Chief completes Five Alley brace at Galway

TRAPRISE

An affected schedule over the past week left the bulk of weekend action confined to Saturday evening but local kennels helped themselves to plenty in that short window and as pleasing as any was a double for the Five Alley kennels of Paul Hogan, at Galway.

Earning bragging rights for the van ride home when concluding the meeting in the Slan Abhaile A2 525, Paul & Olivia Hogan’s Five Alley Chief (King Sheeran-Hopalong Sal) took his tally to four wins from nine career outings. A winner under the same conditions last month, the April 2024 whelp bounced back from defeat at higher last time out when relishing a return to his favoured trap 1 draw.

Breaking on terms from trap 1, the Hogan youngster displayed smart dash on the run to the corner before extending to a tight one length lead upon turning. Extending along the backstraight, Five Alley Chief would come under pressure from a strong staying rival in the home stretch but bravely repelling the threat, struck the line with a thrilling shorthead to spare.

Posting 29.38 (-20), he will remain in the same grade next with obvious claims for a repeat.

At the opposite end of that Saturday card at Galway, the Hogan brace was sparked in the opening A5 525 contest where Olivia & Oisin Hogan’s Five Alley Fairy (Grangeview Ten-Roaming Spirit) doubled her win tally in a sixth career start.

Twice denied racing room since maiden victory in mid-May, the October 2024 pup was better drawn in a first-time trap 1 and taking full advantage with a level break, ably defended her position before edging to the front at the opening bend. A length to the good upon turning, Five Alley Fairy settled the race when scooting clear to halfway and never seriously threatened thereafter, she completed victory with a commanding six and a half lengths in hand.

Registering 29.64 (-20), the Hogan pup will take just a small rise to A4 for her next outing and steadily progressive, can more than cope with the rise!

Magical justifies final Hopes

She dwells between A1 and the elite level of racing for Donal & Pat Guilfoyle but with a wonderful strike-rate and profitable timing, Magical Hope (Dorotas Wildcat-Magical Poppy) added the W.G.O.B.A A1 525 Yard Stake to her win haul on Saturday with a most game final performance.

Reigning Limerick Oaks champion, the likeable May 2023 kennel stalwart had gone fastest at the semi-final stage with 28.74 (-20) and though granted a tricky draw in trap 3 for Saturday’s showdown, justified favouritism when overcoming a poor break.

Admirably advancing to a share of second while tackling the opening bends, the Guilfoyle girl produced a daring challenge between rivals beyond the halfway point, striking the front entering the closing turns.

Extending clear thereafter, Magical Hope ran out a snug one and a half-length winner in 28.97 (-20) and a step back up to A0 should be largely inconsequential on the back of her fifteenth race victory.

Aulton Cashes in at SPK

Saturday’s fixture at Shelbourne Park did not pass without a local winner to cheer and further impressing within his puppy career when landing the Monbeg Stables AO 525 was the Vincent McKenna trained Aulton Cash (Ballymac Cashout-Confident Petal).

A winner at the top level, Pat Hogan’s July 2024 whelp took advantage on an ease in grade when more prominent in the early stages this time following bumpy recent outings and breaking smartly, tracked the pacey Old Chicago on the run to the opening bend. On that rival’s tail while turning, the Borrisokane youngster took up a stalking position on the outside at halfway before striking the front entering the closing turns.

Easing clear in commanding manner thereafter, Aulton Cash struck the line with three and a half lengths to spare while posting 28.65.

That winning time will keep him just a notch under the very top level once again for his next outing when he can be strongly fancied for a repeat!

Luna is more than a Private Derby fancy

The action at Limerick on Saturday was another source for local cheer where Donal & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Be Nifty (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) secured the fifth win of her career when posting 28.70 in her A0 525 contest.

However, the most significant effort of the night came in defeat as trainer John Byrne ensured a precious presence in the final of the 2026 TIME Club Derby A4 525 Yard Stake when safely guiding Private Luna (King Sheeran-Diego Lola) through her treacherous semi-final assignment, for owner John Ryan.

The event has quickly become a jewel of graded racing in Ireland as a brainchild of the sponsoring William Rigney of Rathcabbin. With 144 starters from the sixth tier of racing or lower, the competition featured a 28.90 time barrier for the opening two rounds where any going faster were eliminated, either in victory or defeat.

Targeted at mainstay kennels who perpetuate this level of racing around the country, the TIME Derby delivers thrilling sport at every turn for a €20,000 winner’s prize which would never otherwise be available for greyhounds at this graded level.

A progressive campaign is what’s required to hold viable claims in the event and expertly crafted, Private Luna’s passage has seen her improve stealthily throughout. Registering her first heat victory at quarterfinal stage while posting 28.70, she lost nothing in her semi-final runner-up performance last Saturday.

Making just a moderate start from trap 6, Luna did not lead around the opening bends this time but very much impressed when advancing to spearhead the race beyond halfway.

Having not skipped clear, she was unable to contain the fast finish of Kerryroad Al who overhauled the Knockalton charge close home for a one and a half-length verdict in 28.78, but safely advanced while displaying plenty to get excited about ahead of this week’s decider.

Final Draw: 1) Rossa Shelby 2) Imagine If 3) Eimear’s Lady 4) Kerryroad Al 5) Bundle Of Fivers (m) 6) Private Luna (m)

A first task for Luna is to lead the charge on the outside and she can with Bundle Of Fivers a stayer at the trip. On the inside, Rossa Shelby is perfectly drawn having won her semi-final in 28.85 and while that rival is a big threat, she is also capable of preventing fellow inside runners from obtaining a lead or clear racing room.

As eye-catching as any over the past few weeks has been Imagine If for Liam Cahill & Tony Lacey and if he got clear, he could bring timely compensation for the Tipperary Hurling manager. However, we’re with Luna and should the Byrne girl lead on the outside, she is capable of winning an early battle versus Rossa Shelby to halfway before repelling the strong stayers who may have more complicated passages in behind!