Jon and Danny score for the local Gang at Thurles

TRAPRISE

Saturday morning’s fixture at Thurles Greyhound Stadium proved highly fruitful for local kennels when kickstarting the busy day of action with a trio of winners which was sparked in the Centenary Agri A7 525 by Pat Doheny’s Beannacht Jon (Bockos Jon Jo-Beannacht Cleo).

In just a fifth race outing, the October 2024 had displayed improved form when only narrowly denied in the same grade last time out and building on that promise, shed his maiden despite producing a poor start from his trap 4 draw.

Trailing all in the early exchanges, the Doheny pup battled stoutly between rivals at the opening bend, holding strong through bumping to admirably emerge in second position at the top of the backstraight. Readily negating one length arrears to strike the front on the outside at halfway, Beannacht Jon eased clear thereafter for a three-length victory in 30.01 (-40).

Rising to A5 next time, he displayed ample pace to suggest he can ably cope with the upgrade while clearly still learning his trade.

The following A5 525 contest proved a thrilling affair and defying outside odds, James Treacy’s Montore Danny (Pestana-Bull Run Blue) doubled his win tally while just about leading throughout.

Up to his very best career form, the lightly raced October 2022 whelp produced an improved start from trap 2 but narrowly in command in those initial strides, could never stretch comfortably clear with a rival on his tail while tackling the opening bends. Kept honest along the backstraight, Montore Danny was made to was made to display steely resolve in the closing stages for a gutsy half-length victory in 29.81 (-40).

Completing the local treble in the Premier on Saturday, the most thrilling performance of the morning session arrived in the later A4 525 as Noel Nagle’s Grandads Gang (Bockos Jon Jo-Beannacht Cleo), secured his second career win in strong staying style.

A litter brother to Beannacht Jon, the October pup was supplementing his maiden A7 score but gave rivals a start when just moderately to stride from trap 1. Tackling the opening bends in tight quarters, Grandads Gang had his stride checked while turning and raced in an unpromising fourth while reaching the backstraight with five lengths to recover.

Switching to the outside while reducing arrears however, the Nagle pup had advanced to the tails of a leading duo at the third turn and maintaining his challenge in the outside, powered his way to the front in the home stretch. Registering an ultimately snug one and a half-length verdict in an affected 30.16 (-40), he denied James Treacy a double with his Montore Baron in runner-up spot and this local pair could clash again in the same grade next time.

Galway Oaks double for Guilfoyle

Following a successful opening round in the 2026 On Faya AA0 525 Galway Oaks, the kennels of Pat Guilfoyle further strengthened their designs on competition victory at the College Road venue last Friday, claiming victory in both semi-finals!

First into action for the opening qualifier was Donal & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Be Nifty (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) and progressing from her first round third, the June 2024 youngster produced a most pleasing winning effort.

With a tricky draw as widest of the inside seeds in trap 5, she faced initial one length arrears to rivals on her left when just moderately to stride but with swift early pace once in full gallop, ranged up on the inside of the leader having sought the rail once ample racing room was presented to her. Striking the front while tackling the turns, Magical Be Nifty stretched to a two-length lead beyond halfway and seeing out the trip well, reached the line with four lengths to spare over the strong staying opening round standard setter Avenue Queen in 28.90 (-20).

The second semi-final was due to see a brace of Guilfoyle kennelmates go head-to-head but with first round winner Magical Hope not taking her place in the line-up, heat aspirations were ably carried by the wonderful Magical Mag (Ballymac Cashout-Mystical Luna).

A winner in 29.08 (-20) on the previous weekend, the December 2022 whelp took another step back towards her best form when producing one of her trademark slick starts and quickly establishing a three-length lead nearing that corner, that was all she wrote. Never sighting a rival, Magical Mag competed victory over the staying-on Deerjet Matilda with six and a half lengths to spare, going fastest with a classy 28.68 (-20).

There were lowlights for the Moneygall kennels at the weekend also and none more so than when Magical Luka stumbled from traps in his second-round heat of the Irish Sprint Cup, bowing out with all hopes scuppered in the initial strides.

Better fortune at Shelbourne Park saw Magical Major (King Sheeran-Magical Mary) continue his Irish Deby preparations with a stunning 600-yard victory, just over two lengths outside the track record when posting a sizzling 31.88.

Doubling up on the night, Sandra Guilfoyle’s Waitingforastar (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) greatly impressed in 550-yard victory. With early crowding before further inconvenienced at the third bend, his was a brave rallying victory when posting 29.50 in highly eye-catching manner.

Staying on that elite scene, the Christopher Delaney trained Rallying Billy (Ballymac Cashout-Rallying Saidso) will contest the quarterfinals of the 2026 Bar 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup having again filled runner-up spot in his second-round heat on Saturday.

Chasing home Tiermana Dream for a second week in succession, the May 2024 whelp ceded just two and a half lengths to that rival in a fast 20.96 and holds every claim to advance once again this weekend.