TRAPRISE - Pape the Premier prince in Tipp Cup at Thurles

A perennial highlight of every season in the Premier County, the 2023 Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup concluded on Saturday following a month of brilliant racing at Thurles Greyhound Stadium and it was final favourite Pape Di Oro who landed the €7500 winner’s prize when bouncing back to winning ways for trainer Pat Buckley.

Fastest of the event in his opening round 28.55 (-20), the champion elect was forced to settle for third at semi-final stage when behind Ballyhimikin Rex and our big local hope Old Bill for Bernie Hogan. However, finding a level start from his suitable trap 6 draw in Saturday’s final, Pape Di Oro displayed his brilliant early pace to lead on the approach to the opening bend before effectively settling the final when sweeping across packing rivals while turning at pace.

Having begun on level terms from trap 1, Bernie Hogan’s Old Bill commanded the rails in the early exchanges but despite close-up upon reaching the corner, the strong stayer would suffer repeated crowding while turning and shuffled back through the field at his most crucial stage, would ultimately settle for fifth place. Out front, Pape Di Oro maintained a strong gallop throughout his four-length defeat of Liam Peacock’s promising pup Bogger Rambo, posting a classy 28.79 (-20) for a prestigious title before exiting puppyhood this September.

Those final frustrations for Old Bill were echoed in competition action across the weekend for local challengers but the Saturday action at Limerick concluded with a six-bend contest which delivered a pleasing forecast as prominent owner of many stars on the elite scene over recent seasons Peter Sutcliffe saw his Sizzling Ivy (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Lullaby) record a second race win from four career starts.

Not seen since December, the May 2021 whelp is now under the guidance of Rachel Wheeler for the Sutcliffe family who have settled in Ballinaclough having recently returned from Australia and announcing herself as another exciting prospect for connections, she dominated the Limerick Getting Out Novice 750 following a smart start from trap 3.

Presenting in sparkling form following her seven-month layoff, Sizzling Ivy dictated to the finish line on the first circuit and a length to the good at the third bend, fully stamped her authority on the race when bounding clear thereafter. Maintaining a powerful gallop to the line, Sizzling Ivy registered a seven-length defeat of fellow local challenger Hurry Kane.

With the family well known to the winning connections, dam Droopys Lullaby is a litter sister to the former Sutcliffe owned classic winner Amazing Alice when trained by Pat Guilfoyle and all could be forgiven for planning a future for Sizzling Ivy to rival that of her illustrious aunt.

Although held in his runner-up performance to Sizzling Ivy, the Jack Moyles owned Hurry Kane (Cabra Firmino-Cabra Twister) performed with much credit when staying strongly on Saturday and the early career of the October 2021 pup has harboured far more promise than his record of one win from ten races may suggest.

Always likely to appreciate his step to 750-yards, the Moyles pup advanced from the back of the field for his second-place finish which was his fourth runner-up effort on the spin while developing a hugely consistent profile at this early stage of his career. Entering last Saturday on the back three second place finishes in the heats of the Go Greyhound Racing A4 575 Stake when staying very strongly in each, his half-length defeat in that final saw him rise to A2 grade for four-bend distances which now matches his 750-yard level. With further progress likely on the back of his already stealthy improvement under the handling of John Moyles, Hurry Kane remains a pup to follow closely at whatever distance he tackles going forward.

The weekend had already returned a local forecast on the Friday fixture at Galway when Robert Moloney’s Nannys Star (Good News-Laughil Abby) led home Abigails Hunter in the Track Bookmakers A8 525.

Both local pups were chasing a first race victory in the infancy of their careers, but it was the Roscrea charge who prevailed in a bumpy affair. Breaking in mid-division from trap 2, the October 2021 winner raced in tight quarters while brushing with rivals on either side but emerged in third place off the second bend while within two lengths of the lead.

In behind, Abigail Morrissey’s Abigails Hunter (Grangeview Ten-Superb Beauty) has been bumped back to last place at that same stage but displaying the best pace to the closing bends, rushed up between runners to make a three-way go for the lead on the outside of the Moloney charge before turning. Significantly bumped once again at that point, the Morrissey runner-up was ushered out of contention before gamely rallying to fill second in strong staying manner. Out front, Nannys Star crucially commanded the rails around those closing bends and bravely defending her position to the home stretch, eased clear for a three and a half length verdict over her gallant local rival in a bump affected 30.47 (-20).

In just her second career start, Nannys Star avoids a rise for this victory and is clearly very well graded with possibly her biggest threat next time being the possibility of meeting her local rival once again as Abigails Hunter looks primed for significant and imminent improvement on the evidence of Friday’s performance.