DRAMA APLENTY IN GOLD CUP

Ian Fortune

The unpredictable nature of greyhound racing is perhaps what makes it so riveting. On Saturday night, at Shelbourne Park, the semi-finals of the Tote Gold Cup provided a real highlight but little went to script, although both Deadly Style and Boylesports Coco were worthy heat winners.

Deadly Style led home a one-two for Michael O’Donovan when reeling in his kennel companion Another Holiday to win in 28.44. Garry Hannon’s charge is seen as a real speedster but he showed that he had more strings to his bow by outpointing Another Holiday from halfway.

Glengar Martha was sent to traps the 5-4 favourite but she failed to get loose in the early yards and was left with little room into the turn where she hit the deck. Thankfully she sprung straight back up but her Gold Cup campaign was over.

Instead, Another Holiday displayed fine early dash to take control into the turn. Deadly Style rounded his rivals to turn third before heading Neon Nite early in the back straight to go second. He now had his sights on the pace-setter. The son of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Abba closed into the third turn before making his move on the outside of Another Holiday off the final bend.  

Proving too strong, Deadly Style came through to win by a length from Another Holiday with Neon Nite holding on for third, some two lengths further back.

COCO WITH A SWEET DISPLAY

Boylesports Coco has clearly matured and strengthened.

This was clear to all watching the second heat as she again displayed superb speed to the turn to take charge. Ballymac Finn was to push her hard throughout but Boylesports Coco was up to the challenge and she kicked again.

Carrick Aldo was sent to traps the 6-4 favourite but much like the favourite in the opening heat, his challenged ended on the turn as he too hit the ground before jumping up and finishing well adrift.

Instead, it quickly turned into a two-dog affair with Boylesports Coco getting loose on the bend. Ballymac Finn did all he could to bridge the gap and he got close into the third turn but the Dolores Ruth trained Boylesports Coco had no intention of letting her advantage slip.

John Boyle’s thoroughly likable daughter of Droopys Sydney Barn Swallow ran right through the line to emerge a wonderful length and a half scorer over Ballymac Finn in 28.23. Lotto Other News was another six and a half lengths back in third. 

Tote Gold Cup

Final Draw

1 LOTTO OTHER NEWS

2 BOYLESPORTS COCO

3 BALLYMAC FINN

4 ANOTHER HOLIDAY

5 NEON NITE (M)

6 DEADLY STYLE (W)

Undercard

VENUS ON ANOTHER PLANET

As with so many of the winners on the night, an early lead was the key to success for Rory Hickey’s Avongate Venus in the final of the Barking Buz App A1 525.

The Murt Leahy trained bitch may have been a 5-1 chance in the betting but she was in a different league to her rivals.

Four lengths to the good as they hit the back straight, Avongate Venus quickly opened a sizeable lead. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Ring eventually emerged a facile nine length scorer over Brayview Picture in a rapid 28.37.

UNMATCHED IS UNMATCHED

There was no more impressive winner on the night than Unmatched as she turned the penultimate race into a procession while clocking a very fast time.

Trained by Johnny Linehan for the Swipe Right Syndicate, the high-class daughter of Droopy Sydney and Droopys Alice was electric in the opening yards, flashing from traps to clear those on her inner by the corner. It was little more than a stroll thereafter. Powering home, Unmatched lived up to her name by beating A Lucky Julie by seven lengths in a sizzling 28.10.   

GORDEN IS SUPERFAST

Another to live up to his name was Superfast Gorden in the finale.

The Pat Buckley trained son of Broadstrand Bono and Jaytee Jordan broke smartly to dispute the lead in the early yards with fellow fast starter Optic Chico.

Just as they hit the bend, Superfast Gorden was beginning to get the better of the argument and he ran a tremendous bend to enter the back straight with a length and a half in hand on Optic Chico. By halfway, there was over two lengths between the pair but Optic Chico is very strong and he did close on the run in. There was no stopping Superfast Gorden, however. Eamon Doyle and Mark Hatton’s potential star saw off Optic Chico by a length in quick 28.36. 

WALT DIGS DEEP

The hugely talented Ballymac Walt returned to winning ways in the fourth race, leading off the second turn before containing the strong challenge of both De Gander Pen and Bonkersinyonkers in a tremendous finish.

Foggy Bottom actually went up fastest but was headed on the second turn by Ballymac Walt. Many would have expected Liam Dowling’s son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Diva to run out a comfortable winner thereafter but he left the door open to his rivals by swinging wide off the final turn. Thankfully, or his many supporters, he maintained his momentum, allowing him hold De Gander Pen and Bonkersinyonkers by a short head and a neck in 28.65.

TEENA IMPRESSES

James and Tony Light would have been delighted with the performance of Teena in the fifth race, as their daughter of Droopys Sydney and Some Ginger displayed fine early speed after a moderate start to lead into the opening bend.

Driving the corner, she quickly took control at the head of affairs. Knockdrinna Ruth did come home well to clear in the latter stages but Teena was always in charge, holding off her rival by three parts of a length in 28.58. 

FLASH MAKES A SUCCESSFUL RETURN

It had been some ten months since Cloneden Flash last raced on Irish soil and eight months since his last race at Swindon but there were no signs of rust in the ninth race as he dominated from the outset for trained Martin Lanney and owner Paddy Kehoe.

The son of Makeshift and Madabout Bella, who had been a semi-finalist in the Gold Cup last year, broke smartly to lead into the bend and he soon had matters well in hand. At the finish, Clonedan Flash was some three lengths to the good over Toolmaker Bud in 28.66. 

BOZADA ONE TO WATCH

Dave Bourke and Javier Jarne got proceedings off to a good start, winning the A2 opener with May Bozada.

A well bred son of Droopys Sydney and Peters Queen, he didn’t exactly fly from traps but did motor up the fence to lead into the turn. It was all one-way traffic thereafter as he went on to beat Kilcolgan Witney by two and a half lengths in 28.42. It could be a while before the winner sees graded company again.

IZZY POWERS HOME

Reggie Roberts’ Delightful Izzy (Droopys Sydney/ Urban Time) was too strong for her rivals in the third race over 550yds, coming from the back of the pack to lead on the line.

There was some crowding up front with the pace-setters bumping at the third and fourth bends but Delightful Izzy still had to show great pace and determination to come around the pack.

Miami Prince won the battle up front to lead on the run in but his stint at the head of affairs was brief with Delightful Izzy heading him moments later to win by a half length in 30.26.

GORGEOUS GEORGE

A rails draw made a big difference to Mad George in the A2 second race.

A close second into the bend, he burst his way though on the fence to race clear before the second turn. Highview Rosie was left second and did close to the line but Mad George was to emerge a deserving winner for Dylan Naughton-Keogh and Eugene Hearns. The son of Grangeview Ten and Garryduff Mary emerged a length in front in 28.71.