TRAPRISE - Guilfoyle star Glides clear of Winter Festival rivals
Cruelly missing out on a place in the Irish St Leger Final by just a neck last time out, the Pension Plan Syndicate’s Music Glideaway (Newinn Taylor-Glideaway Magic) was back in action at the Winter Festival in Shelbourne Park on Saturday and rounding out a hot programme, the Pat Guilfoyle star sizzled on his return to 575-yards in the last of six championship races.
Renewing rivalries with a brace of St Leger rivals, the Derby finalist led both Beepers Lariat and Sober Glory to his inside when swift to stride from trap 5 and powering his way to the corner with much the best early pace, scarcely sighted a rival when reducing the €10,000 one-off contest to a race against the clock from the opening bend.
Reaching his five-length winning margin before halfway, Music Glideaway led Ballymac Marino to the line when never seriously threatened and punctuating a wonderfully competitive season amongst racing’s elite, posted a brilliant 30.69!
Candy for Floss at Galway
The Friday fixture at Galway survived the cold conditions and proving fruitful for local challengers, saw Olivia Hogan’s Five Alley Floss (Malachi-Five Alley Vicky) commence her career with a hugely pleasing debut success.
A first runner for her dam, the August 2022 pup progressed from promising qualifying trials when displaying smart early dash having begun in mid-division from trap 3. Advancing to reach the opening bend with a narrow lead while seizing command of the rails, the Hogan pup further stamped her authority on her first race outing when bounding clear to the backstraight. Never seriously threatened thereafter, Five Alley Floss completed a five and three-quarter length victory in 29.76 (-10) and is a smart prospect to follow for the Nenagh kennel.
There were high hopes that trainer Vincent McKenna could claim a precious victory in the final of the Paul McKenna Memorial A5 525 Stake on that same Friday card, but his Straws Gift was forced to settle for a bump affected fifth in his early career campaign. However, not to be denied on the night, Ballygraigue Ros (Rosbirr Ranger-Classy Ebony) eased that disappointment with his ninth career win in the S3 325 contest.
Always front rank having begun smartly from trap 5, the Tom Bourke owned August 2020 whelp charted a wide course throughout but always front rank, gamely forged a three-quarter length winning margin in the home straight when striking the line in 17.93 (-5).
Lady leads Byrne brace
Back to the Saturday action and making a smart return to racing following a near five-month layoff, Terence Delaney’s Chapelstreetlady (Grangeview Ten-Ballybrack Lexi) lowered her career best time at Limerick while completing a double on the night for trainer John Byrne in the Go Greyhound Racing A3 525.
A previous winner in the grade, the August 2021 whelp was last seen in July but presenting in sparkling form, began on terms from trap 4 before forging a tight one length lead approaching the corner. Easing clear while turning, Chapelstreetlady continued to dominate from the opening bends and ably defending a four-length winning margin, posted a very smart 28.93. Taking a rise to A2 for her next outing, a repeat of this comeback run would make her a force within that grade.
Sparking the double for the Knockalton kennels in the earlier Knocklong Schooling Track A5 525, Paul & Eamon Devitt’s Rearcross Rebel (Deerjet Sydney-Velvet Spring) shed his maiden tag at the seventh time of asking while also advancing to career best.
Second in the same grade last time, the Improving March 2022 pup displayed smart early pace having trapped well from trap 6 and well in command to halfway, repelled a strong staying rival by three parts of a length in 29.06. A significant step up on previous form, the Byrne charge will also rise to A2 next time.
Commencing the weekend winning action when making an overdue return to the winner’s circle on the SIS programme at Limerick on Thursday was Aoife Loughnane’s Ready For Daisy (Good News-Mt Heaton Daisy) while gaining deserved reward for her recent runner-up performances.
Last successful in A4 grade back in June, the November 2021 kennel stalwart had filled second place in two of her previous three outings but appreciating an ease in grade for her A5 525 contest, the Roscrea charge produced another strong staying display following her usual moderate break from trap 6.
Last to the corner, she cannily sneaked a rails-run on the inside of packing rivals while tackling the bends and though five lengths adrift to halfway, was a threatening third before advancing to within two lengths of the leader entering the final bend. Predictably staying best to the line thereafter, Ready For Daisy drew dismissively clear to an ultimately comfortable two and a half-length winning margin in 29.49.
Taking just a small rise to A4 next time, she can be fancied to build on this second career win.