CLARE trainers continue to reel in the winners, this time it was the turn of Sixmilebridge’s Stephen Murray.
By Michael Maher
At the recent Thursday meeting at Limerick, Murray scored a double. First up, it was Crockers Primrose owned by the Blessmefatherfori Syndicate, Crockers took control at the opening bend from trap three and went on to win by one and a half lengths in a time of 28.88.
Completing the Murray brace in the A3 525 Run For Mary owned by the How deep Is It Syndicate secured her fourth win in a fast time of 28.89.
It was Thursday and Friday Night Racing at Galway last week with the final of the Coisir Na Nollaig A7 525 Yards Stake the feature on Thursday night’s card. In the top graded seventh contest for A3 graded runners the outcome was effectively settled at the opening bend. As the traps rose Mirabel from trap one and Brickhill Como in five were smartly into stride and led towards the opening bend. At the bend though the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained Notsobadknow who had switched inside slipped through and took command of the contest. Turning down the back the son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Raha Gogo swiftly set sail for the judge and at halfway led Brickhill Como by over three lengths. Tracking well throughout the Going Well Now Syndicate runner was home for all money turning for home as he scored by four lengths from Brickhill Como in 29.42.
Having met some sort of trouble on her three most recent outings the Tom and Ciara Kelly owned Charming Ciara returned to winning ways in the A5 graded sixth contest as she made all the running to score by four lengths from Cragbrien Hero in 29.25. Trapping smartly from trap one the Donie Duggan of Tulla trained daughter of Grangeview Ten and Marley Star showed pace to the bend to lead round from Bayview Spinner and Substance. Racing down the back the winner lengthened her stride and at halfway led by three lengths from Substance on the wide outside. Tracking well out of the back straight though Charming Ciara extended her advantage as she stayed in powerfully all the way to the line.
The opening contest of the night was an A6 graded 525 yards affair and from traps Caislean Zena,Pronto Bucks and Lexis Sydney were all prominent as they raced towards the opening bend with Pronto Bucks showing narrowly in front. Rounding the bend Lexis Sydney took over in front as Bumblebee Nova went into third place. Racing along the back the front pair exchanged the lead twice before the Frank Casey of Newmarket-on-Fergus owned Pronto Bucks (Burgess Bucks & Churchtown Minnie) took command approaching the home bend as he eased away to defeat Lexis Sydney by four lengths in 29.58.
In the concluding A4 graded 525 contest Cragataska Black began well in the centre of the track but approaching the opening bend Burnpark Cashout took over in front and turning down the back he led from My Boy Cooper and Cragataska Black. Racing along the back Burnpark Cashout continued to show the way to My Boy Cooper and Killaruss Jet and tracking well out of the back straight the Maria Browne of Cree owned son of Ballymac Cashout and Burnpark Blossom eased home two lengths clear of Killaruss Jet in 29.45.
The final of the Paddy O’Gorman A3 525 Yards Stake sponsored by the W.G.O.B.A was the feature event on Friday nights card at Galway Greyhound Stadium. As the traps rose for the €2000 to the winner feature Rinnwood Leo and On The Latt were both away well and the pair matched trades on the run towards the opening bend rounding which Rinnwood Leo took a definite advantage. Turning down the back Rinnwood Leo led On The Latt by over a length as the Colm Fitzgerald of Kilrush trained Flyers Swiftly began to close along the inner passing the halfway mark . Exiting the back straight Rinnwood Leo led by almost two lengths but he drifted wide approaching the home turn and this allowed the Michael and Master Liam Fitzgerald owned Flyers Swiftly began the freedom of the inside as the daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet and Milldrige Dolly powered through off the home bend to land the spoils by a length and a a half from the flying Crafty Elegatto in 28.91.
As the traps rise for the novice Sprint Final, Barntick Swift began well towards the rails and on the run towards the opening bend she led from Flyers Penny along the rails with Ballyea Warrior tucked in behind the pair as the opening bend loomed. At the turn Flyers Penny came through to lead and as they straightened for home led by a length but the Noel Gavin of Ballyea owned Ballyea Warrior was now beginning to find his stride and quickening well on the run home the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained son of Ballymac Kingdown and Wolfofwallstreet went on away to defeat the staying on Drombeg King by a length and a half in 19.50.
