TRAPRISE - Poppet has Hope after Guilfoyle Limerick Oaks double

TRAPRISE

As the 2026 season begins to warm up at Limerick, a first major of the new campaign commenced on Saturday and making a classy start to the J.P & Pauline Ryan Memorial A1 525 Yard Oaks, Donal & Pat Guilfoyle registered an impressive opening round double with litter sisters Magical Poppet and Magical Hope.

Making her first appearance of the new season, Magical Poppet (Dorotas Wildcat-Magical Poppy) was up to her best four-bend form when claiming the third heat of five in the 30-runner event and duly registered the joint fastest time of the round while sparking the brace.

Breaking on level terms from trap 3, the May 2023 whelp contested for the lead throughout the initial exchanges before gamely forging a tight one-length advantage nearing the corner. Extending to two lengths over Garbally Twink entering the backstraight, the Guilfoyle girl was never likely to be contained given her smart form at longer distances. Duly staying the standard trip strongly, Magical Poppet readily extended throughout a commanding five and a half-length winning verdict, registering 28.54.

Rounding out the opening session of the Limerick Oaks, Magical Hope (Dorotas Wildcat-Magical Poppy) completed the double for the Moneygall kennels, joining her sister in the second-round draw while extending a smart strike rate yet further.

With a middle seed in trap 5, the May 2023 whelp began in mid-division but reached the corner within a length and a half of early pacesetter Burgess Bonnie. Continuing to track that rival into the backstraight, the Guilfoyle winner reduced the arrears on the run to halfway before ranging up on the outside of the leader at the third bend. Easing her way to the front while turning, Magical Hope predictably saw out the trip stoutly, thereafter, galloping to a three and a half-length winning verdict in 28.76.

Although clearly a tight and competitive event on first round form, both Moneygall winners are major players ahead of this week’s quarterfinals with Kazankina (Orchestrate-Raha Mofo) a potent back-up for the kennels after she chased home Rossa Abi at a two and a half-length deficit in her 28.65 heat.

Joining that Guilfoyle trio this week will be the John Byrne trained Kevinsfort Spice (Malachi-Kevinsfort Tiger). Headed in the early stages of Heat 2, hers was a most game effort when staying-on stoutly for a qualifying third, seven lengths adrift of Beaming Zen in 28.54.

Taking it to the Max

A very smart start to the new season continued for the kennels of Abigail & Tina Morrissey as they once again sparked the local winning action on the SIS fixture at Kilkenny last week, guiding their Abigails Max (Here Comes Syd-Abigails Hope) to a quickfire 2026 hat-trick!

A winner in the same grade a fortnight earlier, the June 2024 whelp could be well fancied without a penalty for the Greyhounds Make Great Pets A7 525 but had plenty on his plate following a moderate break from trap 3. Four and a half lengths adrift while tackling the opening bends, the Cloughjordan pup battled well on the run to halfway, gradually reducing that deficit along the backstraight.

Still third while turning, Abigails Max had now three lengths to claw back before exiting the final bend but despite widest into the straight, drew ever closer in pursuit of a long-time leader. Ultimately timing his effort to perfection, the Morrissey pup proved much the strongest in the closing stages, sweeping beyond all nearing the line for a thrilling one and a half-length victory.

Posting 30.40 (-40), Max remains at the same level and still giving the impression that he has much to fine tune in his early career, looks ideally placed to plunder yet more prizes before rising through the grades!

Friday action at Galway brought a welcome and overdue second career success for Paul Hogan’s Five Alley Mike (Ballymac Best-Davids Emma) when bouncing back from a luckless outing last time to claim the This Runs Deep A5 525.

A previous A4 winner, the May 2023 whelp was clearly well graded, and well-drawn in trap 1 this time. Ensuring greater fortune than in his latest bumpy outing, the Hogan charge began just behind the lead but with the best early pace, readily established a lead on the run to the opening bend. A length to the good while turning, despite briefly unbalanced with a rival on his tail, Five Alley Max settled the verdict when back on an even keel on the run to halfway. Reaching his three and a half length winning margin before tackling the closing turns, a snug victory was completed with three and a half lengths to spare.

Posting 29.54 (-10), he takes a step back up the grading ladder to A4 next time but will have no fears in the sphere with another clear passage sure to bring winning claims once again.