BOBSLEIGH THE TIPPERARY CUP CHAMPION FOR 2022
Peter Farrell
It was the biggest night of the year at Thurles Greyhound Stadium last night as the 2022 Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup came to its conclusion and there was to be no shocks in the decider as Bobsleigh Dream continued her top-class form to land the €8,000 decider.
Pat Buckley landed the other main event at Thurles earlier in the year as Singalong Sally claimed Champion Bitch Stake status and he returned to the Premier venue with a strong hand prior to the start of the 2022 Tipperary Cup. Both Cushie Concorde and Bobsleigh Dream were understandably seen as outright players coming into the event, however, despite the former being outgunned by her kennel companion in round one, that was merely a teaser of what was to come from a bitch on the cusp of hitting top form.
Bobsleigh Dream went to traps as the even money favourite with Seomra Nate her closest rival in the market at 5/2. It was expected to be a frantic run to the opener and it was Cabra Cleo, an 8/1 chance, who took her customary ping break to head the field, before being immediately swallowed up by the progressive Seomra Nate and Russmur Pat in traps four and five respectively. As the duo disputed for the lead, Russmur Pat ran a terrific bend to take control but Bobsleigh Dream was never too far off the pace and she was to make the decisive move upon entrance to the back straight. Sitting a close third at this point, Willie Joe Murphy’s bitch showed phenomenal back straight power to breeze past Seomra Nate and she loomed alongside Russmur Pat at the midway point of the contest. Soaring to the front entering the penultimate bend, it really was an incredible display from the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Bobsleigh Jet as she stormed clear of Russmur Pat in second to record a two length victory crossing the line. Seomra Nate had performed brilliantly throughout the stake and he claimed the final podium finish in third, while the likes of Cabra Cleo and Berties Cuddles couldn’t get on terms, and Irelands Own can count himself slightly unlucky after being forced to check his stride at the midway point. That said, it was a magnificent performance from Bobsleigh Dream and the time reflected this with a blistering 28.75 .20s being returned on the clock. Indeed, that victory capped off a very successful night for Pat Buckley, who also guided Flashing Willow into the Bar One Irish Sprint Cup final in Dundalk on the same night.
Many thanks are extended to Centenary Agri in Thurles for their continued sponsorship of the Tipperary Cup.
AVA LOU AND WICHITA CLAIM SPLIT THE POT HONOURS
Elsewhere on the card, there were two other sweepstake finals up for grabs in the shape of the ‘Split The Pot’ stakes and the A5/A6, worth €750, was first to get underway in race six.
Holiday Rascal went to traps the 4/5 favourite to land the spoils, however, it was 4/1 shot Listen Ava Lou who led early, before staying on well to score. Jointly owned by Patrick Maher and Jordan Clarke, Listen Ava Lou broke well from trap three and took full control rounding the opening corner from Coosane Megan in second. Setting a fine gallop thereafter, the daughter of Candlelight King and Lemon Steff stayed on strong to deny the fast-finishing Diegos Commander by four and a half lengths at the winning line. The time was 29.52 .20s.
In the second of the ‘Split The Pot’ deciders, Gunboat Wichita took the €800 wide-open contest at odds of 3/1.Owned by Sean Kenny, who is no stranger to success, Gunboat Wichita broke very well from trap three but after taking a hefty bump early on, he was forced to follow Kilvil Arnold into the back straight. However, showing good determination, the son of Droopys Sydney and Group Supergem powered to the front late on to cross the line with one length to spare over Kilvil Arnold in second. The time was 29.57 .20s.
KRONK BOOKS DERBY TICKET
The Scally’s are no strangers to be represented well in the Irish Greyhound Derby and they look to have another prospect on their hand as Cabra Kronk landed a top-class BoyleSport Derby Trial Stake last night at Thurles.
Coming into the race with just the three career starts under his belt, Cabra Kronk has impressed massively in his early starts and as such, he was largely seen as the main danger to the terrific Droopys Gloss, who was expected to take all the beating for Murt Leahy in trap five. However, the contest itself proved all one-way traffic as Cabra Kronk made his intentions clear from an early stage. Flying from trap four, the June son of Cabra Firmino and Cabra Twister immediately shot to the inside and turned two lengths clear of Droopys Gloss in second. The latter was forced to shuffle back at this point which allowed Cabra Kronk to bound clear into the back straight and it was clear that, as a result, the race as a contest was already put to bed. Setting a powerful gallop down the back, Cabra Kronk held a healthy advantage out in front and although Droopys Gloss recovered brilliantly to emerge a strong second, she was still three lengths adrift crossing the winning line. The time for Cabra Kronk, the 5/2 second favourite, was 29.11 .20s.
SPEEDSTER BOB IMPRESSES IN OPEN SPRINT
The Martin Ryan Groundsman Open 330 was full of fine sprinters in race three and a thrilling contest resulted in Ballybough Bob just edging out Cabra Sonic.
Trained by Murt Leahy for Pat Carroll, Ballybough Bob (Tullymurry Act - Droopys Hunch) occupied 6/4 favouritsm with Cabra Sonic at the off and the contest proved a match race with little to separate the duo. It was Ballybough Bob who was the first head to appear at traprise, however, Cabra Sonic immediately displayed sizzling early gears to shoot up the inside and take a slender lead into the opening corner. Neck and neck rounding the bottom two turns, Cabra Sonic still held a narrow lead but Ballybough Bob was flying on the outer and it was he who was to prevail. The judge called into action, Ballybough Bob got the nod, by a short-head, on the line. A thrilling contest, the time was a red-hot 17.74 .10s.