HI HAVING A HOOLY IN TRI-DISTANCE

Ian Fortune

The ‘Ballyhooly’ prefix has been carried by some talented greyhounds in recent years, most notably by Shelbourne Open 600 winner Ballyhooly Henry.

It seems Tom O’Neill and the Ashgrove Trio Syndicate have another to get excited about as their progressive tracker Ballyhooly Hi set a strong standard in the semi-finals of the RCETS A3 Tri-Distance at a very cold Shelbourne Park on Friday night.

A half brother to the recently retired Beach Avenue, the son of Ballymac Best and Cats Belle really appreciated the extra yardage as he stormed home to collar Our Dog Molly in the second heat before driving clear to the pick-up.

Our Dog Molly and Ballyhooly Hi went up side by side but the former had the inside line and moved on to lead by three lengths at halfway. It wasn’t enough, however. Ballyhooly Hi started to close into the third turn before powering home to lead late for a three part of a length success in 30.17. Given the cold conditions, it was no surprise that the track was rated .20 slow. Forest Leann was some six and a half length adrift in third.

CHIEF SHOWS GREAT DETERMINATION

The opening heat was also hugely competitive but Drumdoit Chief just wouldn’t concede out front.

He held a narrow advantage into the turn and was challenged throughout by both Ballygur Hanzo and Meenagh Missile.

But with every challenge, Drumdoit Chief stuck his neck out to turn for home with a length in hand. Ballygur Hanzo made one last surge up the straight but Drumdoit Chief, trained by Alan Byrne for Wayne Greenaway, dug in to hold on for a head victory in 30.55. Ballygur Ban came through to take third, a length further back.