*Freedom Reader with part-owners Tommy Hegarty and Seanie McMahon with trainer Paraic Campion in the centre.
CLARE WINNERS graced the greyhound tracks of Shelbourne, Limerick, Clonmel and Galway.
The semi-finals of the Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St. Leger took place at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night last and both produced two very different but equally as impressive performances as Bobsleigh Dream and Annagh Bailey landed the spoils ahead of next Saturdays nights €30,000 decider.
On the night, Bobsleigh Dream continued her brilliant form as she came from well off-the-pace to win comfortable, while Annagh Bailey produced a 7/1 shock in the second semi with the Rachel Wheeler-trained charge clocking a brilliant 29.51, the quickest of the two semis on offer. Bobsleigh Dream will go to traps favourite to land the first prize but if Mustang Jet can come away in similar fashion as in the semi-final he has to have a big shout
At the same venue on Thursday night last, Snuggie Jasper recorded a third career success for Myles Cummins from Newmarket-on-Fergus, a son of Paddys Magic and Miles Girl he finished strongly in a 29.14 victory.
Paddy and John Collins who are originally from Knockerra, have a nice prospect with Knockdrum Coffey, who on Sunday night made it two wins on the bounce at Shelbourne Park greyhound Stadium with an eye-catching 28.98 performance, Coffey is a son of Magical Bale and Notimetotalk.
On Sunday evening at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium, there was a nice victory for Freedom Reader who is owned by the VHR Syndicate which members include Clarecastle’s Tommy Hegarty and Newmarket-on-Fergus’ Seanie McMahon, trained by Tipperary based handler Paraic Campion, this was a second career win in a personal best of 28.93 for this son of Magical Bale and Mustang Evita.
Last weekend, Killimer Kilrush held a highly successful two-day meeting, despite a week of constant rain and poor weather, the running ground at Aylvaroo was in tiptop shape and the strong running hares were a credit to all those entrusted with their care.
The winner of the Alyvaroo All Age Bitch Stake was the very impressive Ocean Kerrie for Clonlara’s Mark and Tom Fitzgerald, The Oaks trial Stake went Gooleen Magic for Eilish and Dermot O’Sullivan from Labasheeda, the Reserve Derby Trial Stake went to Tromora Lion who is trained by Quilty’s Packie and David Hogan and The Woking Members stake and JJ O’Dea Memorial Cup found its way to Kilkee for The Harte Family’s Intrinsic Magic.
There were great celebrations for the Miltown Malbay contingent, The Pure Ganders Syndicate after the victory of Malbay Shelby in the Rathcormac All Age Cup, who is trained by the Burke clan of Gerry, Ciara, and Sarah with assistance from Jason O’Dwyer
Bernard Quinn from Newmarkt-on-Fergus was also in the winner’s enclosure with Woodpark John who excelled to claim the Limerick Cup at Rathkeale.
The opening contest at the Galway Track on last Saturday night was an A6 graded 525 yards contest in which April Rain and Grangeview Blue were both away well with Grangeview Blue hodloing a narrow advantage at the opening bend . Turning into the back straight though the Thomas Flanagan of Ennistymon owned April Rain came through to lead from Grangeview Blue as Raining In Paris made ground to join issue at the third bend but he then checked at this point as April Rain kicked Eoin again and the daughter of Romeo Recruit and Trembling Juliet kept on well to defeat Raining In Paris by a length and three parts in 29.34.
Burnpark Sabbath owned by Cree’s Maria Browne never saw another rival in the S7 graded contest as he recorded his maiden success at the fourth attempt by two and a half lengths over Mellon Point in 19.50. Trapping well the son of Pat C Sabbath and Burnpark Leanne was very smartly into his stride and approaching the opening bend he led Mellon Point by over two lengths. Tracking well at the head of affairs Burnpark Sabbath was home and hosed turning for the judge and won going away at the line.
As the traps rose in race five for this S6 graded contest Apache Springs was just about best away in the centre of the track and racing towards the opening bend he was closely attended to ion either side by both Ballyfort Mars and Peteles Duchess. Rounding the opening bend the latter ran slightly wide and the James Healy owned Ballyfort Mars slipped through on the leaders inside to take command of the contest .Rounding the home bend the leader swung wide as Aulton Lucy came through to challenge but Ballyfort Mars (Ballymac Best-Cabra Ellie) lasted home by a neck at the line in 19.76.
Successful when last seen in late October, the Tadhg Ward of Spancil Hill owned Tadhgs First made it back to back successes in race 6 and three in all as he gradually wore down the pace setting Malbay Theo to prevail by three parts of a length at the line in 29.37. Racing towards the opening bend the winner raced in second place as Malbay Theo led by a length rounding the opening bend with Killerk Black in third place . Racing along the back the order remained the same until the leaders really tightened up rounding the penultimate bend . Racing around the home bend Tadghs First(Kinloch Brae-Brookeville Dash) swung wide to deliver the killer blow as he led close home to land the spoils .
In the second semi-final of the Christmas Bundle A4 Stake at the College Road venue on Friday night last Fit Felix was very smartly into his stride and racing towards the opening bend he led from Returning Hero and Annadown Rose. Turning to run down the back Fast Fit Felix opened up a three length advantage on Returning Hero who was the only one to go with the leader. Approaching the home bend though the leader began to come back to his rival as the Jacob Ward of Spancil Hill owned Returning Hero swept through to score by a length at the line in 29.45.
In the concluding A3 graded 525 contest Breaghmore Rob and Mounvoor Lad dominated the contest from an early stage with Breaghmore Rob taking a length advantage out of his rival rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back straight the lead extended to two lengths as the pair drew clear of their rivals. Approaching the penultimate bend Mounvoor Lad began to bridge the gap gradually and off the home bend the pair settled down to scrap it out with the Feakle Five Syndicate owned Mounvoor Lad just proved the stronger by a short head in 29.42.
