Hardy completes Byrne treble at Lucky Limerick
TRAPRISE
Saturday’s fixture at Limerick Greyhound Stadium saw a host of local kennels in competitive action but amidst repeated smart performances it was the kennel of John Byrne that stole headlines with a wonderful treble on the night!
Captaining the Knockalton team as a runner enjoying an extended run of sparkling form, it was the Monday Night Five Syndicate’s Kevinsfort Hardy (Malachi-Kevinsfort Tiger) who starred within the memorable feat as the April 2023 whelp claimed a fourth win from his latest five outings in the Limerick & Clare GOBA A1 525.
Foiled in his bid for four in-a-row last time out, the April 2023 whelp was back to his best breaking form from trap 3 this time and quick to reach full stride, took a strong one-length lead to the opening bend before readily extending that advantage. Pursued to the backstraight by Padraig O’lone’s advancing local rival On the Run Ollie, the latter remained a viable threat when closing to two lengths at the third turn within a most game pursuit but impressive on the bunny, Kevinsfort Hardy was never for catching.
Confirming that he fully sees out the standard trip in strong manner, the likeable Toomevara owned winner saw out every yard for a dominant eighth career victory with four lengths to spare over the Roscrea runner-up.
Posting a new personal best of 28.65, he will now rise to Open company for the first time in his racing campaign and while that level will test the in-form runner, he is well equipped to handle the upgrade.
Darragh doubles up
Earlier on that Limerick card, the Upcoming Sweepstakes A2 525 returned a facile winner within the Byrne exploits as Alex Byrne’s Lucky Darragh (Ballyhimikin Jet-Courty Girl) went back-to-back, in a rout!
With no fears of a return to the grade following A3 victory last time, the December 2023 whelp trapped smartly from his ideal trap 6 draw and displaying the best dash with freedom to gallop on the outside of a tightly packed field, comfortably led to the corner. The verdict never in doubt thereafter, Lucky Darragh completed the kennel double in 28.91 with ten and a half lengths to spare and will seek his hat-trick without an upgrade next time!
Sparking the treble achievement in the earlier Bet on the Tote A4 525, Kieran White’s Kitmins Kate (Ballymac Cashout-Confident Petal) extended her highly pleasing career start with a second win from just three outings.
Ably handling her rise for A6 victory last time, the Byrne trained July 2024 whelp found further and impressive incremental improvement despite just moderately to stride from trap 5. Seeking to move inwards once in full gallop, the Knockalton pup crucially possessed the early pace to reach the rail without bumping and tracked a pacesetting rival at a two-length deficit while turning. Strongest from that point however, Kitmins Kate displayed the best pace along the backstraight and overhauling the leader on the inside entering the closing bends, ran out a ready four-length winner.
She will now rise to A2 for her next outing having posted 29.05 but has not nearly reached her ceiling as a promising prospect within this very smart start to her racing campaign.
Hope still unbeaten in Limerick Oaks
The feature event on that same Saturday fixture on the Dock Road was the J.P & Pauline Ryan Memorial Limerick Oaks 525 Yard Stake with three quarter finals for decision and backing-up her opening round victory in the competition, Donal & Patrick Guilfoyle’s Magical Hope (Dorotas Wildcat-Magical Poppy) went back-to-back in hugely game style.
On the back of 28.76 victory, the May 2023 whelp was slowly to stride from trap 5 and had a task on her paws in the early exchanges but powering to the corner once in full gallop, tackled the turns on the outside of pacesetter Ballymartin Neady. Nudging her way to a narrow lead entering the backstraight, the Guilfoyle girl extended clear of that rival passing halfway but faced another challenge in the form of an advancing Rossa Abi who raced less than a length adrift on the inside at the third bend. Shutting the door on that rival however, Magical Hope saw out the trip well for a one length victory in 28.75.
Ahead of semi-final action this week, the Oaks will take plenty of winning as the opposing heats were both won in 28.50, by Youandme Babe and Badly Behaving. The latter was a one and a half-length winner over Magical Poppy (Dorotas Wildcat-Magical Poppy) as Donal & Pat guided a second of that litter to this week’s semi-finals.
Indeed, Poppet’s performance was full of promise despite surrendering her unbeaten tag in the Oaks as she reduced once five length arrears to just a length and a half at the line in that smart time. Clearly hugely competitive, the Moneygall duo remain big players ahead of this weekend’s semi-final action.
Mike doubles up at Galway
The first to register a winning blow for our local aspirations over last weekend was Paul Hogan’s Five Alley Mike (Ballymac Best-Davids Emma) when going back-to-back at Galway, in a thrilling third career success.
Registering his second race win at the venue when prevailing in A5 company last time, the lightly raced May 2023 whelp was back up in grade for Friday’s Bet on the Tote A4 525 but as suggested in the wake of that latest success, he could ably handle the rise as a previous winner at this level.
Aided by a perfect draw in trap 1, the Hogan charge was, however, headed in the early stages when just moderately to stride. Facing a tough task while desperate to defend his inside pitch on the run to the corner, Five Alley Mike impressed with sharp early pace and negating one length arrears once in full gallop, he tackled the turn with a narrow advantage. That display of early pace would see him clear into the backstraight before extending to three lengths on the approach to the closing bends. Stamina limitations were tested beyond that point by a strong staying rival who drew ever closer in the latter half of the contest but not for passing, Five Alley Mike defended a shorthead margin at the line. Posting 29.54 (-10), he will seek his hat-trick in the same grade next time.