Jet looks a Peach in Tralee Novice Final

TRAPRISE

A very competitive RCETS Traceability App ON2 525 Yard Stake was the chosen starting point for a brace of choicely bred pups from the kennels of Pat Guilfoyle and now reduced to final stage at Tralee, the Moneygall handler will be double handed for this week’s decider in the Kingdom.

A winner of the second semi-final on Friday last, Magical Jet (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) had endured a brace of bumpy outings when made to settle for places in the opening two rounds, but such was the promise shown, the June 2024 whelp was just 5/4 for victory this time.

Well-housed on the fence in trap 1, he found just a moderate break and was a strong length adrift before reaching full stride. Pacing up powerfully on the inside of rivals however, the Guilfoyle pup all but joined the leaders on the inside before brushing with a runner on his outside while tackling the turns.

Having straightened for the run to halfway, Magical Jet readily stamped his authority on the race, drawing clear to the third bend and he subsequently confirmed strong running abilities over the standard trip when bounding clear thereafter. Striking the line with a facile nine lengths to spare while displaying an imperious gallop along the home stretch, he stopped the clock in 28.43 (+10) with the promise of yet faster to come.

With that victory, Magical Jet was joining his Guilfoyle final counterpart Magical Peach (Ballymac Cashout-Magical Mary) who in contrast, suffered her first career defeat in the opening semi-final on the back of impressive opening round victories.

A winner in 28.35 (+10) on the previous weekend, the September 2024 whelp was slow to stride from a tricky trap 4 draw this time and had nowhere to go for much of the early exchanges with runners in her path at every turn. Bravely absorbing a hefty bump in defiant manner at the opening bend however, Peach negotiated a passage to fourth place at the top of the backstraight and set about securing qualification behind winner Pretend Time, who had slipped the field before halfway. On the tail of the third placed runner at the closing bends, the Moneygall pup had to be patient for clear racing room entering the home straight but gamely claimed her final spot when narrowly getting up for third. A total of four lengths adrift in 28.74 (+10), she can clearly leave this troubled passage well behind on previous evidence if swifter to stride in this coming Friday’s final.

Without a final draw at time of press, both Guilfoyle runners hold highly realistic win claims. Main threat will be the Pat Buckley trained Glengar Yeats who is assured of his favoured draw in trap 6 as the sole wide seeded finalist, and he is the one rival who has looked like he may get close to the Magical duo on the clock. However, and assuming a cleanly run race, a Moneygall forecast looks highly likely with Jet a narrow choice over Peach.

Take a Moment for up tempo Opera

Staying with Friday’s action and the Adopt a Greyhound S3 325-yard contest at Newbridge saw a return to winning ways for Conor McGrath’s Opera Moment (Ballymac Cashout-Ballymac Sanjose) when producing a new career best performance under the guidance of trainer Vincent McKenna.

Having signed off on her 2025 season with a brace of victories over the same trip and grade at the Midlands venue, the October 2023 whelp was held in her hat-trick bid last time out but following a short break, returned in sparking form on Friday.

With an optimum draw in trap 6, the Borrisokane charge produced her best break and quickest to reach full stride, immediately began to draw clear of rivals on the long run to the opening bend. Easing her way to a two-length lead before turning, she maintained a powerful gallop to the line thereafter and completing with a snug two and a half lengths to spare, registered a smart 17.63.

That winning time will bring an upgrade to S1 level for her next appearance over sprint trips, one step higher than her mark over four bends. Whatever route is chosen next, Opera Moment will be a respected adversary for any following this fifth career victory.