BRILLIANCE FROM BOBSLEIGH TO LAND 2022 MATCHBOOK IRISH ST. LEGER
Peter Farrell
The 2022 Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St. Leger may have been deferred by one week due to weather but it was certainly worth waiting for as last night’s €30,000 decider was landed in exceptional fashion by the favourite, Bobsleigh Dream.
After five weeks of the most incredible action at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, the final Classic of the year came to a close on Sunday night and it was fitting that Bobsleigh Dream, who landed the very first heat of round one, brought down the curtain on this year’s Irish St. Leger with a breathtaking display.
RACE TO THE BEND
In what was a wide-open final, Bobsleigh Dream was installed as the 11/8 favourite with Romeo Magico next best at 11/4. Mustang Jet and Wi Can Dream were two of the likely leaders and both went off as 6/1 shots, while Annagh Bailey and Trinity Junior were sent to traps as the outsiders of the pack at 8/1 and 11/1 respectively. From a level break, it was Romeo Magico and Annagh Bailey who emerged first from the pack but it was nip and tuck on the run to the opening corner with Trinity Junior showing big early gears to dispute, with Mustang Jet also displaying his customary acceleration to pace up on the outer. With space very much at a premium approaching the opener, Annagh Bailey held the slender advantage but as Trinity Junior got squeezed out on the immediate inside, Rachel Wheeler’s charge was on the receiving end of a huge bump from Trinity Junior, which also hampered Romeo Magico and resulted in the English Derby winner being shuffled to the back of the field. In contrast, Mustang Jet was to swoop around the outside to lead from Trinity Junior, while Bobsleigh Dream, who could only manage fifth place on the run to the bend, benefited from the traffic to slip into a nice posse around the opener, just three lengths off the leader.
JET STORMS CLEAR
Jointly owned by Paul Horig and Sean Bourke and trained by Dolores Ruth, Mustang Jet was now in full control entering the back straight and his chances increased passing the pick-up as Trinity Junior checked off the back of Mustang Jet, which in turn hampered the improving Bobsleigh Dream. Now some eight lengths clear of both Wi Can Dream and Bobsleigh Dream, even the most loyal of followers of Pat Buckley’s star would have questioned her ability to bridge such a gap, given the talent that Mustang Jet possessed out in front. However, approaching the penultimate bend and it was clear that patrons were in for a power-pack finish.
INCREDIBLE FINISH
Halving an eight length deficit to four around the bottom bend, Bobsleigh Dream was now in overdrive and despite Mustang Jet continuing to go about his business in front, there was a certain inevitability about the result, given what we had seen from the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Bobsleigh Jet up to this point. The winning line now well within sight, Mustang Jet was certainly not fading in front, however, Bobsleigh Dream was flashing home and Willie Joe Murphy’s bitch stormed up the inside of Dolores Ruth’s brindle to land the spoils. An incredible finish to the contest, there were three parts of a length separating Bobsleigh Dream and Mustang Jet, while it was seven and a half lengths further back to the luckless Romeo Magico in third. The time was 29.84 and many congratulations are extended to the winning connections.
CONSOLATION FOR WHISPA
Bobsleigh Dream performed heroics to land the showpiece event but the same could be said of Ballymac Whispa who produced her trademark big finish to land the consolation Leger.
Owned by Liam Dowling, Ballymac Whispa (Ballymac Anton - Ballymac Minton) came away well from trap four but was immediately outpaced on the run to the opening turn by both Kilcolgan Zeus and Drombeg Ten. Settling for fifth place around the opening bend, Ballymac Whispa began to rev her engine from the halfway point and she produced another incredible finish to flash past the longtime leader, Kilcolgan Zeus, and win by three parts of a length. The time for the even money favourite was 29.85.
NOAH LANDS SHEEHAN MEMORIAL
There was a nice €2,100 up for grabs in the final of the Stevie Sheehan Memorial A3 525 and there was to be an upset on the cards as Home Noah (Jaytee Jet - Home Julie) landed the spoils for Susan and Paul Hennessy.
Going to traps as a 7/1 shot, Home Noah broke well from trap four and crucially, headed The Other Rudolf into the opener as the latter forced his way to the inside of the track. Trouble ensued in behind at this point and this allowed Home Noah to narrowly lead from Ballymac Neil in second, with the favourite Burgess Cutie a close third. It was nip and tuck down the back but it was the Hennessy runner who narrowly shaded it rounding the bottom two bends and despite the best intentions of Burgess Cutie, who was flying up the inside, Home Noah stayed on best of all to seal victory. Just one length in it at the winning line, the time was a good 28.71.
