GOBA CELEBRATED ON A STACKED LIMERICK CARD
Peter Farrell
There are no fewer than three sweepstake finals down for decision at Limerick Greyhound Stadium tonight and the card is sure to attract a good crowd with every race kindly sponsored by the Limerick & Clare GOBA.
The feature race on the card is the final of the Ryans Timber Machinist & uPVC Suppliers A4 Tri-Distance and the greyhounds will make the step up to the 575-yard trip as they bid to land the €1,500 first prize. The likely favourite in the decider is the Michael Donohue-owned Larchill Port and he remains the only unbeaten runner in the lineup. A winner of his semi final 550-yard leg in a smart 30.19, the talented son of Ballymac Best will bid to make all from his trap four berth and he will take a bit of catching if getting loose early on. This is a very open affair however, and Vigorous Vincent represents strong claims for owner Ronny Wuyts. A strong running individual, the son of Droopys Nidge will step out for the 50th time later tonight and he will certainly have no issues with the extra yardage from trap three. The likely leader comes in the form of Tallyho Angel in trap two. In possession of fine early dash, the 575-yard trip may well stretch this talented bitch but she could set a scorching gallop as she bids to bounce back from a narrow defeat last time out. Of the remaining finalists, Dynamic Diva won her semi final in good style and should receive a relatively clear passage from trap six, while both Portdrine Champ and Anglesey Angel will be doing their best work late and both have live claims of making the frame.
MAGS CAN LAND MOET DECIDER
The opening final of the night is the €1,250 to the winner MOET Accountants A6/A7 525 and Slaheny Mags will bid to remain unbeaten after comfortable victories in the two rounds prior.
Owned by Peg Lenihan, Slaheny Mags has accumulated a winning margin of over fourteen lengths in the prior rounds of this stake and she is expected to take some stopping from a suitable trap four draw tonight. The daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Drumcrow Clara is only an August whelp but she is improving with every outing and expect another forward showing later tonight. Of her rivals, Aoife Loughnane-owned Ready For Adam is the obvious threat. A winner in 29.22 last time out, she has a good draw in trap two and can cause problems for Slaheny Mags if able to get first run on her rival.
JET GETS THE NOD IN LIFFEY MILLS FINALE
The remaining final on offer comes in race five as the Liffey Mills A5 525 comes to a conclusion and Private Jet will bid for a clean sweep in the €1,250 to the winner stake.
The Tipperary raider has produced two polished performances for John Ryan and John Byrne and after his 29.09 return last Saturday night, Private Jet should prove a tough nut to crack. The talented brindle didn’t come away as fluently as usual last weekend but given he still had enough to lead the field into the opening corner, a draw further out in three tonight could pay dividends for Private Jet as he bids to make it three wins from as many outings. Of his rivals, Blastoff Roisino represents the main danger. Philip Buckley’s runner was the fastest first round scorer and was a little unlucky in running when finishing five lengths adrift of Private Jet last weekend. The daughter of Tarsna Havana certainly has the pace the figure, however, she has two fine early speedsters on either side tonight and will need to ping the lids to get involved. Of the others, Gortkelly Franky was turned over in the closing stages last weekend, however, Andrew Murray’s charge has brilliant early dash and he could build up ahead of steam from a suitable draw in trap five.
KOBE CAN FOLLOW UP
Elsewhere on the card, each of the races are sponsored and race nine in particular looks a smashing contest.
The Other Kobe landed one of the three Con & Annie Kirby Trial Stakes last weekend at Limerick and Jennifer O’Donnell’s April 20’ whelp is back for another look at the track ahead of his Kirby tilt. The supremely bred son of Ballymac Best and Mountaylor Queen posted a smart 28.51 last Saturday night and the promising puppy should go close again despite meeting some seasoned performers this time around. Amazing Alice certainly falls into that bracket. Patrick Guilfoyle’s bitch is a former Irish Cesarewitch winner and she returned to winning ways with a swift 28.47 victory at Tralee last Friday night. The draw is a concern for Amazing Alice however, and she will need to flash from traps to enter calculations. Another possible Kirby entry is Priceless King in trap three and despite trailing the field last Saturday night at Limerick, the Paul Hennessy-trained charge had his excuses and is sure to come on for that outing. Drawn in trap three, this greyhound displayed brilliant gears throughout the Rural Kennels unraced at Clonmel and with a fast start, he can run a big race for his connections.
As mentioned, the entire Limerick card is sponsored tonight by the Limerick & Clare GOBA and many thanks are extended to the following sponsors:
Mace Shannon/McKeoghs hardware Ballina
The MOET Accountants
Joe & Martina Coffey / O’Meara’s Schooling Track
SPA Transport / Sean Kelly
Liffey Mills
Greyhound & Petworld Supplies
Fitzgerald Glass / DB Schenker
Ryans Timber Machinist & uPVC Suppliers
Extra Dividends
NC Paint & Décor
MC Commercials (Truck/Machinery)
Green Meats