*James Carey and Fionnoula Moloney Carey, with retired greyhounds Ariana and Vic at Limerick Greyhound Stadium for the Ag Rásaíocht Le Chéile night and Matchbook Irish St. Leger Quarter Finals.
Fast Fit Paddy handled by Liscannor’s Declan McDonagh is the only Banner hope of winning this year’s Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger.
On Monday evening last there was a twelve graded race card at the Limerick Greyhound Track and for Tulla native Donnacha McNanara, Rockalong Mikado kept his kennels recent good form intact when he duly obliged in an A6 contst in 29.22 – this son of Droopys Cain and Sues Stout broke smartly and always led comfortably to cross the line three lengths to the good of his competitors.
The concluding race of the evening brought joy to David Hogan from Quilty when Tromora Champion landed the spoils, this daughter of Droopys Sydney and Brogan Tic Tac recorded her 4th career victory in a personal best in 28.89
On Thursday evening, the first-round heats of the Limerick Clare GOBA A3 took centre stage, there was Clare success in Heat four when the ever-consistent Fergus Lady made it win number seven for Mellick’s Patrick Cronin, a daughter of Laughil Blake and Ballyelan Comet recorded a person best in 28 91.
And for the bumper race of the evening an A4 contest, Tim Keane from Shannon was smiling when Lissatouk Ben ran gallantly to win in 29.22, this was a sixth career win for this son of Holdem Spy and Lissatouk Dolly.
Saturday night’s action at the same venue featured four quarter finals of the The Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger. The Banner hopes of capturing this classic now rests with Fast Fit Paddy owned by John Quinn of Gort and handled by Declan McDonagh of Liscannor. Paddy defied the long odds of 12/1 to finish a credible second a length behind hot favourite Deerjet Sydney. Bling Bling Paul owned by John Meehan of Newmarket-on-Fergus bowed out of the stake after finishing fifth in his quarter Final.
At the Galway Track on Friday night, there was some excellent racing and prize money on offer for the Rasiocht Le Cheile initiative
The chief supporting contest on the night was the A2 graded eighth contest over 525 yards in which all six runners came away as one and were lined across the track as they approached the all important opening bend. At the bend Master Of Magic railed well to lead fractionally as Lingrawn Junior tracked him round on the outer as the pair kicked clear turning down the back. Racing down the back Lingrawn Junior went to the front and leaving the back straight he led by three lengths from Master Of Magic. Rounding the home bend though the leader began to come back to his rival as the Thomas O’Connor of Lahinch owned Master Of Magic lunged late to grab a neck verdict on the line in 29.26.
There was an exiting finish to the A8 graded second contest as the Kieran and Aaron Nugent of Ballyea owned Killerk Black got up close home to deny the pace setting Sports Party by a neck in 29.85. From traps Sports Party showed pace to lead on the outer from Killerk Black who ran off the rails rounding the opening bend and found himself three lengths adrift of the leader entering the back straight. From the halfway mark though Killerk Black began to gradually reduce the deficit and rounding the home bend ot was less than a length as the son of Ballymac Best & Dynamic Cool Sky wore down Sports Party to lead on the line.
In race six the inform kennel of Kilmihil native John Collins and Ballyea native Albert Long were on the mark once again in this A3 graded contest as Brickhill Daisy recorded her seventh career success as she defeated Crokers Billy by a comfortable five lengths in 29.11.
