TRAPRISE - Kane in a Hurry at Curraheen

The opening round heats in the Talking Dogs Podcast A3 Tri-Distance Stake at Curraheen Park in Cork confirmed the event as a hot competition with repeated performances above the advertised grade on Saturday but best of all when concluding the round in a facile second career win was the progressive Hurry Kane (Cabra Firmino-Cabra Twister) for young owner Jack Moyles.

A strong stayer over four-bend distances throughout his highly promising puppy career, the October 2021 whelp had spent four months away from racing before a return to action on the previous weekend but clearly benefitting for that return with his ails well behind, the Moyles youngster confirmed all previous promise in a new career best run.

Producing the fastest break of his racing campaign from trap 6, Hurry Kane led by a length on the run to the opening bend and tackling the turns at the head of the field for the first time in his career, reduced the heat to a race against the clock while certain to stay very strongly. Impressing with a powerful gallop throughout, the Moyles winner struck the line with eleven lengths to spare in a brilliant 28.53 for the 525-yards.

Fastest of five heats, that winning time will ensure a rise to A0 upon completion of the tri-distance stake and the pressure will be on for a repeat this week while seeking due reward for that rise up the grading table. However, the 525-yard trip would be Kane’s least favourite within the event and a repeat draw in trap 6 for the third semi-final this coming Saturday will make him tough to contain with any semblance of clear passage.

Joining the Moyles charge at semi-final stage, Sean Mulcahy’s Corporate Alert (Skywalker Logan-Greenisle Athena) performed with far more credit than the bare result suggests when fourth in his bumpy qualifier. Significantly baulked following a tardy start, he too will improve for the step to 550-yards in the opening semi this week and can have a much greater say if securing a clear run.

Dude lands Molloy at Galway

Sparking the local winning action over last weekend, the Friday fixture at Galway proved highly fruitful and especially for the Lorrha kennels of Michael Hogan who registered a double on the card with Jamie Hogan’s Grangeview Dude (Good News-Grangeview West) the highlight performer while completing his passage through the Stephen Molloy Memorial A2 525 with an impressive final victory.

Settling for third place in the opening round of the 24-runner event which doubled as a fourth career outing for the December 2021 whelp, the Hogan youngster progressed to a very smart semi-final victory with a new early career best of 29.03 (-10). Earning a trap 3 draw for Friday’s sweepstake decider, Grangeview Dude improved yet again despite headed at trap rise when near one length adrift throughout the early exchanges.

Displaying much the best early pace however, the Lorrha winner forged a game one length lead approaching the corner and turning at pace, effectively settled the race when streaking clear to halfway. Coming under pressure with a strong staying rival on his tail around the closing bends, Grangeview Dude was not far catching and staying stoutly to the line, register a one and three-quarter length verdict in 28.94 (-10). On a steady upward curve, he can cope with a rise to A1 next time.

Supplementing that final success on the night, the Galway Greyhound Stadium A1 Bitch 525 saw Emily Hogan’s older half-sister Grangeview Lolo (Ballymac Best-Grangeview West) take her win tally to double figures in similarly game fashion.

Operating at a win-rate of one in three, the kennel stalwart was last successful in the same grade last monthdand bouncing back for a recent brace of runner-up performances, took command of the race on Friday when displaying the best early dash from trap 2. Tackling the opening bends with a strong two-lengths in hand, Grangeview Lolo continued to repel all rivals for a snug one and a half-length verdict 28.97 (-10).

Hutchinson is hot at Thurles

Runner-up on debut when battling gamely following early bumping, Kate & Orla McGrath’s Hutchinson (Burgess Bucks-Taylors Kate) nonetheless showed the benefits for that first race experience when back in action on Saturday last, securing an eye-catching maiden victory in the Sponsorship @ Thurles Track A6 525.

Swifter to stride this time, the May 2022 whelp began on level terms from trap 1 and defending his rails pitch on the run to the corner, tackled the opening bend with a length in hand before readily stretching clear to the top of the backstraight. Further extending in dismissive fashion on the approach to the closing bends, the McGrath pup posted a smart 29.25 (-20) in a five-length verdict.

That winning time will bring a rise to A2 for his next outing but another in a string of smart prospects for the Toomevara kennels, he can be expected to cope with the upgrade.