TRAPRISE - McKenna’s Mister Bags Shelbourne A4 Final berth

Despite not winning a heat in the 18-runner Talking Dogs A4 525 Stake, the Borrisokane kennels of Vincent McKenna were double handed ahead of last Thursday’s final at Shelbourne Park and finding a timely second career victory, the Sandbaggers Syndicate’s Mister Sandbag (Skywalker Rafa-Rylane Dubh) reversed event form to land the €2250 showdown.

Second in both qualifying heats, the March 2021 whelp chased home hot favourite Milkybar Kid in the fastest semi-final but as that rival got it wrong at trap rise in the final, the McKenna charge improved his start to crucially contest for the lead with slick early paced rival Monamolin Squaw to his outside from trap 5.

Having also began smartly from trap 3, kennel companion Lisk Robin would contest within tight quarters behind the leaders throughout those initial exchanges but continually crowded to the backstraight, could never land a significant blow before made to settle for his final fifth placing.

Up front, and despite being a strong two lengths adrift in second at the top of the backstraight, Mister Sandbag just about kept tabs on the pacesetter to the closing bends before reducing the arrears approaching the home stretch. Maintaining his challenge with momentum along the rails on the run to the line, a most game final victory was completed with a length to spare as Mister Sandbag improved to a career best of 28.91. Returning to his high of A2 next time, the canny youngster may well cope with the upgrade if continuing to trap smartly.

Hope sheds maiden tag at Limerick

There were many local kennels to keep track of on a busy Saturday last weekend but one of the more pleasing performances arrived at Limerick where John Cleary & Cathal McLoughney’s Eireann’s Hope (Droopys Noah-Ballydurn Sophie) claimed his first career win in the Knocklong Schooling Track A5 525.

Lightly raced as a September 2021 whelp, the Ardcroney charge was steadily progressive in four previous starts and second in A6 grade on his most recent outing, found further improvement when shedding his maiden tag in dominant fashion this time.

Breaking on level terms from trap 5, the McLoughney trained youngster forged a tight one length lead on the run to the first bend and impressed when stretching to a near four length lead on the approach to halfway. Pleasing the eye while maintaining a powerful gallop thereafter, Eireann’s Hope never came under serious threat in a victory gallop to the line with three and a half lengths to spare while stopping the clock in 29.12. Taking a rise to A3 next time, the upgrade should not phase the smart prospect on the evidence of this maiden score.

Most fruitful of the Friday action was the fixture at Galway where local attendees enjoyed a brace of winners to cheer home with the maiden win of Abigail Morrissey’s Abigail’s Muffin (Great Blue Shark-Arterbury) leading the way as he found pleasing progress for debut experience a week earlier.

Denied clear passage when repeatedly bumped in that very promising second, the December 2021 whelp ensured better fortune this time once breaking on level terms from trap 3 within a very level start for all in the Bet On The Tote A7 525. Gamely forging a half-length advantage on the run to the opening bend, the Morrissey pup doubled that lead to the backstraight before taking full command with superior pace on the approach to the closing turns.

Never troubled thereafter, Abigail’s Muffin drew further clear while revealing strong running abilities in the final yards, leaving ominous scope for further improvement when posting 29.40 (-10) in a four-length verdict and can be fancied to handle his rise to A4 next time.

The preceding Track Bookmakers A9 525 also delivered a maiden win as Sean Hackett’s Port West Maui (Dorotas Wildcat-Rural Maui) stepped up on her two previous efforts while claiming a first career win at the third time of asking.

Breaking behind the pace from trap 4, the PJ Tynan trained February 2022 pup broke behind the pace from trap 4 but displaying much the best early dash, rounded rivals to lead by a length at the corner. Sweeping further clear while turning, Port West Maui left hapless rivals in her wake when easing to a facile eleven and a half-length verdict in 29.64 (-10) and granted a level break next time, should ably cope with her rise to A5.

In competition action, a final to watch keenly this coming Saturday is the Go Greyhound Racing A4 575 Stake showdown at Limerick which will house a trio of local challengers. Ultra-competitive, strong stayer Hurry Kane will seek a second career win for Jack Moyles against possible final pacesetter Curraghmorestar for Pat Conway while both will fear Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Luna in a race not to be missed, if at all possible, this coming weekend.

The late Noel Delaney

It was with great sadness that our greyhound community in North Tipperary, and far beyond, received news of the passing of Roscrea’s Noel Delaney last week.

A most popular figure in any greyhound circles, Noel was a treasured working member of Nenagh Coursing Club and known as a most amiable personality throughout the sport.

On the field of competition, Noel’s proudest moment came in the 2014 Irish Cup when his Legion Express raised a first flag in a classic which was so close to his heart after his own grandfather Jack Moloney had trained the legendary 1937 winner Dutch Sandills.

The easiest friend to make and most comfortable company to keep, Noel bids farewell much too soon having succumbed to a lengthy illness which he bore with a most admirable bravery and grace, and his passing leaves our greyhound fraternity mourning the loss of a truly special friend. We extend our sincerest condolences to his family and many, many friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.