A FURTHER BUCKLEY DOUBLE
Prior to the victory of Bobsleigh Dream in the big one, Pat Buckley sent out Killahan Sydney who produced a brilliant performance to reel in the 4/6 favourite, Galloping Sydney.
Owned by Kenny Glen, Killahan Sydney was an overpriced 12/1 shot prior to the off and he came away well from the stripes where he was led by only Kilcolgan Comet and Galloping Sydney early on. The latter showed the superior early pace to lead around the opening corner and he manufactured a five length gap over his rivals at this point. However, Killahan Sydney quickly stormed past Kilcolgan Comet before halving the deficit on Galloping Sydney around the penultimate turn. Looking likely to take charge at this point, the son of Droopys Sydney and Pennylane Lucky flew up the home straight to collar Galloping Sydney, by a neck, on the line. The time was 28.52.
Ballinabola Ed secured a treble later on the card as he turned an Open 550 into a routine night’s work. Brendan Murphy’s greyhound is widely recognised as one of, if not the fastest in the land and justified his 11/10 odds in superb style. Bolting from trap five, the son of Confident Rankin and Dolls Lady quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals as he rounded the opening corner in full control. Showing blistering speed down the far side, Ballinabola Ed was never going to be caught as he sauntered to a comfortable, three and a half length victory. The time was a terrific 29.49.
JOE BEATS WILLOW
One of the races of the night looked to be the Open 350 sprint and it certainly delivered as Garryvoe Joe (Dorotas Wildcat - Jalingo), who was making his sprinting debut, collared arguably the best sprinter in the land, Flashing Willow.
Many had whittled this contest down to a two-dog race between Flashing Willow and Serene Ace but after the latter missed the kick, Flashing Willow in contrast had blown down the lids to lead early. At this point, it looked all over. However, Garryvoe Joe was sticking to the rails in behind from trap one and rounding the bottom corner, patrons were treated to a ferocious battle up the home straight. Garryvoe Joe showing all of his 525-yard pace, Graham Holland’s charge, owned by Pat Moloney, excelled close home to collar Flashing Willow on the line. A half length separating the pair, the time for the 5/1 shot was 18.53.
TODAY ARRIVES ON TIME
The opening race of the night was the final of the €1,200 to the winner Limerick & Clare GOBA 525 and this went the way of Not Today (Magical Bale - Ruling Jasmine) at odds of 6/1.
It was Courancove Peg who led early doors in this contest from trap one and she rounded the opening corner with a two length advantage over Not Today in second. Michael Ryan’s charge started to motor down the far side however, and he quickly took control midway down the back to go clear. Setting a strong gallop thereafter, Busters Odyssey did arrive with a powerful finish to make the leader sweat but it was too little too late as Not Today held on by three parts of a length. The time was 29.09.
ESCOBARK JUST
The Matchbook Best Odds On Greyhounds Open 750 was dealt a blow after the withdrawal of Hello Hammond but Pablo Escobark was to continue his descent into one of the Country's top marathon stars to prevail for Karol Ramsbottom.
Owned by the Glamdog-Millionaires, Pablo Escobark was installed as the 13/8 favourite and the heavyweight tracker broke well from trap four to be headed only by Magical Poppy early on. Pat Guilfoyle’s bitch set a brilliant gallop to the fourth turn and it was here where Pablo Escobark made his move. Showing big speed approaching the fifth, the son of Droopys Noah and Lemon Hazel held a healthy lead heading towards the final bend. However, swinging wide at this point, Pablo Escobark was all out to hold on from the coming again, Magical Poppy, in trap five. Just a head separating the duo crossing the line, the time for Pablo Escobark was 41.72.
MORE MAGIC FROM MARY
Although Patrick Guilfoyle was narrowly ousted in the race prior with Magical Poppy, Magical Mary was to go one better in the Open 600.
Running from trap two, Magical Mary bolted from boxes and she relished every yard of the long run to the opening corner to lead. Holding a one and a half length advantage over Bens Teddy in second, the two served up a thrilling contest as they matched one another stride for stride thereafter. Magical Mary maintained a relentless gallop up front and she stayed every yard of the 600 contest to come home one and a half lengths clear of Bens Teddy, who also ran a cracker, in second place. The time for the Irish Cesarewitch winner was a brilliant 32.40.