QUALITY RACING ADDS TO WORTHWHILE BENEFIT NIGHT AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

Clonmel Greyhound Stadium hosted a benefit night in aid of Odhran Aherne on Friday night and there were some brilliant performances, none more so than in the curtain raiser as Tempestade went very quick.

A thoroughly worthwhile cause, the night belonged to Odhran Ahearne, who is currently fighting against Biliary Atresia. Little Odhran was born nine-weeks premature and has already undergone life changing surgery after his diagnosis. The aim of the night at the dogs was to raise funds for Odhran and his Family and a fine crowd descended onto Clonmel as a result. On track, there were some sensational performances which were fitting for the occasion.

It didn’t take long for some real class as in the night’s opener, the Rachel Wheeler Racing/Newpark Stud A3 525, Tempestade went very quick for trainer Graham Holland. Owned by Larry Dunne, the September pup was incredibly still seeking his first victory at his eighth attempt but he made no mistake this time around. Running from trap three, Tempestade was only moderately into stride, however, immediately showed smashing early speed to loom alongside Pandereto on the run-up. Quickly establishing daylight, the son of Droopys Sydney and Rural Aloha moved clear thereafter and although Pandereto stuck to his guns well and remained a persistent threat, Tempestade emerged a one and a half length winner, in a red-hot 28.49.

Race four was the Adam Dunford Racing/Droopys Stud A3 525 and this too was landed in very impressive fashion by Blueway Storm. Trained by Dave Whelan for Michael Ryan and Thomas O’Neill, this fellow was seeking to bounce back from a hat-trick of defeats and he couldn’t have been more impressive in romping to a virtual solo. Running from trap three, the son of Malachi and Cloncunny Eye walked from boxes but showed fine track craft to nip up the inside and take control at the opener. From here, he opened a healthy lead down the back which increased with every stride thereafter. Eventually crossing the line a massive eleven lengths clear of his nearest rival, Blueway Storm stopped the clock in a blistering 28.54.

Over the two-bend trip, the quickest of the night was Thorney Thistle for Hazel Hickey and Maurice Organ. Running in the Lonergans Bar/Mike English, Clonmel 300, ‘Thistle’ was seeking a third career win and he made his intentions clear with a slick exit from trap four. Showing the superior early dash to sprint clear of Polerone Bale, the son of Ballymac Eske and Scallywag maintained a powerful gallop and he crossed the line three lengths clear, in 16.31.

Unanimous Jax was a winner of his last outing in 28.77 and he made it back-to-back wins for the Good-Times-Ahead-Synd with another polished performance. Running in the Shenanigans Bar/Flat Top Roofing A1 525, ‘Jax’ broke well from trap one and he railed like a cat to nip around one length clear of Tullovin Bale in second. Thereafter, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Ballymac Trudi proved a tough nut to crack and he pressed home his advantage late on to emerge a two and a half length winner over ‘Bale’ in second. The time was 28.71.