It was a productive evening at Limerick Greyhound Track on last Thursday night for the Clare contingent with success claimed in six of the twelve races on offer.
By Michael Maher
In the first race on the evening an A5 contest, Tiermana Dolly recorded her first career success in with a 29.11 effort, owned by Noel Moroney from Mullagh, Dolly is a daughter of Laughhil Blake and Cloneyogan Flash.
There was a quick fire double for Mary Crotty from O’Briensbridge with her kennel comrades Inislosky Urchin and Inislosky Jasper. A daughter of Romeo recruit and Inislosky Swift, Urchin recorded a fourteenth career win in 29.72 and Jasper a son of Droopys Roddick and Cailin Pol, made it eleven wins on his card, crossing the line in 29.63.
Another great campaigner Snuggie Bonnie recorded a remarkable 22nd career win for Newmarket-on-Fergus’ Breda Casey, not far off her fifth birthday Bonnie a daughter of Sir Paddy and Snuggie Whisper, she led from trap to line in 29.43.
Amys Jack, owned by Peter Russell from Shannon and trained by Donie Duggan ran on gallantly to record a fourth career win 29.38, Jack is a son of Skywalker Rafa and Notimetotalk.
Notching the fastest run of the evening was the Cooney clan from O’Callaghans Mills. Barnhill Jack with his 28.87 effort for an A3 contest picked up a fifth career win.
The opening round heats of the Stevie Sheehan Memorial A3 525 got underway at the same venue on Saturday night the final heat of the night was landed by Ballyea Scrutiny for Noel Gavin of Ballyea and Albert Mullins of Gort. Sent to traps as the 6/4 favourite, Ballyea Scrutiny didn’t come away too fluently from six but he was to benefit from early traffic to shoot through in second place heading into the back straight.
Looming alongside Monroe Drhamer at this point, Ballyea Scrutiny took control entering the bottom two bends and from here, he was all out to hold off the powerful finish of Ruffian Rose in second, there was half a length between the duo crossing the line, the time was 29.17.
Big crowds turned out at the Galway Track on Friday night last for the €6000 to the winner Greyhound Racing Ireland Galway Oaks Final as the feature contest of the year at the venue took centre stage.
As the traps rose though all five runners (Newinn Nifty late withdrawal due to coughing) were away pretty much on terms with if anything Raha Mofo half length down on Clogeen Lass and Magical Poppy on her inner passing the judge first time. As the opening bend loomed though Raha Mofo as all great champions seem to do found that extra gear to surge to the front on the wide outside to take command of the contest and the roar of approval from the stands that sent her down the back straight two lengths clear of Magical Poppy could be heard in Raha, Oughterard the homeland of the Molloy family , that is if there was anyone at home such was the support that came to see her perform . At halfway the lead had grown to two and a half lengths as Magical Poppy and Cashen Miska gave chase but at the third bend ‘Mofo’ found another gear as she set the crowd into overdrive as she powered up the home straight to defeat Magical Poppy and Bockos Melody by three and a half lengths and one length in 28.52.
In the opening heat of the Christmas Bundles A4 Stake Annadown Rose was best away but in the run towards the opening bend the red jacketed Ben N Marie showed plenty of pace to lead from Bobtailbuttercup rounding the opening bend. Turning down the back the leader was chased by the improving Boyneside Topic who began to close on the leaders outside as the third bend loomed.
Tracking well at the third bend though the Frank Sheehan of Ennis owned Ben N Marie kicked again and although Boyneside Topic responded in the straight the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained son of Pestana & Nothindosay prevailed by a length at the line in 29.18
In the A3 eighth contest at the same venue on Saturday night, Backstreet Lady broke smartly on the wide outside and racing towards the opening bend she led from Pinnacle Rio, Astro Podge and Burnpark Crash towards the inside as they rounded the opening bend.
With crowding towards the inner Backstreet Lady found herself five lengths clear of Burnpark Crash turning down the back. Passing halfway the lead was still five lengths but Burnpark Crash began to get closer approaching the penultima corner and off the home bend the Mrs Maria Browne of Cree owned son of Crash and Ballyea Beauty collared his rival to win going away by a length at the line in 29.39.
