THE CONCLUDING A1 graded 525 yards contest was the Friday night feature at Galway Greyhound Stadium.
As the traps rose the litter brothers Sir Rodger and Rinnwood Leo were both away well and together with Laois Lightening they led the charge towards the opening bend just ahead of Colossal Venture and Lissatouk Gena. Rounding the opening bend there was some bunching among the leaders as Sir Rodger cornered in front as Lissatouk Gena and Colossal Venture tracked him through along the inner. Racing down the back Sir Rodger led by over a length as Lissatouk Gena tried to close along the inner.
Approaching the penultimate corner the red jacketed Colossal Venture poked her way through along the rails to join issue and as they began the swing for home the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Lullaby kicked on and striding out well to the line she put four lengths between herself and Lissatouk Gena at the line in 29.33 and complete a great night for the Colossal Syndicate.
The Colossal Double was initiated in the opening contest the first Semi Final of the Book Your Christmas Party Novice 350 Stake in which Taurus Tickle was smartly into stride on the wide outside and racing towards the opening bend she led from Drombeg Bailey and Noelles Qipco.
Approaching the turn Drombeg Bailey joined issue with Taurus Tickle but both runners ran slightly wide and this allowed the improving Colossal Trilogy to close in third place.
Off the home bend Drombeg Bailey still led but the Colossal Syndicate owned Colossal Trilogy (Malachi & Droopys Megan) switched outside and cut him down close home to prevail by a neck in 18.92. The Colossal Syndicate members are Tom Warren, Patrica Gallery, Niall Warren and Leona Ryan who is also trainer.
Badly impeded on her two most recent runs the Thomas Keane of Kilmihil owned Glynnscross Razz made no mistake in getting off the mark at the sixth attempt in the A7 graded 525 yards contest as she made all the running to defeat Bumblebee Spurs by two lengths at the line in 29.54. The winner was away smartly from her trap side berth and led Bumblebee Spurs and Optic Kenny by two lengths rounding the opening bend. Racing along the back the lead extended to four lengths as the front pair raced clear. Turning for home Glynnscross Buzz(Broadstrand Bono-Glynnscross Judy) was home and hosed as she stayed on strongly to the line.
Racing towards the opening bend in the A6 graded contest Konfu Tommy and Bumblebee Diva disputed the lead with Fortune Sydney and Fast Fit Max also close up as they negotiated the opening two bends. Turning down the back the Donal Cooney and Pat O’Donoghue of Broadford owned Konfu Tommy had a two length advantage over Bumblebee Diva and this lead more than doubled as they passed halfway. Exiting the back straight Konfu Tommy (Concorde Jungle & Here Comes Sally) looked in command but he was all out close home to repel the challenge of Bumblebee Diva by a neck in 29.51.
The Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained Kiltymon Ninja (Good News & Kiltymon Pearl) registered his maiden career success at the tenth attempt in this A5 graded contest as he made just about all the running to defeat Return Visit by a length and a half in 29.55. The Maiden Voyage Syndicate owned winner trapped well and led from Lallys Legacy in his outside racing towards the opening bend.
Rounding the bend, the leader tracked well and racing towards halfway was joint and briefly headed by Lallys Legacy. Exiting the back straight though Kiltymon Ninja kicked two lengths clear and then stayed on well to the line as Return Visit stayed on late.
The A4 graded 550 yards contest produced a thrilling battle with the Martin Griffin of Lissycasey owned Uphill Climb gradually gaining the better of Drombeg Wild close home to prevail by a length in Rossies Flossy showed pace towards the outer racing towards the opening bend with Glamorous Woohoo and Drombeg Wild also to the fore as the approached the opening bend.
Rounding the bend Drombeg Wild tracked well along the inner to join Rossies Flossy as Uphill Climb ran round the outside to close passing halfway. Exiiting the back the trio were lined across the track with Drombeg Wild kicking for home rounding the home bend but Uphill Climb (Broadstrand Bono-Brickhill Sharon) gradually wore her down close home.
There were no fewer than six sweepstake finals on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Sunday evening as the local GOBA hosted a Christmas Family Fun day. The performance of the night came from the Paraic Campion-trained Highview Ben as he made light work of his rivals in the final of the Limerick & Clare GOBA Mini Open 525.
Owned by the VHR Syndicate, who were double-handed in the final, ‘Ben’ went to traps as a generous 3/1 chance and he pinged out from trap three to excel brilliantly on the run-up. In truth, once doing so it was lights out for his rivals as he quickly turned a four length advantage into six lengths down the back straight. Setting a blistering gallop, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Ivy was flawless thereafter as he duly made it back-to-back wins in crossing the line four lengths clear of Ballygibba Sam in second. An exceptional display from Campion’s charge, the time was a swift 28.44.
