DERRYMOYLE BONO LANDS VALUABLE JIMMY FLAHERTY MEMORIAL

Peter Farrell

There was a handsome €3,500 on offer as the final of the Jimmy Flaherty Memorial A2/A3 525 featured at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Thursday night and it went the way of Derrymoyle Bono as he sealed a fifth career success at odds of 5/1

A terrific card on Galway race week saw the well supported Jimmy Flaherty Memorial serve as the standout contest and after a ding-dong battle throughout, Owen and John McDonagh’s charge showed brilliant determination to land what was a terrific first prize on offer. Running from trap four, Derrymoyle Bono took a flyer from his middle berth and looked to have plenty in hand on the run-up. However, Heathlawn Best was steaming up the inside from trap two and he barged his way through at the opener, in turn impacting ‘Bono’ and relegating him into second. Holding a lead of a couple of lengths down the back, Heathlawn Best was in full control at the halfway mark and the duo had some five lengths in hand over the rest of the pack, which was headed by Drombeg Spark in third. Edging closer on the approach to the penultimate bend, Derrymoyle Bono was again forced to check as Heathlawn Best continued to dictate, however, as the leader began to fade, this gave ample opportunity for McDonagh’s charge to strike. Storming up the inside on the run to the winning line, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Brickhill Sharon took no prisoners come the business end of this valuable contest as he crossed the line one length clear of another fast-finisher in the form of Drombeg Spark in second. The time was 29.43 .10s and many thanks is extended to the Family and friends of Jimmy Flaherty on their continued sponsorship of this stake.

SAY YOU WILL CLAIMS 550 DECIDER

The final of the Galway Track Bookmakers A3/A4 550 was the supporting final on the card and the €1,200 decider went the way of 2/1 joint favourite, Say You Will.

Trained by Gerry Holian for The=Dream-Catchers-Syndicate, Say You Will could only manage third in the semis, however, much too sharp in the decider as the 85-pound powerhouse came from off-the-pace to score. It was Donies Wood that held all the aces early on in this contest, however, Say You Will was immediately on his shoulder and took charge rounding the second bend. In doing so, the son of Coolavanny Calvn - Fleeting Angel comfortably hit the front and he drew clear to cross the line three and a half lengths adrift of Donies Wood in second. The time was 30.34 .10s.

BACK-TO-BACK FOR BAILEY

The remaining final on the card was the Young Handlers A8-A10 525 and Lissatouk Bailey made it back-to-back wins for owner James McMahon.

There was €700 on offer in this final and Lissatouk Bailey grabbed this contest by the horns from the outset as the 2/1 chance broke smartly from trap three. In doing so, the  daughter of Newhall Missile saw off Carebear Cara at the opener, before taking a two length advantage over his rival into the back. Chopping off her rival at every bend thereafter, ‘Bailey’ kept enough in reserve in the closing stages to cross the line with one and a half lengths to spare. The time was 29.79 10s.

INDIAN A REAL PROSPECT

Elsewhere on the card, the standout performance came from another Gerry Holian runner as Indian Mist built on a fine performance in the opening round of the Magical Kennels A6/A7 525.

Understandably installed as the red-hot 2/7 favourite after clocking 29.25 in the opener, Brian O’Donnell’s prospect went even better this time around as he pinged from trap two to assert off a 3.32 sectional. As a result, it was all one-way traffic thereafter as the son of Ballymac Cashout - Ballymac India romped to a ten length victory over Portumna Syd in second. The time was a blistering 28.92 .10s.