TRAPRISE - Veteran Dan scores with Relative ease in Kilkenny

Another busy week on the local greyhound racing scene delivered a host of smart displays across the country but surely the most laudable victory of all came at Kilkenny on Wednesday last as Martin McLoughney’s Related Dan (Dan The Man-Eyeoweuzilch) returned to the winner’s circle while approaching his fifth birthday next month.

Last successful at A6 level back in March, a subsequent upgrade contained the Matthew Ryan trained August 2016 whelp for a spell but threatening a return to form with a brace of recent second placings, the old boy duly confirmed his well-being in Wednesday’s A4 525.

Ideally housed in trap 6 as a wide seed, the Ardcroney charge found one of his better starts and remained within a length of the lead in the early exchanges. Gamely keeping close tabs on the pacesetters while charting the widest course around the opening turns, Related Dan forcefully struck the front with superior pace entering the back-straight. Always a strong runner at the standard distance, the spritely veteran was never likely to be bested in such a scenario and remaining in full command thereafter, registered his ninth career win with one a three quarter lengths to spare in 29.63 (-30).

A punishing trend with Related Dan throughout his career has been that he would invariably advance many grades in victory, thus making his attempt to follow-up a tough task. However, connections will be grateful that for once, he just did what was required and the wonderful veteran can now hold realistic claims to go back-to-back for the first time in his career when remaining in A4 next time out.

Limerick was once again a source for local cheer on Thursday’s SIS fixture and the A5 525 brought a hugely impressive career best performance from Eileen Kennedy’s Dixies Live (Laughil Blake-Live Queen) when not unsupported as a warm 7-4 favourite!

Twice an A6 winner in the Spring of this year, the October 2018 whelp had suffered crowding in her latest starts but ensuring a more pleasing passage when breaking on level terms from trap 6 this time, the wide seed impressed greatly when rounding rivals at the opening bends. Striking the front entering the back stretch, the Ballinaclough charge was never likely to be contained as she fully sees out the standard trip and duly extending her advantage, a powerful gallop to the line saw her stretch to three and a half lengths when posting a smart 28.98. That time will see Dixies Live climb to a career high of A2 grade next time and although that level will require a repeat performance at the very minimum, the manner of victory here suggests that she may well cope with the rise.

Another to produce a career best on that same Thursday card when landing the A3 525 was Pat Conway’s Yanky Matt (Rio Quattro-Fair Spin) as the Ballina stalwart further extended his recent run of good form with a most deserved fourth career success.

Proving more than a touch unlucky in sweepstake events, the June 2018 whelp was a competition runner-up for the second time this season when only losing out by half a length in the final of the Peter Magnone Memorial A4 Stake last time out and taking a rise in grade for those exploits, was contesting at his career high level on Thursday.

Undaunted, the Conway charge presented in sparkling form and despite predictable early arrears, the powerful stayer once again impressed when reducing his deficit along the back-straight before striking the front in the home-straight for the gamest of victories. Posting 29.05 with a length to spare, A2 should hold few fears next time!

Friday’s meeting at Clonmel brought us a new runner to follow as Paul Hogan’s Five Alley Jack (Bull Run Bolt-Vinnies Beauty) made a hugely pleasing impression in his debut outing with a smart victory in the ON3 525 event.

Making a belated first race appearance as a July 2019 whelp, the Hogan youngster initially appeared quite forward when quickly reaching full gallop following his level start from trap 4. Contesting the lead with an early paced rival to his inside however, Five Alley Jack ceded the lead when charting a middle path with some signs of greenness around the opening turns. One length adrift along the back-straight, he still had that same margin to claw back entering the home-straight but battling bravely on the run to the line while revealing strong running attributes, Five Alley Jack wrestled back the lead in the shadow of the post for a tight one-length verdict.

A winning time of 29.32 was plenty pleasing on debut but the bright prospect left ample scope to quickly progress for the experience and is a runner to follow closely over coming months.

Following a glorious season high with Millrose Melody claiming the Treaty Cup at Limerick last week, the Rafferty family kennels of Ballingarry harbour no intentions of slowing their impressive win rate in 2021 and reinforced that assertion with a brace of winners on Friday’s card at Galway!

Firstly, Leanne Rafferty’s Millrose Minnie (Ballymac Matt-Borna Billy) doubled her win tally in the A6 525 as the September 2019 pup overcame a slight stumble at trap rise before slick early pace saw her lead to the opening turn. A one length deficit at that point quickly increased and she ran out a cosy three and a half length scorer while posting 29.48.

Later on the same card, Aishling Rafferty & Catherine Hannon’s Get Up Amy (Blades Of Fire-Why Tanyard Lass) also claimed a second career win when impressively recovering an early deficit in the S5 350. Slow to stride from trap 3, the coursing convert quickly began to show the best early dash and turning a narrow first bend lead into a two and a half length victory, she posted 19.32 in a performance that left much scope for further progress.