Harry sparks a Montore double at Thurles
TRAPRISE
A first Tuesday fixture of the year at Thurles brought a return of SIS racing in the Premier County for 2026 last week and helping himself to an early season double on the day was James Treacy as his stalwart veteran Montore Harry (Farloe Blitz-Montore Sally) commenced the fixture with a dominant winning performance.
In the 60th start of his career, the May 2021 whelp was seeking to end a frustrating spell which had seen him without a win in seven but with his most recent victory coming at A5 level, Harry was clearly well graded for a bounce back!
Duly breaking adeptly from his favoured draw in trap 6 for the SIS Racing from Thurles A7 525, the wide seed charted a true line on the outside of the field while reaching full stride and showing the best early pace to advance beyond a one-length lead nearing the corner, eased across rivals into the turn. Readily extending his advantage with a smooth gallop to the backstraight, Montore Harry had the race in safe keeping when thoroughly in command to halfway and although ceding late ground to a strong running rival, was full value for his three and a half length winning verdict.
Never seriously threatened while posting 30.14 (-20) through cold conditions, he remains in the grade and on this evidence, should be able to plunder more prizes before edging back up the grading table!
Completing the Treacy double within the half-hour, victory for Montore Duchess (Pestana-Black Malibu) will have greatly pleased all connected as she deservedly shed her maiden tag at the nineteenth time of asking, landing the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust A7 525 in thrilling style.
A three-time previous runner-up, the July 2023 whelp had endured luckless outings of late but undeterred, began well from her trap 5 draw on Tuesday, immediately tracking an early paced rival to her inside on the run to the opening bend. Showing smart dash to arrive on that leader’s outside shoulder while turning, the Treacy darling struck the front entering the second bend before easing clear to a three-length lead along the backstraight.
She would find her lead reduced from that point and had a rival on her tail off the closing bend but displaying just enough resolve close home, contained the threat for a head winning margin in 30.53 (-20).
Max sheds maiden at Kilkenny
Conspicuous by their absence from the winner’s circle in recent times, the kennels of Tina & Abigail Morrissey were back on the win trail at Kilkenny on Wednesday as Abigails Max (Here Comes Syd-Abigails Hope) provided their first winner of 2026 in the RCETs App A7 525.
In just a fourth race outing, the June 2024 whelp was yet to secure a clear racing passage in the infancy of his career but there was ample room this time to produce a hugely admirable maiden victory at the fourth time of asking.
Breaking on terms from trap 6, the Morrissey pup contested for the lead on the outside of rivals all along the approach to the opening bend and little more than a half-length adrift, appeared primed to strike the front while turning before becoming unbalanced at the crown of the bends. Ceding crucial ground and finding himself in fourth place upon straightening for the run to halfway, Abigails Max had near four lengths to recover when settling down for a renewed challenge at the leaders.
Duly reducing his arrears nearing the closing bends, the Cloughjordan charge rounded rivals through crowding before setting sights on the final bend pacesetter into the home straight. Gamely displaying superior strength on the run to the line, Abigails Max swept to the front in the closing yards for a strong staying victory, posting 30.83 (-30).
That winning time is largely negligible given how the race played out and once shaking off the obvious greenness which remains ahead of his fifth race outing, he can leave his current grading well behind!
Mickey makes winning start to 2026
Another for whom the new year appears to have brought fresh new form and fortune is Aoife Loughnane’s Kilgarran Mickey (Pestana-Lemon Juliet) who also got back to winning ways when landing the Limerick & Clare GOBA A4 525 on Thursday at Limerick.
Having missed most of the second half in last season, the likeable September 2022 whelp had endured luckless outings on his return but presented sharper for this first outing since new year.
Breaking just behind the lead from trap 5, the Roscrea kennel stalwart displayed the best early pace when advancing to a tight one length advantage upon tackling the opening bend. A constant feature of his running, Kilgarran Mickey invariably affords rivals every opportunity as he habitually gallops a wide path throughout his races and again covering more ground than those in behind, impressively retained his lead to the second bend. Back on a straight line for the run to the closing bends, the Loughnane charge stamped his authority on the race along the backstraight when almost six lengths clear at the third turn.
It is difficult to calculate just how many yards more that he covers in comparison to rivals in any of his races but fair to say, it is significant and Kilgarran Mickey again afforded hope to his pursuers this time when making his way towards the hare rail before reaching the home straight.
However, game as you like on the run to the line, he retained a one length winning margin while posting 29.52 in a thirteenth race win and will avoid a rise for his next outing.