TRAPRISE - Good Lad Bob claims a Thurles thriller
Last Saturday’s meeting at Thurles Greyhound Stadium delivered thrilling fare with a host of top-class action in support of the Reddan’s Windows & Doors Champion Bitch Stake and arguably the most entertaining clash of the night came in the A3 525 when Tom White’s Bob The Lad (Droopys Jet-Liosgarbh Elsa) prevailed in a thrilling local showdown.
With just a sole previous win coming in A5 grade, the October 2018 whelp had repeatedly shown up well while reaching a high of A2 in his ten-race career and gaining reward for his consistently competitive efforts, a trap 1 berth on Saturday proved ideal.
Rarely quick to stride, the Lisatunny charge again trailed in the early exchanges this time but tracking the early lead, which was disputed by Liam McGrath’s Rackethall Zoe, Bob The Lad sneaked past rivals on the inside before reaching the backstraight with just a length to recover. Briefly striking the front on the run to halfway, Rackethall Zoe would find an advancing Bob The Lad rushing up on her inside as the local pair reduced the race to a match and it was the White charge who took a half length advantage to the third turn. Unable to fully shake of the attentions of his Toomevara Rival however, Bod found Zoe breathing down his neck in a protracted tussle along the home straight and both strong runners over the 525-yard trip, neither would go down lightly. Requiring a photo-finish to separate the local duo, it was a courageous Bob The Lad who claimed his second career win in an exhilarating shorthead verdict while posting 29.67 (-50).
There was ample compensation in the very next race on the same Thurles programme for the McGrath kennels, however, and going into many notebooks following A2 victory over 570 yards, the victory of Taylor Kate (Tyrur Big Mike-Leamaneigh Breda) oozed quality.
The January 2019 youngster also had just a sole victory in A6 grade before Saturday, but a member of highly talented Toomevara bred litter, she had repeatedly caught the eye with the promise of better to come. She did that again this time but in victory, the second win of her career suggests her future can lie at higher.
Her greatest hindrance in this early part of her career has been breaking and she was again only moderately to stride from Trap 2 this time, which preceded a bump before reaching full stride. At the rear of the field approaching the first bend, a rails pitch while turning saw her advance to third at the top of the backstraight. With six lengths to recover on the pacesetter, victory appeared unlikely, but it was from the halfway point where Taylors Kate displayed pace beyond her A2 grading. Rapidly reducing arrears to the closing bends, a bold move on the inside of the leader saw the McGrath youngster strike the front before bounding clear to a facile seven-length verdict. Posting 31.83 (-50), she just remains within the confines of A2, but she surely possesses too much raw talent to avoid climbing higher in the very near future.
Still having the Crak approaching Five
It’s far from rare to find a greyhound maintaining a high level of form to the veteran stages of their career within the kennels of Paul Hogan for among his many training attributes, the Nenagh handler has proven particularly adept at ensuring longevity within a racing campaign.
Commencing the weekend winning action on Friday at Clonmel, Five Alley Crakl (Skywalker Puma-Maldini Pops) was yet another Hogan representative to confirm that fact when producing a thrilling effort to score his thirteenth career win.
Always a powerful stayer at the 525-yard trip, Crakl reached a career high of A0 when chasing home companion Five Alley Messi in the final of the prestigious Sporting Press 550 twelve months ago and now plying his trade in A3, displayed all of his brave battling qualities into his fifth year.
Housed in Trap 3, the September 2016 veteran predictably trailed in the early stages before negotiating his way to fourth place at the top of the backstraight. Forced to check at that point, all hopes of victory should have been out the window when switching for a run on the outside while all of eight lengths adrift. However, producing his customary backstraight surge, Five Alley Crakl had halved his deficit to the crown of the final bends and continued to close before eyeing a gap between a leading pair of rivals in the home straight. Powering to the line thereafter, the Hogan veteran drew closer with each stride before a final lunge delivered an astounding shorthead verdict.
Posting 29.40, the old boy stays in A3 grade where he can hold clear claims again next time, with his obvious appetite for racing and ever-present battling qualities a testament to both handler and hound.
The past week provided a host of local winners once more and of particular note at Newbridge on Thursday, Leanne Rafferty’s Millrose Melody (Ballymac Matt-Laughil Linda) gained reward for a brace of recent placings while confirming his early career promise in a slick S0 325-yard victory.
Slow to stride from Trap 3, the lightly raced May 2018 whelp displayed exceptional early pace to recover lost ground on smart rivals. Striking the front while tackling the first turn, the Ballingarry charge drew readily clear to a four and a half length verdict while posting a fast 17.67 in his second career win and open to further progress, is a very smart top-grade sprint prospect for the season ahead.
Closer to home, locals did not miss out on some Limerick loot either with a brace to cheer on the Saturday card as firstly, Anna & Brian McLoughney’s Liosgarbh Carrie (Droopys Jet-Liosgarbh Elsa) shed her maiden tag in a thirteenth career start which required no superstitious luck!
Breaking well from Trap 2, the October 2018 whelp showed narrowly in front before bravely sweeping to the lead at the first bend. Retaining just a half-length advantage to the backstraight, the Ardcroney charge would briefly cede the lead on the run to the closing bends but battling bravely into the home straight, displayed a pleasing attitude when regaining the lead close home for a one most game one-length verdict in 29.37.
A new name on the local scene having relocated to Ballina, the kennels of Pat Conway hit the bar when Yankee Matt ran-up an A3 stake at Limerick a fortnight ago but in a return to the winner’s enclosure on Saturday, Curraghmorejet (Droopys Jet-Fire Back) claimed his maiden victory at the fourth time of asking.
A July 2019 whelp, the Conway pup had shown promise in a brace of sprint outings and confirmed his early paced qualities on Saturday when dictating his A4 525 event following a smart break on the fence. Streaking clear while negotiating the opening turns with much aplomb, Curraghmorejet had the race in safe keeping when well in command at halfway. Repelling the late threat of a strong staying rival with one and a half lengths to spare, he posted a smart 29.14 which will bring a small rise to A3 next time but with his early dash a potent weapon, he can be expected to handle the upgrade with further improvement highly likely.