TRAPRISE - Abigail takes her Christmas Chance at Galway

With a host of sweepstake action at Galway Greyhound Stadium on the approach to holiday season, a busy programme of finals for their Christmas Party Night on Thursday last delivered plenty of festive cheer for local challengers out west and commencing the action in the WGOBA Christmas Draw A6 525 Final, Abigails Chance (Grangeview Ten-Clever Princess) again impressed with a strong running early career victory.

Shedding his maiden tag at semi-final stage, the Abigail Morrissey pup thoroughly caught the eye despite repeatedly bumped in that 29.78 (-30) passage and still learning his trade, the April 2021 whelp was again headed in the early stages of Thursday’s final when only moderately to stride from trap 5.

Fourth while tackling the opening bends on the outside of the field, Abigails Chance entered the backstraight with five lengths to recover but immediately began to make inroads on the leader approaching halfway. Reaching the closing bends in third having reduced his deficit to a length, the Morrissey winner was tight for racing room while turning but offered a run on the inside entering the home stretch, Abigails Chance powered to the line for a three-quarter length verdict in 29.70 (-10).

In just a fourth career outing, he now takes a rise to A4 for his next start, but that level will hold no fears for a runner who looks certain to improve with racing.

Within a successful week for the kennels, the Paul Burke A2 525 Final offered further reward on the same card when Abigails Power (Belles Direction-Geelo Lu Lu) filled second position behind Almost There in 28.95 (-10) which followed the fourth race victory of Abigails Hope on the previous evening at Galway.

A November 2020 youngster, Abigails Hope (Premier Fantasy-Geelo Lulu) bounced back to winning form over 575-yards last time out and was a warm fancy for Wednesday’s concluding A2 550 with a repeat draw in trap 1 proving ideal.

Breaking well, command of the rail saw the Morrissey winner disputing the lead on the long run to the bend and turning with benefit of that inside pitch, she readily seized the outright lead when easing clear to the top of the backstraight. Certain to stay stoutly, Abigails Hope reduced the race to a virtual solo passage beyond halfway and striking the line with eight and three-quarter lengths to spare, posted 30.41 (-10) in dominant fashion. Remaining in the same A2 grade for her next outing, she can be fancied to complete the hat-trick in current form.

The Thursday session of finals at Galway saw the Hogan family kennels of Lorrha go close when Grangeview Lolo (Ballymac Best-Grangeview West) was a two-length runner-up in the final of the A5 525 Yard WGOBA Sean Scully Memorial but there was better fortune for Michael Hogan’s Grangeview Port (Grangeview Ten-Blastoff Khalesi) in the concluding final of the night when emerging on top in a thrilling encounter.

A semi-final winner in the Stephen Murray Top Kennel 2022 A3 525 a week earlier, the August 2020 whelp broke behind the pace from trap 3 but displaying smart dash approaching the opening bend, closed to a length behind the leader before ushered wide while turning. Reaching the backstraight with three lengths to recover, the Hogan winner greatly impressed on the run to the closing bends and ranging up on the inside of the leader at the third turn, struck the front on the run to the home straight. Never afforded an easy lead however, Grangeview Port was kept honest close home but displaying ample resolve, defended a half-length winning margin in 29.38 (-10) and will chase a hattrick in the same grade next time.

That Thursday fixture also housed the semi-finals of the Paul McKenna Memorial A3 575 and with fervent designs on the title, the Middle Aisle Syndicate’s Oaklands Lad (Pat C Sabbath-Killeen Princess) backed-up his opening round victory with another trap-to-line winning performance.

Back in sparkling form at present, the PJ Tynan trained March 2020 whelp posted 32.19 (-20) in that first heat score but breaking very smartly from trap 5 on Thursday, improved on that mark when immediately taking command of the semi-final.

Relishing the long run to the corner with his smart early pace at the trip, the Ballinderry winner held over a length lead while tackling the bends and maintaining a strong gallop throughout, never sighted a rival in his fourth race win. Two lengths to the good at the line, Oaklands Lad posted 31.96 (-10) and a likely leader in the final, can be strongly fancied for victory.

Deferred from the previous Saturday, a final meeting of 2022 took place at Thurles on Thursday last and did not pass without a local winner to cheer as Pat & Mary Kennedy’s Dromulton Jet (Droopys Jet-Kingdom Queen) secured the fifth win of his career.

Well held last time in a return to action following a three-month layoff, the Norwood charge progressed for that comeback effort when breaking on level terms from his ideal trap 1 draw for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust A4 525. Entering a foggy first bend with a share of the lead, command of the rails saw the Kennedy winner lead on the run to halfway and repelling a strong staying rival thereafter, Dromulton Jet defended a half-length winning margin in 30.00 (-20).