FOUR-TIMER FOR HOLLAND AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

There was a nine race card on offer at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium last night and it was Graham Holland who once again took the headlines as he sent out no fewer than four winners.

Despite a four-timer for Graham Holland, the opening round heats of the Trap 1 Greyhound Supplies Unraced 525 were the feature on the card and the quickest of the four heats on offer went to the Adam Dunford-trained Leave A Message.

In what looks a top-class unraced, Leave A Message came into the event with a satisfactory qualifying campaign but the November 20’ whelp stepped up brilliantly for his owner Thomas Condon. Running from trap four, Leave A Message never saw another tail as he popped out in front to show his rivals a clean pair of heels. Setting a very strong gallop throughout, the son of Droopys Jet and Newinn Madam drew clear to cross the line eight and a half lengths clear of Bandicoot Lucius in second. The time was a fast 28.62.

Next best came in the opening heat of the night as Good Axel, owned by Maria Kennedy, also made every yard to get his career off to the best possible start. Running from trap six, Good Axel disputed early with Yahoo Luna but he showed a nice turn of early pace to lead on the outside. Setting a smart gallop down the back, the son of Good News and Drifting Abby kept on well in the closing stages to cross the line with two lengths to spare over Carefree King in second. The time was 28.75.

Graham Holland sent out Fabulous Lynx in heat two and he duly obliged for owner David Firmager. Only a January 21’ whelp, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Drive On Betsy stalked the longtime leader Lough Milligan for the majority of the contest and she struck late to score by one and a half lengths. The time was 28.77.

In the remaining heat, Ohtheresky came into the event with some stunning trial form around Thurles and she made a winning start to racing in heat four. Owned by PJ Bohen, Ohtheresky broke in front from trap one and from here, the daughter of Confident Rankin and Foxy Diva just held off the fast finish from Murlens Brae in second. A head between the duo, the time was 29.17.

HOLLAND TAKE-OVER

Aside from the win for Fabulous Lynx, Graham Holland sent out another three winners and the first of those came in race two as Newinn Extra scored comfortably. Owned by Shari-Anne O’Donnell, Newinn Extra took charge off the second turn and from here, it was all one-way traffic as the son of Droopys Buick and Snoozing Head drew clear to win by over four lengths from Murlens Patsy in second. The time was 28.92.

The next winner for the Golden kennel came in race six as Nitro Anto stepped back to the two-bend trip and it proved a fruitful decision. Owned by the Pig-Iron syndicate, Nitro Anto flashed from trap six and this gave him the ammunition to soar into the opening corner in control. Tracking expertly, the son of Sonic and Brideview Rocket set a storming gallop thereafter to win by two and a half lengths from Evo Thunder in second. The time was a slick 16.18.

In the concluding race of the night, the four-timer was completed as Galloping Sydney won at a canter. Owned by Una Creed, Galloping Sydney had won two of his last three coming into the event and he got back to winning ways with a sharp exit from trap six. In truth, the result was never in doubt as the son of Droopys Sydney and Mags Image drew clear down the back and he was over seven lengths too strong for Work Force at the winning line. The time was 28.71.

DUNFORD DOUBLE

Indeed, after sending out Leave A Message, Adam Dunford also scored another winner as Only Him landed race three. Jointly owned by Michael and Emily O’Dwyer, Only Him was led early on from trap five but he took charge rounding the bottom two bends to score by one and a half lengths. The time for the son of Ballymac Best and Tri Colour was 16.52.