TRAPRISE - Shannon Too strong in Late Galway score

A highly consistent performer in very smart form at present, Abigail Morrissey’s Toolate Shannon (Toolatetosell-Security) chalked up her ninth career win at the Sportsground in Galway last Thursday when a most game winner of the Safer Gambling Week 2022 A2 550.

A strong runner at four-bend distances, the July 2019 whelp is proving admirably versatile with her latest victory coming over 725-yards at Kilkenny when posting a warm 41.32 (-30) last month. Settling for a fast finishing third over 550-yards when returning to the West last time, the Morrissey winner took advantage of a small ease from A1 when always in the front rank this time.

Breaking just behind the early lead from trap 2, it was Peadar O’Dwyer’s Banter Blitz who would put the pace to the race when reaching the opening bend with a length in hand of the eventual winner who tracked the leader when railing tightly on the run to the backstraight. Little changed to halfway but appearing a likely winner out front, Banter Blitz extended approaching the third bend. However, Toolate Shannon was certain to rally with her trademark strong finish. Duly reducing her arrears while tackling the closing bends, Toolate Shannon joined the longtime leader on the inside off the final turn and powering to the line thereafter extended to two and three-quarter lengths in a swift 30.28 (-10).

That win will see her return to A1 next time but in her current rich vein of form, that level will hold no fears whatsoever!

DREAM BACK ON TRACK IN LAURELS

The 2022 Irish Greyhound Laurels continued with eight second round heats at Curraheen Park on Saturday, and with local hopes resting in the Moneygall kennels of Pat Guilfoyle, both Good Cody and Wi Can Dream advanced to quarter-final stage with a particularly pleasing return to winning ways for the latter Juvenile Classic champion while leading throughout Heat 3 of the 525-yard classic.

Settling for third in the opening round, Wi Can Dream (Cabra Firmino-Cabra Angel) progressed for that outing this time and finding a smart break from trap 3, the lightly raced June 2020 whelp gamely forged a tight one-length lead over Priceless King to his inside before tackling the opening bend. Readily extending his lead to the backstraight with powerful early dash, the Guilfoyle winner had reached his four-length winning margin by halfway before stopping the clock in a pleasing 28.31 (+15).

Within a very interrupted 2022 campaign, all connected will be delighted to see Wi Can Dream back in winning form and fresher than any in the event, there could very well be much more to come as he warms to his Laurels task.

Having scorched to a brilliant opening round victory in 28.05 (+10) a week earlier, the reward for that effort saw big fancy Good Cody (Definate Opinion-Soho Ark) drawn in a treacherous trap 4 for Heat 5 last weekend, a race which contained the fastest winner from the week before in Bockos Budsit and which also just happened to house the top four runners in the betting market with 48 remaining!

A heat worthy of the final, at least one major contender simply had to exit and with the pressure on with arguably the worst draw in trap 5 following his opening night fourth, Kirby champion Swords Rex took the plaudits from the heat having bounced right back to his best when needed most.

A half-length to the good in the early strides, Swords Rex had Serene Ace for company on his inside at the first bend and having edged left from trap 4, Good Cody would take a bump from that latter rival before himself offering a strong shoulder to Bockos Budsit before emerging from the opening bends in third. Securing that qualifying third behind the front two with smart dash along the backstraight, Good Cody would safely advance when three lengths adrift of Swords Rex in a brilliant 27.99 (+15). A treacherous assignment negotiated; Good Cody remains a major player in the Laurels ahead of this week’s quarterfinals.

Away from our local challengers on Saturday, the Cork 525-yard track record, which was previously held by the Kelly Family bred Curious Boy in Killowney, fell to the Robert Gleeson trained Droopys Edison when scorching to a fastest of the round 27.83 (+15), two spots inside the old mark.

SWEET SIXTEEN FOR JIM AT GALWAY

A hugely versatile performer on the Open scene, Tom & Charlie Bourke’s Ballygraigue Jim (Silverhill Shay-Newlawn Minnie) has remarkably never filled runner-up position in his 39-race career and bouncing back from defeat last time, registered yet another Open race victory while securing the sixteenth win of his most entertaining racing campaign in Saturday’s AA0 550 at Galway.

A winner under the same conditions at the beginning of last month, the Vincent McKenna trained July 2019 whelp found a smart break from his trap 4 draw and certain to stay the trip strongly, could be called the winner when taking a narrow lead to the opening bend. Extending clear while settling the race along the backstraight, Ballygraigue Jim posted a very smart 30.10 (-20) in a cosy five-length verdict.

The regular Thursday fixture at Limerick was again the starting point for the local winning action last week and very much impressing in his second race victory, the O-L Syndicate’s Whats Up Mojo (Droopys Biker-Dawaitisover) defended a narrow winning margin in a thrilling Matchbook Betting Exchange A4 525.

Not outside the trio places in his pleasing five-race career start, the Padraig O’Lone trained October 2020 whelp claimed A6 victory at the beginning of the month and kept busy, further improved despite settling for second in his previous outing over 525-yards in A5 company. Undeterred by another small rise this time, the Roscrea youngster was quickest to reach full stride following his level break from trap 3 and displaying smart early dash, defended a one-length lead to the opening bend.

Finding a rails running rival rushing up on his inside at the top of the backstraight, the O’Lone winner again asserted in game fashion when easing clear to a length lead approaching the third bend but he would have one further challenge to repel when allowing a strong running rival to secure a run on his inside around those closing bends.

Again, rallying in most game style, Whats Up Mojo claimed a most deserved and entertaining victory with a head to spare in 29.02 (+30) while staying stoutly close home. That winning time will keep him in the A4 grade for his next outing where he will hold obvious claims for a repeat.