker Tuco and Sugan Jet.
In an A3 contest, Slippery Joe made it win number ten for Mullagh native Pat Curtin who now resides in Mountshannon, a son of Kissed for Cloda and Royal Diva led from the off to win by two and a half lengths in 28.93.
Snuggie Jessie recorded her first career win in 29.49 for an A6 contest, owned by Myles Cummins form Newmarket-on-Fergus this daughter of Sir Paddy and Snuggie Whisper led from trap to line win by three and a half lengths.
It was a similar case for Donnacha McNamara of Tulla’s Rockalong Mikado when leading all the way to record 29.20 and make it career win number two for this son of Droopys Cain and Sues Stout.
Last Friday night’s Galway card featured the opening round heats of various Sweepstakes Sponsored by the Western Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association with the semi-finals of the deceased members A2 550 the twin features .
Racing opened with an A5 graded 525 yards contest in which Jill Be Slick and Astro Podge both began well with the latter taking two length advantage rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back straight the Madden-Pepper Syndicate of Feakle owned Astro Podge extended his advantage to over four lengths as Jill Be Slick and Larchill Pop gave chase but from the crown of the home bend the Donie Duggan of Tulla trained leader began search for the line and the son of Ballymac Best and Dynamic Cool Sky was all out to hold the renewed challenge of Jill Be Slick by a neck to make it two wins from two starts in 29.40.
Race two was an A6 graded contest which developed into a match from an early stage as the fast starting Browne Bomber led on the run towards the opening bend from Tromora Ange with Johnny Ger Gar back in third place. Racing along the back Browne Bomber continued to show the way to Tromora Ange with three lengths back to the remainder headed by Annadown Mike. Approaching the penultimate corner the David Hogan of Quilty owned Tromora Ange (Droopys Sydney-Tromora Floss) went to the front and kicked two lengths clear but she was all out close home as Browne Bomber closed to within a short head again at the line in 29.34.
As the traps rose for the second heat of the WGOBA Brigid Frank Appreciation A4 525 Stake Ballaghboy Panda was away smartly in the centre of the track and showing pace to the bend the son of Lenson Panda and Sues Music led Merciful Debbie by over two lengths with Lingrawn Salmon in third place as they headed for the back straight. Racing down the back the Jerry Maloney and Patrick O’Driscoll of Doora owned Ballaghboy Panda was setting sail for home as Lingrawn Angie came out of the pack to give chase. Off the home bend Ballaghboy Panda was in need of the line which arrived with half a length to spare in 29.38.
