Clare dogs from Miltown Malbay, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Sixmilebridge, North Clare and Cree managed to hold on for victory in behind closed doors racing at Galway.
Last Friday’s Galway card featured the semi-finals of both the Bull Run Bolt At Stud A5 and the Bumblebee Kyne Enjoying Retirement A7 Stakes as well as the final of the Maurice & John Leahy Unraced 525 Yards Stake.The card took place under the Irish Greyhound Board’s One Dog One Person entry criteria.
As the traps rose for the Final of the Maurice & John Leahy Memorial 525 Final, Foxwood Jon Jo was very smartly into his stride in the centre of the track and showing pace he led by three lengths rounding the opening bend from Paradise Prince with Tuppenny Bigshot in third place as they rounded the opening bend.
Turning down the back Foxwood Jon Jo extended his advantage to over six lengths as Paradise Prince set off in pursuit passing halfway. From the three quarter mark the Sean Meade of Miltown Malbay owned Paradise Prince began to bridge the gap to the leader with every stride and sweeping to the front halfway up the run in went away to score in impressive fashion by three and three quarter lengths in a very smart 28.89.
The concluding A2 graded 525 Yards contest was the top graded contest of the night and in the early strides Headleys Victor showed pace in the centre of the track to lead fro Baylin Fancy with Bargain Devil prominent on the wide outside. Turning to run down the back the Leo McNulty of Newmarket-on-Fergus owned Bargain Devil move right round his rivals to join issue as they raced towards halfway with Headleys Victor. Approaching the penultimate corner Bargain Devil eased to the head of affairs and he gradually drew clear to score by four and a half lengths in 29.15.
Race 5 was a sprint contest in which all six runners came away as one with James Rian, Unknown Puma and Derra Misty all prominent as the approached the opening bend. Rounding the bend the Rachel Murray and Sean O’Riordan of Sixmilebridge owned Derra Misty enjoyed a dream passage along the inside of the leading trio and turning for home she held a two length advantage over James Rian and Davris Holly. Staying on well Derra Misty proved two and a half lengths too good for Jmes Rian in 19.75.
In race 2 on Saturday’s card, the Rachel Murray of Sixmilebridge owned Lady Blue Eyes was very smartly away from her trap two berth and showing plenty of pace she led from Glasheen Davy and Erris Bound as they approached the opening bend. Despite moving wide rounding the bend Lady Blue Eyes still led from Glasheen Davy who began to close nearing the home bend. Off the home bend, Lady Blue Eyes began to draw clear again and the Stephen Murray trained Lady scored by three and a quarter lengths in 19.74.
There was a thrilling finish to race nine which was an A5 graded contest as the Pinnacle Rio owned by Michael Costello of North Clare just prevailed by a neck over the dead-heating pair Da Bo Man and Martins Jet in 29.94 and in doing so recorded his third career success. As the traps rose Da Bo Man came away smartly to lead on the run towards the opening bend rounding which Pinnacle Rio on the inner and Martins Jet out wide kicked on past the early leader. Racing down the back the front pair matched strides just ahead of Coonough Yolo and the early leader Da Bo Man. Racing around the home bend Martins Jet ran very wide as Pinnacle Rio saved ground on the inner but driving for the line Da Bo Man came again but his effort just failed.
Following a fairly level break in race 10 for the A4 graded contest the Emily Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Dumbo just shaded the issue along the rails ahead of Badgerfort Tommy and with trouble behind the pair were clear of their rivals racing down the back straight. Passing halfway Burnpark Dumbo led by over two lengths but as they left the back straight Badgerfort Tommy began to close the gap. Off the home bend the lead was down to a length but Burnpark Dumbo dug deep clear home to prevail by a neck in 29.57.
