TRAPRISE - Chubby makes Majestic Thurles debut

A packed Thurles Greyhound Stadium welcomed the Tipperary Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland for their wonderfully entertaining fundraiser night on Saturday and starring on an action-packed programme in front of enthusiastic onlookers, Laura O’Meara’s Chubbys Majestic (Good News-Chubbys Sky) was a brilliant winner of the Sarah’s Cycle Memorial ON1 525 in a brilliant debut victory while fastest of the night at the lively Premier venue.

A June 2021 whelp with smart trial form in advance of this debut outing, the Dolla pup boke on level terms from trap 5 before reaching the opening bend on the outside of sharp early paced rivals following a competitive tussle for early supremacy. Gamely holding strong against a bump while turning, the O’Meara pup rounded rivals to lead into the backstraight and in command on the run to halfway, it was local rival With Luck (Good News-Chubbys Sky) for Bobby Kelly who pursued the Dolla leader at a three-length deficit having recovered ground following a poor break. Our local pair would dominate thereafter with the same margin at the line as both impressed before Chubbys Majestic stopped the clock in classy debut time of 29.09 (-20).

For With Luck, he can be considered unlucky to have found a hot local rival on debut, but the Kelly pup is clearly one to follow very closely as he gathers experience. Those same comments so obviously apply to the winner also, having backed-up his impressive trial form and the next outing of Chubbys Majestic will be keenly anticipated.

NICK LANDS A5 FINAL FOR MCKENNA

There had been plenty for local kennels to cheer before even reaching a busy weekend of racing and highlight of earlier midweek action was the timely first career win of Pat Hogan’s Aulton Nick (Pat C Sabbath-Portumna West) as the Vincent McKenna trained pup progressed for his semi-final third in the Talking Dogs A5 525 Stake when returning an emphatic final win on Thursday.

In just a fourth career start for the June 2021 pup, he broke behind the lead from trap 2 but pacing up well on the inside with command of the rails on the approach to the opening bend, prevented a brace of rivals to his outer from striking the front while holding strong against bumping upon turning. Gamely maintaining forward momentum on the run to the backstraight, the Borrisokane charge readily stretched clear with superior pace passing halfway and staying the trip well, held a commanding five lengths at the line.Shedding his maiden tag at the fourth time of asking, Aulton Nick posted a smart 29.39 but the manner of victory left ample scope for further improvement as a progressive pup and a minor upgrade to A4 for his next outing is unlikely to contain his expected progression.

That final victory was completing a quickfire Thursday double for the in-form McKenna kennels as the preceding S3 350 delivered a sixth sprint career win for Tom Bourke’s Ballygraigue Ros (Rosbirr Ranger-Classy Ebony).

A four-time winner in the same grade at Galway, this first outing in the capital saw the August 2020 whelp ideally housed in trap 6 and despite headed in the early stages, he remained within a length of the lead when reaching the corner on the outside of a packing field. Gamely ranging up on the outside of his pacesetting rival in the home straight thereafter, Ballygraigue Ros sparked a wonderful evening for connections when forging a half-length lead close home and will remain in his highly plausible grade having posted 19.31.

Sparking another successful week of local contention when a dominant winner on last Monday’s programme at Limerick, the Toomevara Six Syndicate’s Toomevara Lily (Clona Blaze-Diamond Ria) shed her maiden tag at the second time of asking in the Track Bookmakers A8 525.

Remaining entirely unexposed following a debut outing in which the Michael Delaney trained October 2021 whelp was repeatedly denied clear racing room, a sharper break from trap 3 this time would see marked improvement as she proved too hot to handle in the A8 event. Displaying sharp early dash while quickest to reach full stride, the Toomevara pup scampered to a three length first bend lead and further asserting, doubled that advantage on the run to the backstraight. Never seriously threatened throughout a facile seven length winning verdict, Toomevara Lily posted 29.29 and will be obliged to contest A3 next time.

While a significant upgrade, her early pace will prove a valuable attribute going forward and still open to plenty of improvement, she is a new recruit to follow closely over coming weeks and months.

Scaglietti survives treacherous Kirby session

Having battled bravely through racing traffic in the opening round of the 2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial at Limerick, both Good Maestro and Music Glideaway made their exits from the event at Limerick when plagued with further bumping in last Saturday’s second round heats. However, trainer Pat Guilfoyle still retains viable hopes for a first victory in the event as Scaglietti (Magical Bale-Outdoor Roller) found safe passage from his Heat 3.

Brilliant when registering Round One victory in 28.21 for the 525-yards, the Cheryl Sutcliffe owned star faced a tricky assignment from trap 2 in a warm contest and finding just a moderate break, contested between runners on the approach to the opening bend. Crowded and bumped when turning, the Guilfoyle challenger performed with much credit to retain second position on the approach to the backstraight in pursuit of Beepers Lariat. On that rival’s tail thereafter, Scaglietti settled for a one and a half-length second in 28.53 and remains a big factor ahead of this week’s opening quarter final where he will contest from trap 4.

Sparking the weekend winning action at Clonmel, trainer PJ Tynan registered an early double on the card when firstly, the Michael Lyons owned Creggane Pudgie (Crash-Be Slow Django) shed his maiden tag at the second time of asking in the opening A8 525 contest. Progressing for debut experience, the July 2021 pup found a smart break to lead throughout a cosy three length verdict in 29.49 (-10).

Completing the Ballinderry kennel double, the Trigger Happy Syndicate’s consistent Killerk Black (Ballymac Best-Dynamic Cool Sky) claimed the fifth win of his career in the Greyhounds Make Great Pets S4 300. A recent convert to sprinting, the April 2020 whelp gained reward for a host of recent placed efforts when leading from the opening bend for a game one length verdict in 16.58 and will rise to S3 next time.