KILKEE’S Brendan Browne was celebrating as the Friday night feature was claimed by Glasheen Tiger in Galway.
By Michael Maher
The Final of the Support Our Sponsors S5 Sprint Stake was the feature on Friday night’s ten race card at Galway Greyhound Stadium. As the traps rose for the final both Bayview Fantasy and Glasheen Tiger were very smartly into their stride and racing towards the opening bend the pair were three lengths clear of their rivals. As the opening bend loomed, the Brendan Browne of Kilkee owned Glasheen Tiger cut to the rails and quickly took command of the contest. Racing around the crown of the biome bend the leads was now four lengths over BayvIew Fantasy and striding up the straight the son of Wolfe and Glasheen Covid completed a kennel and litter double by three and a half lengths over Bayview Fantasy and Larchill Echo in 19.28.
The double was initiated in earlier S9 graded second contest as although well beaten on debut the Brendan Browne owned Glasheen Mist made no mistake at the second time of asking in this S9 graded sprint contest as the daughter of Wolfe and Glasheen Covid proved two lengths to good for Creevy Hero in 19.85. Trapping well Glasheen Mist was joined on the run towards the opening bend by Balroebuck Charme but approaching the turn Glasheen Covid kicked clear. Off the home bend the winner was in total control as Creevy Bird stayed on well for second place.
As the traps rose for the Novice 350 yards contest Serene Rolo was very smartly into his stride in the centre of the track and racing towards the opening bend he led from Annadown Ted who had switched inside from his trap six draw with Kilwest Prince in third place along the rails. Rounding the bend the front pair ran a little wide thus allowing the Keating Syndicate of Ennis owned Kilwest Prince (Ballymac Bolger-Yahoo Katie) to slip through and lead off the home bend and to the delight of his Ennis owners Kilwest Prince proved a length too good for Annadown Ted in 19.90.
Racing towards the opening bend in the A4 graded contest Abigails Logan, Bobtailbuttercup and Groves Joy disputed the lead with Cragbrien Sydney running right round the trio to join issue as they turned to run down the back straight. Passing halfway Cragbrien Sydney led Abigails Logan by a length as Heathlawn Alice moved into third place at the third bend. Off the home bend it was anyone’s race but the Martin Cronin and Robbie Markham of Ennis owned Cragbrien Sydney (Droopys Sydney-Wishahowareyou) kept on well to defeat Abigails Logan by half a length in 29.56.
In the A5 graded ninth contest Dennys Best and Astro Kevin disputed the early lead with Dennys Best taking a one length advantage rounding the opening bend racing down the back Astro Kevin was back on terms past halfway and as the pair approached the penultimate bend Astro Kevin struck the front as Springwell Kobe closed in third spot. Off the home bend though the Damien and Gary Pepper of Feakle owned Astro Kevin (Droopys Roddick-Teecee Clipper) kicked clear to defeat Dennys Best by four lengths in 29.40.
The chief supporting contest on Saturday’s night Galway Card was the A2 graded ninth contest and from traps the Albert Mullins of Gort trained Ballyea Scrutiny trapped well to lead on the wide outside racing towards the opening bend from Hillstreet Puma on his inner. Cutting to the rails at the turn the Noel Gavin of Ballyea owned son of Droopys Buick and Flandys Hawkeye opened up a three length advantage turning into the back straight. Striding out well at the head of affairs Ballyea Scrutiny exited the back straight in splendid isolation as he powered to a four length success over Casa Miro in 29.08.
The Rachel Murray and Sean O’Riordan of Sixmilebridge owned Derra Bear registered his second career success in the A6 graded fifth contest coasting home seven and a half lengths clear of Like A Biscuit in 29.61. Away well in company with Like A Biscuit the winner ran a little wide around the opening bend but was back on an even keel entering the back straight. Racing towards halfway the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained son of Droopys Sydney and Astro Abby took over at the head of affairs from Like A BIscuit and Da Golden Shot and from the third bend it was simply a case of how far as Derra Bear drew further clear with every stride.
The Murray kennel double was completed in the A4 graded seventh contest as the Frank Sheahan of Ennis owned Ben N Marie proved two lengths too good for Peteles Angel in 29.32. Headed in the first couple of strode by Peteles Angel, Ben N Marie showed good pace to the turn to lead by over two lengths. Keeping a middle route rounding the opening two bends the son of Pestana and Nothingtosay went through the gears along the back straight to lead by five lengths at the third bend and although he came back to his rivals in the straight the Murray Kennel Double was never in doubt.
The eighth contest was an A3 graded affair and it became a match from the opening bend as Mounvoor Lad on the rails and Oaklands Lad in the wide outside disputed the lead and rounding the bend those in between all crowded and this allowed the two pace setters kick clear down the back. Racing along the back straight Mounvoor Lad led by over a length from Oaklands Lad and from the three quarter mark the Feakle Five Syndicate owned son of Ballymac Best & Ridgedale Martha drew clear to score by four & a half lengths in 29.10.
The opening contest of the night was an A7 graded 525 yards contest and having shown some promise on debut the Shane Flanagan of Ennis owned Rockmount Skiddo made no mistake at the second time of asking as he comfortably made all the running to defeat Brickhill Buster by five lengths in 29.37. Away smartly from his trap six berth the winner led by over two lengths rounding the opening bend as Brickhill Buster and Rathkerry Anne gave chase. Passing halfway, the lead had stretched to over six lengths as the son of Droopys Jet and Rockmount Royce made the best of his way home and stayed on strongly all the way to the line.
Racing towards the opening bend in the S3 graded sprint contest Room To Stop and Rockandrollmarty disputed the lead just ahead of Bark Wahlberg and Glynnscross Phil. As they approached the turn, Room To Stop held a half length advantage along the rails as Rockandrollmarty swung wide and Heathlawn Lucy tracked the leader through on the inner. On the run home the three were lined across the track with the Thomas Connor & Saoirse Nohilly of Ennistymon owned Rockandrollmarty(Bull Run Bolt-Togher Blue Leah) proving the stronger close home to defeat Heathlawn Lucy by half a length in 19.58.
