Molly scores perfect Ten in Galway debut

TRAPRISE

On a busy weekend of racing for many local kennels, the winning action commenced on Friday at Galway as opening round heats in the October Unraced ON2 350 Yard Stake welcomed a brace of pups to the winner’s circle following smart debut performances.

A late starter for John Kelly, Now Molly (Ballymac Cashout-Patterdale Lena) hails from a very promising Sally Mounsey bred third litter for popular local dam Patterdale Lena and drawn in trap 3 for the concluding heat of four, the September 2023 whelp will have pleased all connected following her adept break on debut.

Readily negating marginal arrears once in full gallop on the long run to the corner, the Killowney youngster eased her way to a tight half-length lead before tackling the turn with command of the rails. Gamely defending her position against a persistent rival to her outside, Now Molly railed tightly into the home stretch before extending to a snug one and a half length winning margin at the line.

A time of 19.52 places her amongst the leading players in the event which reaches semi-final stage this week and she is open to any amount of progress for this belated first race experience.

Joining her amongst those leading players having also registered a debut victory in the sprint stake was the Meeting-Of-Minds-Syndicate’s Carrickhill Ten (Grangeview Ten-Carrickhill Ava) for trainer Vincent McKenna.

Following pleasing qualifying spins, the February 2024 whelp presented in very sharp form for his debut and exiting trap 5 on a galloping stride, scarcely sighted a rival from the initial exchanges. Sweeping the opening bend with a length in hand, that margin quickly grew and seeing out the sprint distance in strong running manner, Carrickhill Ten posted 19.47 in a dismissive seven length verdict.

The local duo have been drawn together in the second semi-final this week with fastest 19.24 heat winner Velvet Rocco for company. However, trap 1 is ideal for Now Molly while a repeat of his fast start will see Carrickhill Ten prominent throughout, and both hold obvious claims to reach final stage.

Keith makes Magical start in Laurels

Triple handed ahead of the opening round heats in the 2025 Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels, trainer Pat Guilfoyle enjoyed a highly pleasing session at Curraheen Park in Cork on Saturday as all three advanced to second round stage.

First into action for the Moneygall kennel was the Stephen Harvey owned Magical Keith (Ballymac Cashout-Burgess Sarah) with an ideal draw on the rails for Heat 2. Last seen when narrowly eliminated from the Irish Derby third round, the September 2023 whelp resumed winning ways when battling brilliantly through bumping to defend his inside pitch on the run to the corner.

Holding strong through jostling with Southwood Stan to his outside, the Guilfoyle youngster extended to a two-length lead when free to gallop entering the backstraight. Remaining in full command thereafter, Magical Keith held off the late attentions of a strong staying Moorstown Knight by a length in 28.63 for the 525-yards.

With more to come granted clear passage, Keith can be a player in the classic with his early pace ideal for the Cork circuit.

Next into action for Heat 5 was Guilfoyle’s own comrade Magical On Fire (Ballymac Cashout-Burgess Sarah) and hers was a most eye-catching third placing following a troubled passage within a sizzling qualifier. Bumped before reaching full gallop having began on terms from trap 2, she would find further traffic woes at the opening bend but gamely secured third place to the top of the backstraight. A strong six lengths adrift at that point, Magical On Fire reduced those arrears to four and a half lengths at the line, which was a truly laudable effort considering that winner, Droopys Patriot, was clocking 27.99!

Similarly game when filling runner-up position for trainer Guilfoyle in the concluding heat of eleven, the Kim Bergin owned Prince Naseem (Droopys Sydney-Razldazl Annie) was another returning following elimination from the Derby third round and battling through tight quarters at the opening bends, he greatly pleased when chasing home Sirius Alpha at a two-length deficit in 28.23.

Joker has last laugh

Elsewhere on Saturday, the Slan Abhaile A1 525 rounded out the weekend action at Limerick and proved a thrilling affair as the Lorna & Maureen Syndicate’s Jokers Corner (Broadstrand Bono-Skips Abby) returned from a layoff for a gutsy third career win.

Not seen since mid-June, the lightly raced Pat Steed trained July 2022 whelp presented in sharp form for his comeback and breaking adeptly from trap 2, tracked an early paced rival to the opening bends before tight for room, and checked by a rival to his outside while turning in a dispute of second place. Reaching the backstraight with three lengths to recover on the pacesetter, the Ballinaclough stalwart still had company along with some minor bumping while reducing arrears to the closing bends. Free to gallop on the run to the home stretch however, he advanced to the tail of the leader at the final turn.

With his preferred path on the inside blocked while straightening on the run to the line, Jokers Corner was forced to switch outside the leader for one final telling challenge close home and getting up in the very last stride, posted 29.04 in a shorthead verdict. With ample scope to progress for this return, he can be fancied in the same grade next time.