TRAPRISE - Diva remains dominant in Galway semi-finals

Having greatly impressed when finding significant progression to a maiden career win in the first round of Galway Greyhound Stadium A6 525 Stake, Denis McGrath’s Foxwood Diva (Droopys Sydney-Badminton Razl) further improved while claiming semi-final victory on Friday and will be the hottest of favourites for outright victory following a sizzling 28.67 (-10) performance.

Fastest of the event a week earlier when posting 28.97 (-10), the May 2021 youngster earned a trap 1 draw for the second semi, and she would produce a near carbon copy of that effort when breaking on level terms before displaying the best early dash for a one length first bend lead. Extending her advantage while turning, the Ballinaclough winner eased to a four-length halfway lead before again revealing her strong running abilities thereafter. Increasing her winning margin with every stride while impressing with her smooth galloping style, Foxwood Diva struck the line with nine lengths to spare as her race against the clock concluded in that wonderful time of 28.67 (-10).

With the opposing heat claimed in 29.26 (-10), the McGrath charge can exit the event with final victory before commencing her Open race campaign within an exciting fledging career set to be contested at the very top level.

Cove impresses despite early end at Thurles

Torrential downpours on Saturday evening failed to abate once the action commenced at Thurles Greyhound Stadium and making the tough but correct call to postpone ten of the twelve scheduled races on safety grounds, the Premier venue will accommodate those events on this coming Thursday but there was still time for an impressive local winner on the night.

Commencing the ill-fated fixture with debut victory when leading throughout the ON3 525, Liam McGrath’s Rackethall Cove (Airmount Nando-Leamaneigh Breda) announced himself as another very bright prospect for the Toomevara kennels with a facile winning performance.

A November 2021 whelp, he began well from trap 1 and a narrow lead in the early exchanges saw him tackle the opening bend with a length in hand before streaking clear to the backstraight. With the race in safe keeping on the run to halfway, the McGrath prospect scarcely sighted a rival before Rackethall Cove held off the late challenge of a strong staying rival with five lengths to spare in a smart 29.46 (-20). Clearly open to any amount of improvement for this first race experience, he is a runner to follow closely and can prove difficult to contain in A4 grade next time.

Girl still Courting Oaks success at Limerick

Featuring over the past fortnight at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, the 2023 Epic Hero Limerick Oaks Open 525 was reduced to a final six last weekend and setting up a tilt at major event glory this weekend, John Meelam’s Courty Girl (Laughil Blake-Killaheen Queen) advanced from her semi-final amidst exalted company on Saturday.

The wonderful John Byrne kennel stalwart opened her account in the Oaks as the October 2019 whelp filled runner-up position in the first round before lining-up in trap 6 for a sizzling second semi which included fastest first round winner and Irish Oaks champ Raha Mofo. However, breaking smartly from trap 6, Courty Girl displayed the best early pace and reaching the corner with a length in hand of Burgess Rapid, eased to a two-length advantage over the improving Quivers Magic at the top of the backstraight.

That latter rival closed as a menacing threat to the closing bends, but the Byrne darling posted stubborn resistance before finally succumbing in the home straight as Quivers Magic posted 28.60 in a one length win over the flying finish of Raha Mofo, with Courty Girl just a half length further back in third.

With the opposing semi-final claimed by Rafas Friend in 28.53, final victory will be a tough ask for Courty Girl but from a suitable draw in trap 5 she can be fancied to lead once again with a bold show assured from this most likeable and consistent performer.

MYSTICAL DEBUT FOR MANGO

Outside of the Oaks action at Limerick, the Saturday fixture was ignited and set an exacting standard in the opening A7 525 contest when Eoin Troy’s Mystical Mango (Good News-Burgess Sarah) made a stunning debut in a dominant winning performance while announcing herself as yet another very bright prospect for the Moneygall kennels.

Breaking just behind the pace from trap 3, the September 2021 whelp tracked the early pace throughout the initial exchanges when charting a middle path to the corner but less than two lengths adrift, greatly impressed when joining the leader on the outside at the top of the backstraight. Far superior from that point, Mystical Mango extended to a five-length lead at the third bend and revealing strong running abilities thereafter registered an eleven and a half-length winning verdict in a slick 28.58. Obliged to tackle A1 company next time, her future appears destined for the upper echelons of the sport.

The Troy kennels were denied a double with debutants on the night and scuppering those efforts in the ON3 525 was the John Byrne trained Kevinsfort Duke (Laughil Blake-Kevinsfort Tiger).

The Peadar Kinane owned August 2021 pup displayed slick early dash from a level break in trap 3 and comfortably led to the backstraight despite wide around the opening bends. Bumped while turning, Eoin Troy’s Mystical Leo (Good News-Burgess Sarah) had all of six lengths to recover before advancing to chase his local rival to halfway, but he would make the Byrne winner work in the latter stages when closing to his tail as the winner again ceded ground when coursing the hare while turning. Back on an even keel when straightening for the line, Kevinsfort Duke retained a half-length verdict over the running-on Mystical Leo with both leaving much scope for imminent improvement following this smart 29.22 clash.

That same Limerick fixture returned further local victory to cheer when Maureen & Sally Mounsey’s Patterdale Gigi (Magical Bale-Patterdale Lena) claimed the fourth win of her lightly raced career. In just a second start since last July, the September 2020 whelp led from the opening bend when a cosy three and a half length winner in the Knocklong Schooling Track A3 525. Posting 29.23, she remains attractively graded without a rise for this win and can plunder further prizes if enjoying a more extended spell of racing over coming weeks and months.

THE LATE PADDY RYAN

All in our local greyhound community will join us this week in offering sincerest condolences to the family and many friends of Paddy Ryan, Kilcommon. A treasured working member of Nenagh Coursing Club, Paddy made friendship easy and a most sincere supporter of all local kennels, his passing is mourned by a saddened greyhound fraternity in North Tipperary and far beyond. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.