FLANAGAN & O’MEARA SECURE DOUBLES AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

It was an all-graded, ten race card at Thurles Greyhound Stadium last night and the highlight of the evening were doubles for the kennels of David Flanagan and Laura O’Meara.

The first of the doubles to get off the ground came in race five, an A2 525, as the Laura O’Meara-owned Chubbys Whisper justified his 6/4 favouritism. Only a March 20’ whelp, Chubbys Whisper had already looked impressive when dipping under 29-seconds in just his second career start at Thurles and he proved a class above his rivals last night with an off-the-pace finish. Led early by Cabra Veyron in two, Chubbys Whisper shipped a bump at the opener but he stayed out wide down the back straight before sweeping the penultimate corner to take charge. Powering home thereafter, the son of Ballymac Best and Chubbys Sarah crossed the line with three lengths in hand over Cabra Veyron in second. The time was 29.46 .30s.

BROTHER TIMES SEALS THE DOUBLE

The double was completed in the concluding race of the night as litter brother Chubbys Times ran out a convincing winner.

Running in an A3 525, Chubbys Times was installed as the even money favourite to build on what was an eye-catching defeat last time out. Quickest into stride wearing the orange jacket, Chubbys Times showed swift early dash to round the opening corner with daylight and he held a three length advantage over his rivals down the back. Maintaining a strong gallop all the way to the winning line, the son of Ballymac Best had four lengths in hand over Swift Fellowship in second. The time was 29.49 .30s.

FLANAGAN DOUBLE

The first of the David Flanagan-trained greyhounds to pass the post in front was Nowursinging as he stayed on best of all to land race six, an A4 525.

Owned by the Three-K-Syndicate, Nowursinging was seeking a ninth career victory heading into this contest and although well away from trap two, it was Johnnypateenmike and Monroe Drhamer who showed the superior early dash to dispute the lead. However, showing excellent determination at the opening turn, Nowursinging was poised in behind and he took control midway down the back straight to create daylight over his rivals. Now in control on the run for home, the son of Ballymac Best and Steely Dynasty held off one last surge from Monroe Drhamer in the closing stages to cross the line with half a length in hand. The time for the 5/4 jolly was 29.54 .30s.

CANYA RALLIES

The double was completed just two races later as Canya Goforit finished at a rate of knots to deny Cabra Beauty.

A bitch who recently contested a 1025-yard event, there was little doubt that Canya Goforit would have had her rivals looking nervously over their shoulders and this proved the case in what was a closely run affair. It was Cabra Beauty who broke best of all from trap four and she showed real guts to maintain her lead entering the back. However, despite sitting closer to the rear of the field than the front, Canya Goforit maneuvered through runners in the closing stages to finish at speed and claim a fifth career victory. Imelda Sinclair’s charge returning a 2/1 chance, the time was 30.04 .30s.

BULL RUN QUICKEST

The fastest time over the standard trip last night at Thurles came in race nine as Bull Run Ripple rewarded her followers as she secured back-to-back victories.

Owned by Doireann Quinn, Bull Run Ripple was the 6/4 favourite at the off but she was led early on by Cocoon, who displayed big acceleration on the run to the opener. However, sitting just two lengths adrift entering the back straight, the daughter of Ballymac Vic and Tipp The Deise produced a perfectly timed finish to reel in Cocoon and cross the line with a length to spare. The time was a good 29.42 .30s.