BRUISER BOOKS DERBY TICKET AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

It was an all-graded affair at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium last night but there was no shortage of brilliant performance, one of which came from Unreal Bruiser as he booked his Irish Derby ticket in style.

The main race on the card was the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby Trial Stake and this was landed in supreme style by the Graham Holland-trained Unreal Bruiser. A tracker who has shown big pace in previous outings, Justin and Pat Muldoon’s charge took no prisoners last night as he finally got it right at boxes to emerge a facile winner. Running from trap one, Unreal Bruiser trapped best and disputed the early running with Please Tucker in five. The inside line proved crucial in fending off this rival, however, he was narrowly headed down the back by Run Faster in trap two. That lead was short-lived for Run Faster as within a matter of strides, Unreal Bruiser was back in charge and he was to draw clear thereafter. Showing strong stamina, the son of Droopys Sydney and Fork Lightning flew up the home straight and he crossed the line four and a half lengths clear of Run Faster in second. The time was a brisk 29.85 .10s for the 550-yard trip.

IN OTHER RACES

In the opening race, the Adam Dunford-trained Catch Me Out produced a very telling performance in an A5 event. Only an October whelp, the son of Pestana and Newinn Madam, owned by Thomas Condon put to bed his debut defeat with a trap to line success from the striped jacket. Two lengths better off than Ashwood Rest, who finished well in second, the time was 28.95.

Elizabeth Lonergan sent out Nomadic Nova to land the second race and he did so in strong fashion, recording a first career win in the process. Running from trap five, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Some Girl Isla was forced to settle for the minor placings early on after shipping a huge bump early in this contest but he showed the superior stamina to come through and score by three lengths from Romeo Kingpin in second. The time was 28.69.

The first 300-yard contest of the night proved top-class as Slaneyside Steve romped to a magnificent victory. Owned by Pat Morrissey and trained by Maurice Organ, the son of Belles Direction and Slaneyside Cool made full use of his trap one draw as he broke well before showing excellent early gears to lead. Running a fine opening bend, he drew clear thereafter to record a four and a half length victory, in a swift 16.20.

Rural Wildcat landed the first leg of the Graham Holland double with a comfortable victory in race five. Running from trap one, Helen O’Dwyer’s tracker is just a February 22’ whelp and he is clearly going places based on his maiden win last night. Led early by Keplar Khufu, Rural Wildcat had some five lengths to bridge heading into the back but showed blistering speed to take charge rounding the penultimate turn. Drawing clear thereafter, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Rural Maui stayed on stoutly to secure a five and a half length win. The time was 28.74 .10s.