LISCANNOR trainer Declan McDonagh had two big wins in Galway over the weekend with You’re The King showing the pedigree of his Darcy owners from Ennis.
Having been badly baulked at the start and further impeded during his debut effort in a hot novice point contest the Mick Darcy of Ennis owned and trained by Declan McDonagh of Liscannor You’re The King certainly lit up the card in the A8 graded third contest at Galway on Saturday night. The son of Dromana Bucko & Coronation routed his rivals by upwards of ten and a half lengths in a very smart 28.79. Headed slightly from traps by Mellon Alana, You’re The King really motored to the opening bend rounding which he led by three lengths. Turning down the back he really lengthened his stride as he drew further and further clear with his rivals strung out behind leaving You’re The King to saunter home impressively all alone ahead of Glynnscross Buzz and Seelers Dream.
Owner Mick Darcy is no stranger to the winners enclosure and looks to have a something special here, the Cashel native who now resides in Ennis ran the very successful Darcy Kennels with his wife Francis and daughter Catherine in Florida.
Having celebrated his fifth birthday last month the Larry Keleghan owned Claudegreengrass proved the dogs love their racing as the Albert Mullins of Gort trained son of Magical Bale and Notimetotalk never saw another rival as he recorded career win number seventeen by six lengths over Ballygibbon Smok in 29.35 in race seven.
The winner was very smartly into his stride and has always been a tough nut to crack when on the front end, he led by two lengths from Alva Chase rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back the Claudegreengrass more than trebled his advantage over his toiling rivals and was home for all money exiting the back straight.
The Final of the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust Sprint Stakes was the feature on Friday night’s Galway card. In the A3 graded sixth contest over 525 yards the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained Norfolkandchance never saw another rival as the son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Raha Gogo recorded his sixth career success by four lengths over Breaghmore Joeys in 29.20. Away smartly Norfolkandchance owned by the syndicate of the same name showed good pace on the run towards the opening bend rounding which he led by two lengths from Breaghmore Joeys with Heathlawn Ruby in third place. Racing down the back, he extended his lead to four lengths as his rivals were left toiling in his wake to the delight of his supporters in the stands.
Race four at Limerick on Saturday night was heat two of the West Limerick Treaty Cup Open over the 350 trip where Tiermana Dream had a four and a half length win in a time of 18.96. The winner is owned by the Zero Zero Syndicate and is trained in Kilrush by Colm Fitzgerald. The final race in the card was won by Snuggie Battie in a time of 28.42. Battie is owned by Breda Casey and trained by Myles Cummins of Newmarket-on-Fergus.
