TRAPRISE - Lively Lila chases final glory at Shelbourne Park
With an early career which harboured much promise at Limerick, Rory & Aoife McLoughney’s Liosgarbh Lila (Droopys Sydney-Liosgarbh Ene) switched to the capital following a luckless passage last time and making her Shelbourne Park debut in the semi-final of the This Runs Deep A2 Bitch 525 Yard Stake last weekend, left a hugely pleasing impression in a most game second career victory.
In just a seventh career start, the August 2020 youngster claimed her previous win over the sprint trip but from trap 5 in the second heat on Friday, found only a moderate start when headed throughout the early exchanges.
Racing in a precarious position between rivals in pursuit of the pacesetter approaching the first bend, the McLoughney winner was checked more than once when negotiating the turns on the outside but battling well to retain fourth place, had less than three lengths to recover when reaching the top of the backstraight. It was from that point however, that Liosgarbh Lila emphatically stamped her authority on the race when eye-catchingly advancing past rivals to join the leader on the inside at the third bend. Forcefully striking the front on the run to the home straight, she extended comfortably clear to a commanding three length verdict.
Posting a winning time of 28.82 versus the opposing semi-final, which was won in 29.07, Liosgarbh Lila will take obvious claims to this coming Friday’s final and on the evidence of this latest performance, only a clear run should be required to convert.
Phill goes four from five at Limerick
The local winning action again commenced on the Thursday programme at Limerick last week and a runner in sparkling form, James Treacy’s Montore Phill (Ardnasool Jet-Montore Sally) claimed a fourth win from his latest five outings while proving one of the most prolific winners at the Dock Road venue in recent times.
Looking back on the early career starts of the May 2020 whelp, it is scarcely believable that he hardly landed a blow in his first five races. However, with the penny fully dropped in his next five, the Treacy youngster will make another hattrick attempt following a second winning brace when a cosy winner of his A4 525 this time.
Proving very sharp at trap rise, Montore Phill immediately contested the lead from trap 5 and reaching the opening bend with just a narrow half length advantage over a rival to his inside, displayed admirable battling qualities when forcefully rounding that rival to fully assert into the crown of the turns. A length to the good at that point, the Treacy winner was all but joined at halfway but refusing to cede his opportunity as the leading duo raced neck and neck to the closing bends, Montore Phill proved strongest in the latter stages. Easing clear to the home straight, he registered a most game three length winning verdict and posting 29.68, will hold every chance of completing a treble in the same grade next time.
Wichita Guns down rivals
Feature event of every season at Thurles Greyhound Stadium, the 2022 Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup drew to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday evening and having attracted a stellar cast of entries, it was Willie Joe Murphy’s Bobsleigh Dream (Droopys Sydney-Bobsleigh Jet) who completed her brilliant campaign with a powerful final performance to land the €8000 prize.
A warm favourite having gone fastest at both quarter final and semi-final stage, the Pat Buckley star struck the front on the approach to the closing bends before registering a two and a half length verdict over pacesetter Russmur Pat in 28.75 (-20) for the 525-yards.
The big night at Thurles featured a highly entertaining undercard to the main event and also securing sweepstake success was Sean Kenny’s Gunboat Wichita (Droopys Sydney-Group Supergem) who prevailed in the Split the Pot A3 525 Final.
A dual sprint winner at the outset of his career, the July 2020 whelp had filled a close-up third in his semi-final a week earlier but would reverse that form on Saturday when, breaking well from trap 3, the Borrisoleigh youngster just showed in front throughout the early exchanges before finding the sharp Kilvil Arnold on his inside when reaching the corner. A hefty bump between the pair saw that latter finalist assert with benefit of the inside and the Kenny winner had near two lengths to recover approaching halfway.
Greatly impressing from that point however, Gunboat Wichita readily reduced his deficit on the run to the closing bends before joining the pacesetter with command of the rails entering the home stretch. Staying stoutly to the line thereafter, Gunboat Wichita battled his way to a one length verdict in 29.57 (-20) for a first four-bend victory in what was a third win from his seven race starts. Allowed to compete in A4 next time, he can be strongly fancied to continue his winning ways while remaining open to much progression.
The past week again featured a host of smart performances from local kennels across various venues with much to catch up on but as notable as any at the weekend, the victory of Eileen Kennedy’s Dixies Jet (Droopys Jet-Live Queen) in the concluding A2 525 at Limerick on Saturday was laudable in the extreme.
Following a hugely promising career start last summer, the September 2019 whelp has endured a very interrupted racing campaign and was returning from a near ten-month absence this time for what would be just his eighth career start.
Presenting in sparkling form however, the Ballinaclough charge could not have impressed more despite headed in the early exchanges before absorbing a hefty bump at the opening turn. Almost five lengths adrift in third place at the top of the backstraight, Dixies Jet set sights on the leader when reducing the arrears beyond halfway and steadily closing to the home straight, struck the front close home for a remarkable one and a half length score while posting a smart 29.17 (-20).
The second win of his career, he can make up for lost time if granted a more extended spell of racing in the second part of the season and is a runner to follow closely over coming weeks and months.