DARING DOUBLE ON 2023 CLONMEL OPENER

Peter Farrell

It was a quiet affair at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium last night as they opened 2023 with a nine race card but the highlight was a double for the ‘Daring’ kennels as both Daring Roxy and Daring Bowie scored in their respective contests.

The first to cross the line in front was Daring Roxy as she recorded a fourth career victory for joint owners Stephanie Maguire and Michael Miller. Sent to traps as the 5/4 favourite, Daring Roxy broke smartly from her inside berth in trap one and although steering a middle course to the opener, she ran a terrific bend to enter the back straight with a three length advantage. Setting a strong gallop thereafter, there was never any danger of the daughter of Droopys Buick and Daring Rose getting caught as she cantered to a four and a half length success over Eskvale Brid in second. The time was 29.43 .10s.

The double was completed in race six as Daring Bowie landed his S1/S2 300-yard contest in facile style for trainer Michael Meade. This time jointly owned by Stephanie Maguire and Peter Woods, Daring Bowie was a winner of his last outing over the standard trip but he showed that he was just as classy over the two-bend distance. The 6/4 favourite at the off, Daring Bowie broke level but showed the better of the early gears to narrowly lead Wilderness Honey into the bend. Taking the bottom two bends expertly, the son of Ballymac Best and Libbys Pet quickly pulled clear at this point and he was four and a half length better off crossing the line. The time was a fast 16.31.