MOUNVOOR LAD owned by the Feakle Five Syndicate took the feature contest in Galway over the weekend.
By Michael Maher
The Galway weather was much more pleasant for Saturday nights card at Galway Greyhound Stadium on which the A2 graded ninth race over 525 yards was the feature contest .
As the traps rose for the feature contest, Knoppogue Time broke well out wide but it was the red jacketed Mounvoor Lad that displayed the best early pace on the run to the opening bend rounding which he Lissatouk Gena by over a length with Joeys Champ in third place entering the back straight.
Racing along the back the Feakle Five Syndicate of Feakle owned Mounvoor Lad continued to show the way to his rivals as Croaghill Sly began to make ground nearing the third bend. Off the home bend the lead was down to a length but Mounvoor Lad (Ballymac Best & Ridgedale Martha) would not be denied as he dug deep close home to land the prize by three parts of a length at the line in 29.14.
All six runners were away on terms for the A5 graded contest with the red jacketed Fast Fit Felix just shading the issue along the fence as they rounded the opening bend. Turning down the back Fast Fit Felix led Liam Be Slick by a length with On The Radio in third place passing halfway. Out front though, the John Quinn of Gort owned Fast Fit Felix (Doritos Wildcat-Fast Fit Maeve) was making the best of his way home as he stayed in gamely to see off the challenge of On The Radio by a length & a half in 29.54.
The concluding A1 graded 525 yards contest was the Friday feature at the College Road Venue where a fine attendance was present on horrific conditions to witness some exiting racing with special praise for the track ground staff who ensured all races were completed without any incident.
As a consequence of the heavy ran the track was rated .20 slow for the opening three and .20 and .40 slow for sprint and four bends races subsequently.
In the A4 graded eighth contest all six runners were away on terms with Flyers Phobia out wide Raining In Paris along the inner and Creevy Bird between runners disputing the lead at the opening bend. Tracking well, the PJ Quinn owned Raining In Paris took a length out of his rivals between the opening two bends to lead by almost two approaching halfway from Creevy Bird. Exiting the back straight, Flyers Phobia began to close out wide but the Mathew Harte of Gort trained Raining In Paris(Droopys Sydney-Long Pearl) lasted home by three parts of a length in 29.46.
Following a fairly level break in the A4 graded contest Bark Wahlberg, Burnpark Layla and Annie On Faya disputed the lead as they raced towards the opening bend at which the Donal Duggan of Tulla trained Annie On Faya tracked well along the inner to taken a length out of her rivals. Racing down the back the daughter of Superior Panama and Cabra Skylar extended his advantage to over three lengths from Burnpark Layla who in turn was clear of those behind. Out front, the Cian Mulrooney owned Annie On Faya had taken control of the contest and extending her all the way to the line had six and a half lengths to spare in 29.43.
The outcome of the S6 graded sprint contest was effectively decided at the opening bend as from traps Dynamic Logan and Domain Joe were away well with Lissatouk Suzy close up along the rails as the opening bend loomed. At the opening bend the Seamus McMahon of Cooraclare owned Lissatouk Suzy enjoyed a free run along the rails as her rivals drifted towards the centre of the track and railing superbly again rounding the home turn the daughter of Laughill Blake and Lissatouk Dolly drew right away to defeat Domain Joe by three lengths at the line in 20.08.