Sophie sparks Lonesome weekend double for O’Lone

TRAPRISE

Highlight of Friday’s action for local challengers around the country came at Newbridge as the 24-runner Talking Dogs A4 525 Yard Stake got underway and claiming the concluding heat of four, the Out Of Cash Syndicate’s Come On Sophie (Ballymac Wild-Millbank Moana) doubled her win tally at the outset of her career while sparking a weekend brace for her Roscrea kennels.

Having shed her maiden tag in A5 victory last time out, the Padraig O’Lone trained April 2023 whelp ably handled a small upgrade when drawn in trap 2 this time and having begun on level terms, she crucially outpaced the sole rival to her inside while forging a tight one length lead at the opening bend. Turning with command of the rails, the O’Lone pup eased to three lengths upon reaching the backstraight and although that lead was reduced to the third turn, Sophie was never for catching. Extending clear once again on the approach to the home straight, Come On Sophie contained a strong staying rival thereafter for a snug one and a half-length verdict in 29.60.

A second win from her five career starts, she can be expected to continue her progression from an ideal trap 1 draw in her semi-final this Friday.

Turning attentions to the first meeting of the new year at Thurles, Padraig O’Lone completed his weekend double on Saturday as the Denis O’Lone owned Lonesome Pete (Grangeview Ten-Millbank Moana) produced a new personal best within his lightly raced career when a dominant winner of the Split The Pot SS0 330.

Reverting back to the sprinting sphere this time, the June 2022 whelp was enjoying just a tenth career start with his three previous race wins arriving from within his latest four sprint outings. Competing above his Saturday grading of S1, the O’Lone speedster found just a moderate start from trap 2 and contested the initial exchanges within tight quarters before displaying the best dash once in full gallop. Gradually edging his way to a tight one length lead on the long approach to the opening bend, Lonesome Pete dismissively settled the race when bounding further clear to the home straight. Completing victory with three and a half lengths to spare, a slick winning time of 17.86 (-10) will see him join the open ranks for his next sprint outing but he should have no fear of that level on Saturday’s evidence.

Rip repeats at Limerick

Following competitive opening round heats on the previous weekend, the Old Creamery Bar, Hospital A0 525 Yard Stake again proved a closely graded event at Limerick on Saturday but fastest of a talented bunch for the second week in succession was Denis McGrath’s Foxwood Rip (Bockos Jon Jo-Oakfield Dancer).

Brilliant in opening round victory on the previous weekend while posting 28.48, the August 2022 whelp began sharply from his ideal trap 1 draw this time and comfortably retaining command of the inside rail on the approach to the corner, eased clear while fully asserting upon tackling the turns. Extending to his winning margin of four and a half lengths by halfway, Foxwood Rip scarcely sighted a rival when improving to a classy 28.40. This fourth career win keeps him in pole position within the event and he will take all the beating in this Saturday’s semi-finals.

Following his local rival into the next round of the A0 525 event for the second week in a row was John O’Meara’s Ballygibbon Cash (Ballymac Cashout-Sive To One) with a game qualifying performance in the concluding heat of three.

Front rank throughout the early exchanges from trap 3, the April 2022 whelp was bumped back to third place while contesting tight quarters at the second bend but two and a half lengths adrift to halfway, the O’Meara stalwart maintained that qualifying position to the line when only going down by that same margin in 28.59. Granted clear passage, he has more to offer ahead of this week’s semi-finals and remains a viable threat to all!

Staying with that same Saturday fixture at Limerick, the following Go Greyhound Racing A1 525 brought a return to winning ways for Shane & Luke O’Connell’s Grouchos Blake (Magical Bale-Clondoty Amy) when back near his very best form.

More adeptly to stride than when missing the kick last time, the John Byrne trained March 2022 whelp displayed all of his sharp early pace once reaching full stride and repelling all rivals to his outside on the run to the corner, galloped to a four length lead at halfway.

Remaining in full command thereafter, Grouchos Blake completed a dominant passage with four lengths to spare in 28.67 and having now ended a frustrating run since last successful in October, can be expected to build on this sixth career win.

Bono goes back-to-back

Returning to Saturday’s fixture at Thurles and it had been a month since Pat Kennedy’s Ballinalick Bono (Broadstrand Bono-Ballinalick Rua) claimed the second win of his career at the Premier venue in December but presenting in sharp form following the Christmas layoff and weather delays, he commenced the action by setting up a hat-trick bid in the Welcome to Thurles Greyhound Stadium A4 525.

Despite just a moderate start from trap 5, the lightly raced December 2021 whelp displayed the best early pace to strike the front off the second bend and reaching his three and a half-length winning margin by halfway, Ballinalick Bono completed a snug third race win in 30.01 (-20), and will hold obvious claims in the same grade next time.