TRAPRISE - Duke dictates in Byrne Limerick double

Following his stunning career start, the Paddy Last Syndicate’s Grouchos Duke (Grangeview Ten-Mystical Luna) had just a solitary outing since last September and was returning from a four-month absence when concluding last Saturday’s fixture at Limerick but clearly over his ails, bounced back to winning ways with a double on the night for trainer John Byrne.

With a sizzling best of 28.19 for 525 yards at Shelbourne Park, the December 2021 whelp was amongst the brightest young stars of racing in 2023 and remains a hugely exciting prospect for all classics this season, especially having led throughout his comeback victory in the Getting Out AAO 525.

Breaking on terms from trap 2, the December 2021 whelp edged to a narrow lead on the inside of Kirby hopeful Faypoint Harvey before reaching the corner and would still have that rival on his tail following a competitive tussle along the backstraight. Remaining in command to the final turns, Grouchos Duke completed victory with the minimum of fuss thereafter and striking the line with a length and a half to spare, posted 28.49. The winning return will have greatly pleased all connected with hopes high for an extended run of racing participation ahead of upcoming major events.

Sparking a double for the Knockalton kennel in the earlier Knocklong Schooling Track A4 525, Michael & Terence Delaney’s Feshtys Mo (Grangeview Ten-Rifles Flash) resumed winning ways in typically early paced fashion.

Returning to the scene of her latest A4 win back in September, the Byrne trained April 2022 pup showed all of her slick early pace from an ideal trap 1 berth and in command to the opening bend, she settled the race on the run to halfway when streaking clear. Scarcely sighting a rival, Feshtys Mo completed a facile nine-length score while advancing to a new career best of 28.80.

That time will see her rise to A1 next time and while that level demands further improvement from the progressive pup, her early pace will remain a potent weapon as she continues her puppy campaign.

Barry best in Abigails brace

A kennel which remains in sparkling form throughout the early season and following a brace of winners on the previous weekend, Abigail Morrissey’s Abigails Barry (Grangeview Ten-Arterbury) sparked another double for the Cloughjordan team when claiming a second win from his latest three outings on the regular Thursday SIS fixture at Limerick last week.

A good second on upgrade for A5 victory last time, the August 2022 pup showed smart dash from his ideal trap 1 draw and turning on the inside of Martin Kennedy’s Gortglas Dream, continued to repel that rival with a competitive tussle to the closing bends. Easing clear from that point, Abigails Barry posted 29.30 with a two and a half-length winning margin in what was just his seventh career outing.

Completing the brace for connections in the later Boylesports.com A5 525, Abigails Duke (Great Blue Shark-Abigails Sky) set up a hat-trick bid when backing up his latest A6 score.

Tracking the early pace following a moderate start from trap 1, the June 2022 pup cannily sneaked a run on the rails before joining a pacesetting rival at halfway. Easing to a one length advantage off the final turn, Abigails Duke repelled all challenges for a three-quarter length victory in 29.63. Without penalty on the grading table, he can hold every chance to complete a treble next time.

Further local success on that fruitful Limerick fixture saw the Go Greyhound Racing A4 525 claimed by Patrick & Jerry O’Brien’s Nuisances (Magical Bale-Our Marys Dream), securing a third race win when bouncing back near her best form.

Last successful in the same grade back in October, the lightly raced September 2021 whelp began well from trap 4 and narrowly led with a rival on her outside throughout the early exchanges.

Still just holding the call to the closing bends, the Killaloe charge proved strongest close home and stretching to a two-length winning margin in most game manner, posted 29.31. Without a rise in grade next time, Nuisances could well build on this return to winning ways!

Another kennel in fine form of late, Friday’s fixture at Shelbourne Park saw Christopher Delaney guide his Cagey Billy (Pestana-Lilly Lula) back to winning ways while relishing a first venture beyond four-bend distances.

Going back-to-back to commence his career back in December, subsequent slow starts had led to troubled passages in the interim but upped in trip for Friday’s Talking Dogs A3 Novice 750, the April 2022 whelp made an emphatic return to the winner’s enclosure.

Housed in trap 5, the Roscrea pup produced the best break of his career and once on the bunny with a comfortable lead around the opening bends, reduced the race to a virtual solo spin.

Three lengths to the good when passing the winning line on the first circuit, Cagey Billy readily extended that advantage on a cold and soggy circuit while never sighting a rival. Staying his new distance very strongly, the Delaney winner struck the line with fourteen lengths to spare in 45.32 (-2.40).

That slow rating for the saturated track could be only guesswork on the night and visually impressive, Cagey Billy could be very well graded in D3 for his next spin over 750-yards!