Cagey final victory for Billy at Shelbourne

TRAPRISE

An impressive winner of his semi-final in the Sporting Press A3 575 Yard Stake, Christopher Delaney’s Cagey Billy (Pestana-Lilly Lula) built on that performance at Shelbourne Park with an emphatic victory in the final of warm event on Friday.

Entering the final on the back of a trap-to-line victory in 31.42 on the previous weekend, the April 2022 whelp ensured a rise to A1 grade following that eleventh race win but improving yet further this time, will return to his career high mark of A0 having again displayed the best early dash from his suitable trap 6 draw.

Producing his best break, the likeable Roscrea tracker immediately began to outpace rivals on his inside while relishing the long run to the corner over the extended four bend distance and three lengths to the good over the same rival as he defeated at semi stage, turned with clear racing room. Reaching his four and a half length winning margin over Cayan Lady at the top of the backstraight, Cagey Billy completed a professional victory with the minimum of fuss thereafter and confirming himself in the form of his career, posted a very smart 32.21.

Despite his impending upgrade, the Delaney stalwart will ably cope if reproducing his recent improved starts.

Guilfoyle double handed in Connacht Derby Final

A highly competitive participation in the Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby 550 Yard Stake will see trainer Pat Guilfoyle with a brace of runners in this weekend’s final after his own Magical Mag (Ballymac Cashout-Mystical Luna) turned the tables on kennelmate Epic Ace, landing semi-final victory in slick style last Friday.

In the previous weekend’s quarter final session, the John Kennedy owned Epic Ace had led Magical Mag home with a three-quarter length winning margin while posting 30.45 (-10) but swifter to stride this time, Mag went fastest of all on Friday when scarcely sighting a rival in a sharp return to winning ways.

Immediately in command from trap 3, the December 2022 whelp led on the run to the corner and crucially for her win claims, complicated that initial passage for a sharp early paced Epic Ace by occupying a racing line that her companion would wish to gallop. Continuing to repel the threat while tackling the opening bends, Magical Mags had Epic Ace on her tail all along the backstraight but predictably stronger from the closing bends, eased clear to victory on the approach to the home straight. Striking the line with three and a half lengths in hand of Ballymac Sorrel, Magical Mags posted 30.21 (-10) as Epic Ace surrendered second close home while three parts of a length further adrift.

Magical Mag has been drawn in trap 2 for Friday’s showdown and expected to lead those rivals on her flanks in the early yards, has a more straightforward task than Epic Ace in trap 6, who has a sharp dual heat winner Breaghmore Dice to his immediate inside. Fastest of the event at quarterfinal stage, the latter merits big respect but Mag gets the nod for victory while hoping for another Moneygall forecast!

Duke dictates in Abigail’s Limerick double

Not outside the trio placings in any of his latest ten starts, Abigail Morrissey’s Abigails Duke (Great Blue Shark-Abigails Sky) extended wonderfully consistent figures on Thursday when claiming his eleventh race victory while sparking a double for his Cloughjordan kennels on the SIS fixture at Limerick.

With a trio of close placed efforts in the grade since his latest A3 score, the June 2022 whelp fully got to grips with a return to A2 grade in the Roma Casino Limerick 525 despite narrowly headed in the early exchanges.

Breaking just behind the pace from trap 5, the Morrissey favourite battled well on the inside of a sharp rival and brave within a bump between the pair while tackling the opening bend, emerged best from the clash when easing to the front while turning. Never under serious threat thereafter, Abigails Duke completed in snug fashion when four lengths to the good at the line while posting 29.01 (+10).

Without penalty on the grading table, he can be expected to further extend his pleasing figures next time.

Equally consistent as his kennelmate, Abigails Bogger (Great Blue Shark-Bogger Sunny) has been less prolific in win terms but providing the second leg of the Morrissey double on Thursday, claimed a fourth career win in the concluding Lucky Last A3 525.

Now 21 times in the trio placings from 32 races, the August 2022 whelp was predictably headed in the early stages when moderately to stride from trap 6 but was just a length adrift upon reaching the opening bend despite having a line of four rivals in his immediate path. Baulked and forced wide with no racing room while tackling the turn, Abigails Bogger gamely gathered himself on the approach to the backstraight when setting sights on the leader from near four lengths back. Impressively advancing to second place on the run to the closing bends, the Morrissey winner had now just a length to claw back and continued to close on the outside into the home stretch. Staying stoutly, Abigails Bogger posted 29.39 (+10) in a one length victory having struck the front close home and will avoid a rise in grade next time.

On a busy weekend for the Morrissey kennel, a tilt at the hugely prestigious Deadly Kennels McCalmont Cup A1 525 Yard Stake with Abigails King (King Elvis-Superb Beauty) saw the game April 2023 whelp back-up his opening round second while again filling runner-up position in his quarterfinal on Friday.

Leading to the opening bend from trap 1, he crucially afforded Kapuka Warrior a passage on the inside when racing off the rail at the turn and shuffled back to second place within tight quarters, subsequently chased that rival home at a four length deficit in 29.31 (-30). Still warming to the circuit, King remains a factor within the event which continues this coming Friday and if leading to the opening bend from trap 2 in the second qualifier, is capable of upsetting more exalted rivals!

Sam sparks Tynan double

Further competition action this weekend will see Stonepark Sam (Burgess Bucks-Turree Kate) bid to complete his dominant passage through the Book Your Trials Online A7 525 Yard Stake having landed his semi-final within a Saturday double for PJ Tynan at Galway.

A wide margin winner in 29.30 (-10) on the previous weekend, the James Byrne owned June 2022 whelp again led throughout once displaying the best early pace for a first bend lead and much the fastest of the semis with 29.41 (-10), will be long odds-on for final victory.

The Saturday double for the Ballinderry kennels arrived within the half-hour at The Sportsground when litter comrade Turree Avery (Burgess Bucks-Turree Kate) shed her maiden at the sixth time of asking in the Greyhounds Make Great Pets S6 350. With much the best early pace following a smart break from trap 5, the Michael Ambrose owned sprinter never sighted a rival when posting 19.66 (-5) in a two and a half-length score.