INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE FROM BURGESS RAPID AROUND YOUGHAL

Barry Drake

Anyone lucky enough to get to Youghal early on Wednesday evening would have witnessed something special as exciting August puppy Burgess Rapid (Burgess Bucks-Burgess Helena) clocked a stunning 17.38 around the 325-yard trip in a qualifying trial.

There were plenty of whispers about this young talent after she produced another magnificent run last week, stopping the clock in 29.06 over the standard trip. 

JJ Fennelly and Sheila Spillane have produced many top-class greyhounds over the last number of years and going on Wednesday's performance, this lady could be up with the best of them.

Going back to February 2020, Deerjet Sydney was in the care of JJ Fennelly and he clocked a top class 17.50 around the Youghal 325-yard trip. We all know what happened after that. Anyway, it's rare we see anything like that incredible 17.38 around Youghal, it certainly got us all talking last night and we can't wait to follow her progress going forward. One would imagine it will be Newbridge for the Unraced Stake.

ON THE TRACK

On the track, Slaneyside Major (9-4) confirmed his status as a top-class sort with another superb winning performance.

Derek Kehoe's dog exploded from traps, moved clear down to the third corner and he kept on well to beat the fast-finishing Ardrath Benny, by two and a half lengths, in 28.73. (A0-A1).

WITCHES TREBLE

In fine form in recent times, Lima Twomey recorded another outstanding treble, all courtesy of his brilliant dam and Oaks winner from 2016, Witches Belle.

It all started in the fifth, an A6, as Witches Elwood, a 9-2 shot, scored easily in 29.55. 

In the penultimate race, Witches Earth battled bravely to land the spoils, the 6-4 chance stopping the clock in 29.93.

While in the closing race on the card, one of the performances of the night came from Witches Houston as she stormed to a 29.06 victory. A 2-1 chance in the market, once she broke in front, it was game over. A brilliant performance to end racing at the seaside venue. 

WITCHES BELLE OAKS CHAMPION 2016

Just in terms of Witches Belle, we all have fond memories of her winning that famous Oaks title in 2016, what a win for the Twomey's of Lisgoold and of course, she started her racing career around Youghal, as many great greyhounds have.

Belle has produced 139 winners, 100 of them coming from that top-class litter sired by Head Bound. Twomey's three winners last night were all from different sires, Droopys Jet, Head Bound and Laughil Blake. Unfortunately, Witches Utah, a daughter of Tyrur Big Mike and Witches Belle failed to strike a blow in race 10. However, it was still a night to remember for Liam Twomey and his family. We need to get Liam on the Podcast!