CLONEDEN & COOLAVANNY STAR IN LIFFORD STAKES

Peter Farrell

Sweepstake action took precedence at Lifford Greyhound Stadium over the weekend as both the semi finals of the Droopys Stud A1/A2 525 and the TIME Greyhound Nutrition and Northwest Greyhound Supplies A3 525 went down for decision.

On Saturday night, there were three semi finals of the Droopys Stud A1/A2 525 and, as expected, Cloneden Flash set a blistering standard with a typically professional performance. Trained by Raymond Hamilton for Enda Currie and Paul O’Donnell, the track specialist was installed as the 4/6 favourite and he flashed from trap three to dispute the early yards with Neon Blue. Quickly asserting, the son of Makeshift soon created daylight down the back straight and although Thats Our Doll came from the stars to chase her rival, the damage was done early on as Cloneden Flash scored by half a length. The time was a rapid 28.88.

In the opening semi, another track expert in Ardnasool Arc (7/4) bounced back to winning ways for Orla and Cathal McGhee. A full sister of Thats Our Doll, ‘Arc’ was squeezed for room early doors in trap two but showed good courage to turn a close third behind Tribal Paddy and Hows Things Now. Nip and tuck down the back, the daughter of Droopys Cain crucially slipped up the inside at the penultimate turn and in doing so, showed the superior stamina to reel in the gallant Tribal Paddy, who came out the right side of a coin toss with Hows Things Now to advance into the decider. The time was 29.24.

The remaining semi was landed by Follom Fleet (Pestana - Golden Mist) as he came from well off-the-pace for John Mohan. The 6/4 favourite, ‘Fleet’ was out with the washing early on as Droopys Glamour set a scorching gallop out wide to lead. In what was a thrilling contest down the back, Up The Game held his inside line brilliantly to take control around the final bend, however, at this point Follom Fleet was in full throttle as he flew up the hill to score by three parts of a length. The time was 29.14.

The trap draw for the final was made shortly after and is as follows -

T1 - CLONEDEN FLASH

T2 - UP THE GAME

T3 - ARDNASOOL ARC

T4 - TRIBAL PADDY

T5 - FOLLOM FLEET

T6 - THATS OUR DOLL (m)

*****

TIME TO SHINE FOR COOLAVANNY

On Sunday afternoon, the two semi finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition / Northwest Greyhound Supplies A3 525 served as the highlight on a treacherous night at the Donegal venue.

Of the two semi finals, it was the Michael Taggart-trained Coolavanny Brave that finally delivered on his big reputation. Aided by a vacant trap on his outside, ‘Brave’ didn’t break too fluently from trap five but showed a wonderful turn of early speed to course around runners and narrowly get the better of Long Claudia. Galloping into a one length advantage passing the sprint box, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Our Brave Heart drew clear around the penultimate turn before staying on stoutly to score by an impressive six and a half lengths. Long Claudia and Rough Rocko also booking their spot in the decider, the time was a rapid 29.07 on a track rated .30s.

In the opening semi final, it was Chubbys Vagabond that went one better than his second place finish seven days ago as he scored at slender odds of 1/2. Trained by Charles Coyle for son Shane, ‘Vagabond’ was headed in the early yards as Sniper Roro set a blistering gallop into the back straight. Chased at this point by Beebees Princess, the favourite was edging closer midway down the back straight and as he improved into second, ‘Roro’ looked like a sitting duck approaching the home straight. Quickly storming to the front, Chubbys Vagabond was now in control and the impressive son of Ballymac Bolger and Chubbys Rolex hit the front before seeing off the fast finish of the ever-reliable Fridays Acclaim in second. The remaining qualifying position went to Halfway Russo in third. The time was 29.33 .30s.

The trap draw for the final was made shortly after and is as follows -

T1 - LONG CLAUDIA

T2 - HALFWAY RUSSO

T3 - ROUGH ROCKO (m)

T4 - COOLAVANNY BRAVE (m)

T5 - CHUBBYS VAGABOND (m)

T6 - FRIDAYS ACCLAIM (w)