Tremendous Thursday five-timer at Limerick for Abigail

TRAPRISE

A regular on these pages and especially within a highly successful start to their 2025 season, the mother and daughter team of Tina & Abigail Morrissey stole yet further headlines at Limerick on Thursday when from five entries on the card, the Cloughjordan kennels returned five winners!

A truly remarkable achievement within the SIS racing system which is so tightly graded; it is testament to the well-being and willing attitude of hound, combined with the kennels renown as tender handlers which saw all five prevail despite fully tested within highly competitive contests throughout the afternoon fixture.

Sparking the feat with a return to winning ways in the Talking Dogs A4 525 was Abigails Lulu (Great Blue Shark-Errill Abbey) as the strong running September 2022 whelp secured a most game sixth career win.

Just moderately to stride from trap 2, she tracked the early pacesetters before sneaking a rails run around the opening bends and would always prove difficult to contain when within a length of the lead to the top of the backstraight. Duly striking the front beyond halfway, Abigails Lulu saw out the trip stoutly for a one and a half-length verdict in 28.93 (+10).

Quickly doubling up in the following Limerick Sales A3 525, Abigails Bogger (Great Blue Shark-Bogger Sunny) claimed his fifth career win in game style. Showing smart pace for a tight first bend lead from trap 6, the August 2022 whelp fully struck the front off the second bend and although hard pressed with the field converging in the home straight, Abigails Bogger repelled all challengers for a half-length verdict in 28.86 (+10).

Hat-trick for Duke

The Morrissey kennel’s hottest runner at present, Abigails Duke (Great Blue Shark-Abigails Sky) provided the third leg of the five-timer in the Greyhounds Make Great Pets A2 525, completing a personal hat-trick of Thursday victories and a treble on the day for the kennel sire, Great Blue Shark!

Taking his tally to thirteen in total, the June 2022 whelp began well from trap 4 but was shuffled back to fourth place before reaching the backstraight with over two lengths to recover. Impressing on the run to the closing bends however, Abigails Duke ranged up on the outside of the leaders before striking the front in the home straight for a gutsy one length victory in 28.91 (+10).

Seeking a hat-trick of his own next time following victory in the Con Murphy Bookmakers A4 525, Abigails Fire (King Elvis-Superb Beauty) provided the fourth Morrissey winner of the day. Displaying slick early pace following a level break from trap 6, the April 2023 whelp comfortably led around the opening bends before fending off a strong staying rival by a half-length in 29.06 (+10).

Completing the memorable Thursday exploits in the concluding Lucky Last A3 525 was Diegos Mai (Skywalker Luke-Diegos Sophia) when gaining compensation for a brace of runner-up efforts in her most recent outings.

Producing her best break from trap 1, the April 2022 whelp defended her inside pitch on the run to the corner and once turning with a narrow advantage, subsequently eased clear in decisive manner to the backstraight. Reaching her four-length winning margin by halfway, Diegos Mai was the most commanding of the five winners with four lengths to spare in 28.93 (+10).

At cumulative odds of 960/1, we can report that the accumulator was backed! Take a bow Tina & Abigail!

Mickey was Ready for Friday double

Staying with action at Limerick and a further multiple winning achievement delivered a double on the Friday fixture for Aoife Loughnane as firstly, the Greyhounds Make Great Pets A2 525 brought a return to Limerick, and a return to winning ways, for Kilgarran Mickey (Pestana-Lemon Juliet).

Following a luckless spell of recent form which saw the Roscrea kennel stalwart without a win this season, the September 2022 whelp was clearly happy with his Dock Road surroundings and breaking well from trap 5, was always front rank despite repeating his usual tendency to run wide at the bends. Drawing clear of early paced rivals approaching halfway, Kilgarran Mickey contained persistent challengers for an eleventh race victory with a length to spare in a 28.83 (+10). Remaining within a highly plausible A2 grade, he can prove tough to contain next time.

Completing the Loughnane double in the later Go Greyhound Racing A5 525, the Ready To Dream Syndicate’s Ready To Explore (Explosive Boy-Express Shine) doubled his tally in a fourth career outing.

Previously successful at A7 level on his second start, the September 2023 whelp showed the best pace off just a moderate start from trap 4 and battling bravely for a first bend lead, never sighted a rival thereafter. Posting 29.09 (+10) in a five length verdict, a rise to A3 may not halt his progressive ways!

Timmy is sharp in Thurles sprint

There was more than just met the eye when Sally Mounsey’s Patterdale Timmy (Ballymac Cashout-Patterdale Lena) finished fourth in a hot novice event at Limerick at the beginning of last month and switching to the sprint trip at Thurles for his second race outing on Saturday, he marked himself as a hugely exciting prospect with a classy maiden victory.

Bearing a middle seed in trap 5 for the Upcoming Sweepstakes S1 330, the September 2023 whelp found just a moderate break and contested the initial exchanges between rivals before showing the best pace once in full gallop. Edging to the front on the long run to the opening bend, the Mounsey pup extended to a one length lead upon turning and readily settled the verdict when streaking clear into the home straight.

Striking the line in strong running manner, Patterdale Timmy held a commanding six length winning margin while stopping the clock in a classy 17.85 (-10).

That winning time will see him obliged to take on the elite sprinters in SS0 company if remaining at the shorter trip while his current grading of A2 for four bends will offer obvious opportunity as he develops his racing skills at the outset of an exciting career.

Within a busy and gratefully successful spell for local challengers around the country, keep attentions towards Shelbourne Park this weekend where the Pat Guilfoyle trained Scarlet Ella, a semi-final winner in 29.16, will contest the final of the upcoming Puppy Oaks ON2 Bitch 525 Yard Stake.

That final will however not feature her scorching kennelmate, and 28.23 debut winner, Magical On Fire who was eliminated having claimed the opposing semi-final in too fast a time! Remember that name, Magical On Fire!

Also, at Shelbourne this Saturday, Geoff Parnaby’s wonderful Tarsna Maasai will contest the final of the 2025 Bresbet Easter Cup 550 and though held in third behind winner Da Bold Falcon in Saturday’s semi-final, a return to his winning form of round 1 when posting 29.46 would give the likeable Borrisoleigh star every chance in the €25000 showdown.