Darragh dominates in Friday fastest at Limerick

TRAPRISE

Making his first appearance of the season at Limerick on Saturday, Alex Byrne’s Lucky Darragh (Ballyhimikin Jet-Courty Girl) returned a dominant winner of the Greyhound and Petworld A3 525, producing a fastest of the night performance in highly impressive style.

Following a short six-month break at the turn of the year, the John Byrne trained December 2023 whelp presented in sharp form and once producing his best break from trap 4, would prove too hot to handle at this appealing level. Immediately contesting for the lead on the outside of an early paced rival, the Knockalton charge charted a true line to the opening bend before striking the front while turning. Easing clear into the backstraight, Lucky Darragh settled the race as a contest when bounding clear beyond halfway and striking the line in strong running style, registered 28.94 in a commanding seven-length victory.

This fourth race win will bring a return to his career high mark of A2 next time but on Friday’s evidence, the upgrade will hold no fears.

A successful Friday fixture for local kennels, it was Molly Ryan’s Bunacum Lass (Malachi-Rifles Flash) who sparked a trio of winners on the night when gaining a second victory from her four career starts in the Bet on the Tote A7 525.

Held last time following her maiden A8 score, the June 2023 whelp was swifter to stride from a suitable trap 1 draw this time and ably defending her rails pitch on the run to the corner, held a narrow advantage while turning. Advancing to beyond three lengths at halfway, Bunacum Lass again had a rival on her tail at the third bend but was never for passing and she contained the threat for a two-length verdict in 30.05.

The top graded contest on that Limerick card came in A2 company over 525-yards and saw John Ryan’s Hawkeye Express (Good News-Corcass Hope) back to winning ways in game fashion.

Last successful at the same level in December, the early paced October 2023 whelp began on terms from trap 1 and commanding the inside rail within a tight tussle for early supremacy, forged a one length lead while turning. The Ryan winner had a persistent rival on his tail all along the backstraight but showed ample resolve in the home straight to repel all challengers with a length and a half to spare. Posting 29.42, he will hold obvious claims without a rise up the grading ladder for this fourth career win.

Cedrie brings it Home

Having waited quite a while for his second career victory a week earlier, Abigail Morrissey’s Home Cedrie (Ballymac Anton-Home Julie) may be developing a liking for the winner’s enclosure as he further extended a smart start to the new season for his Cloughjordan kennels, going back-to-back in thrilling style on Wednesday.

Without a penalty for his second victory, the August 2023 whelp was back in Kilkenny for the SIS fixture and drawn in trap 6 for the Tasty Fryer @ Kilkenny Track A7 525, immediately contested the lead having produced his best break.

Pacing up well on the approach to the opening bend, the Morrissey winner turned with a tight one-length in hand and despite ceding ground while charting a middle path, retained a narrow lead to the top of the backstraight. Never drawing any further than a length clear as the race was reduced to a two-dog tussle, Home Cedrie again galloped a wider path than his closest rival, offering renewed hope to that runner-up entering the home stretch.

However, in a thrilling head-bobber to the line, he defended a shorthead winning margin in 30.51 (-40) and will seek a hattrick in the same grade next time.