RATTLEFENCE LANDS DRAMATIC JOHN WHELAN MEMORIAL CUP DECIDER

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by the Whelan Family, the final of the John Whelan Memorial was the feature event at Limerick Greyhound Stadium last night and there was a very popular winner in the shape of Rattlefence.

Carrying a spectacular winner’s prize of €4,500, all eyes were on Ballinabola Una heading into the event as she bid to maintain her unbeaten record in the stake. However, early pace wins greyhound races and this certainly proved accurate for Rattlefence as he produced a career best performance to land what was another brilliant stake at the Munster venue.

Trained by Paraic Campion for the Few-Sons-Syndicate, Rattlefence came into the contest well fancied given him plumb draw on the rails and as such, he was installed as the 6/4 second favourite in behind the powerhouse that is, Ballinabola Una. Having won his semi final in a rapid 28.62, he needed to produce something similar in a contest stacked with quality trackers and at traprise, he flashed out wearing red to dispute briefly with Freeway Sharky in four. Immediately displaying the superior early gears, Rattlefence rounded the opener with a comfortable lead from Freeway Sharky and at this point, Ballinabola Una, who was expected to find things difficult early on, could only manage fourth upon entrance to the back straight.

NIP & TUCK

Little to separate both Rattlefence and Freeway Sharky entering the back straight, it remained a closely run contest as the duo matched strides with no quarter given. Meanwhile, both Glengar Jasmine and Ballinabola Una were going about their business quietly in behind, making good inroads on the approach to the penultimate turn. Still all to play for rounding the bottom two bends, Rattlefence continued to assert and all eyes at this point were on Ballinabola Una as she started to rev her engine turning for home. However, despite a blistering finish from the Pat Buckley-trained bitch, Rattlefence wasn’t to be denied on this occasion and the son of Droopys Jet and Paper Doll held on gamely to secure a half length victory. A quite magnificent run in behind saw Ballinabola Una narrowly miss out, while the final podium finisher was Glengar Jasmine, who also ran a cracker in defeat for Corona Ryan. The time was a brilliant 28.59 and many thanks are extended to the Whelan Family for their sponsorship of another top-class event.

LIMERICK & CLARE GOBA ACTION

Elsewhere on the card, Limerick & Clare GOBA sponsored two graded sweepstakes that got underway and the first of those was an A5/A6.

With three opening round heats on offer, the quickest of those went to the Patsy and Aoife Coffey-owned Carrigmore Jolly. Only an August whelp, the daughter of Malachi and Carrigmore Dizzy was searching for a second career win and she did so emphatically, making every yard to post a smart 28.86. The 7/4 favourite, Carrigmore Jolly broke smartly from trap one and quickly put the contest to bed, drawing clear to win by five lengths from Tyrap Finn in second.

In the other two heats, Seaport Lass was the next best in terms of the clock as she took over at the halfway mark to score an eye-catching victory. Owned by James O’Sullivan and trained by Pat O’Connell, the daughter of Bull Run Bolt and Hazelhill Tess was led early on by Leamaneigh Bullet but after stalking the leader to the three-quarter mark, she was to draw clear on the run for home. Scoring a facile eight length victory, Seaport Lass stopped the clock in 28.90. Meanwhile, in heat one, Ontheholding just about claimed a second career win for Michael Ryan. A daughter of Ballymac Best and Miss July, Ontheholding came away racing from trap three and despite the best intentions of Ruling Georgia, who was flying home, the 10/1 outsider held on to record a short-head victory. The time was 29.02.

In the Limerick & Clare A3/A4 Bitch action, it was Jumeirah Pooky who set the standard for Jimmy Buckley and Matthew Harte.

Running in the last of the opening round heats in race twelve, Jumeirah Pooky was hoping to maintain her unbeaten career record and she duly made it three wins from as many starts as she made every yard for connection. Running from trap three, the 6/4 chance broke well and led Beaming Becca into the back straight by two lengths. At this point, the latter looked a huge threat given her strong running style but she was never able to get on terms with Jumeirah Pooky as she raced to a comfortable three length success. The time was a swift 28.67.

In the other heats, Klassical Lola was next best for Cathy Scanlon. Running from trap five, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Poise was searching for back-to-back wins and she made her intentions clear from the outset with a fast start. Setting a smart gallop thereafter, Carrigmore Chick was staying on well in behind but the leader held her rival to score by half a length. The time was 28.80. In heat two, Aunty Clare grabbed a dramatic win for Gordo Vaughan and Donal Duggan. Having trailed the field into the opening bend, the daughter of Out Of Range and Airfield Buddy made up the guts of ten lengths on the leaders to fly home and secure a one and a half length success. The time was 29.02.

IN OTHER RACES

One of the standout performances of the night came in race six as Glengar Bridie kick-started a double on the night for Pat Buckley. A 7/4 second favourite behind Eireanns Hope, Glengar used a brilliant draw in trap one to break well and immediately assert on the rails. Once in front, there was never any doubt about the result as the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Nice Mystery drew clear of a talented field to win by six and a half lengths from Ballygibba Ruby in second. The time was a hot 28.47.

The double was completed shortly after as De Gander Pen continued to impress as he won for the seventh time from just eleven starts. The 5/4 favourite at the off, De Gander Pen sat second early on from trap five as Portdrine Magic led the way from trap one. Sitting pretty down the back, De Gander Pen, owned by the Ore-Yont-Syndicate, loomed alongside the leader and within a matter of stride, quickly took charge. It was a straightforward task thereafter for the son of Droopys Sydney and Glengarbadminton as he stayed on stoutly to claim a three length lead over his Portdrine Magic in second. The time was a rapid 28.49.