HUGELY SUCCESSFUL ‘LIFFORD TOGETHER’ GALA AS PIVOTAL TIME CLAIMS FEATURE

Peter Farrell

A large crowd descended onto Lifford Stadium on Sunday evening as the track presented their gala night, ‘Lifford Together’, which was in aid of the R.N.L.I Lough Swilly Lifeboat Station in Co. Donegal.

On the night, there were no fewer than three sweepstake finals down for the decision, the feature being the €1,500 to the winner Northwest Greyhound Supplies Tri-Distance, which was kindly sponsored by local man JP Brennan.

Heading into the decider, opinion was split on who would go off as the favourite with both No Sock Gar and Quivers Nando producing exceptional performances in the rounds prior. In the end, the former was installed as the 11/10 jolly but a luckless run to the opening corner ended the chances of the talented June pup extending his winning streak to three wins on the spin. In contrast, Pivatol Time, who came into the event in the form of her life, maintained her purple patch to run out a deserved winner for owner Kelmore McConaghie. Sent off at generous odds of 6/1, ‘Pivotal’ was headed in the opening yards by the Moyolo Mac Tire in one, however, the long run to the opener allowed Pivotal Time to excel and she just nipped around ahead of her rival to dictate. Meanwhile, Quivers Nando had progressed into second and looked a real threat entering the back despite having three lengths to bridge on the leader. Halving the deficit around the bottom two bends, patrons were in for a grandstand finish at the Northwest venue, however, Pivotal Time proved very game out in front as the daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Pro Melody duly held on by one and a quarter lengths. Quivers Nando ran a fine race to claim second, while Moyolo Mac Tire completed the podium back in third. The time was 31.71.

PLENTY TO BE EXCITED ABOUT

The first final down for decision on the night was the ‘Wishing You All The Luck In Life A5/A6 Dual Distance’ and this event was held in memory of the late Robert Bonner.

The opening 525-yard leg of this stake produced two outstanding displays from both Damn The Bit and Plenty Of Frogs as they both dipped under 29-seconds, however, the decider proved all one-way traffic as Plenty Of Frogs made every inch of the running. Owned by Ryan McGranaghan, the even money favourite took no prisoners early on as he bolted from trap five to lead. In doing so, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Gentle Trend quickly manufactured a healthy advantage and he stayed on expertly to see off Kooga King by five lengths. The time was a slick 30.23.

COOPER DANCES CLEAR

Completing the trio of finals was the ‘Dan McCann Memorial 525’ and this went the way of Dance Cooper, who built brilliantly on his semi final victory.

Very much billed as a two-dog affair between Dance Cooper (7/4) and Easy Cara (5/4), it was the former, owned by James Logue, that took advantage of his inside draw over ‘Cara’ as the duo broke in tandem early doors. A quick bump at the opener saw ‘Cooper’ go clear into the back, however, this was far from over midway down the back straight with just over one length separating the pair. Easy Cara remained a persistent threat to the Willie Mullan-trained blue thereafter but the son of Ballymac Bolger and Dance Dearbhail showed great determination to hold off his rival. Crossing the line one a quarter lengths too strong, the time was a brilliant 28.72.

IN OTHER RACES

David Byrne and John Durrigan endured cruel luck on Friday night, however, they were at the other end of the spectrum on Sunday when sending out a double of winners. In the curtain raiser, Dromrich Dingus (Lenson Rocky - Lady Panda) came out the right side of a ding-dong battle with Fiery Pa to prevail by three parts of a length, in 17.83, while Dromrich Bula also came out the right end of a thriller in race five. 5/1 at the outset, the son of Jaytee Yankee and Sexy Woman reeled in Ardnasool Rebel to win by a neck, in a brisk 17.69.

Another kennel to continue a red-hot run of form was that of Declan Crossan. Cahir Mall was the first to score in race two as the even money chance just held on to score. Slowly into stride, the son of Droopys Sydney and Another Blonde showed outstanding early speed to get his head in front and despite a strong attempt by Hollow Equity, just held on by a neck. The time was 17.88. The double was fittingly completed in the Laurence Crossan Memorial 550 in race nine. Strong support was certainly justified for Read The Room (Droopys Sydney - Julies Paradise) in this contest as the even money chance sliced through her rivals at the halfway mark to win very impressively by one and three parts of a length. The time was 30.34.

Race two saw John McGee get on the scoresheet as Tralee Warrior produced a strong performance to win at odds of 6/4. As expected, it was Do It Jella that set the pace early doors, however, there was a certain inevitability surrounding the result midway down the back. Tralee Warrior was making eye-catching ground in behind and the son of Magical Bale and Greenisle Athena displayed the superior stamina to come home two and three parts of a length clear of Breaghmore Paudy in second. The time was 28.93.

Race eight was one of the most anticipated races on the night as Cluen Drum locked horns with Gortin Syd, two mighty impressive sprinters of prior weeks at Lifford. In truth however, it proved a straightforward assignment for ‘Drum’ as Brendan Duffy’s charge once again was spring-like at traps. Running from two, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Knockmill Girl built a huge lead entering the opening corner and despite Gortin Sid closing the gap up the hill, the leader was always in control. Crossing the line one and a half lengths too strong, the time for the even money favourite was 17.46.

The concluding race on the card saw Rossmore Sparky prevail for joint owners Benny Treanor and Dr. Rachel Healy. A smart winner at Drumbo Park last time out, the classy brindle was headed early on by Sniper Big Tom, however, the latter coursed around the bottom two bends, in turn allowing ‘Sparky’ to wrestle back control. Railing tightly, the daughter of Pestana and Quivershillcroft emerged a half length winner, in a time of 17.54.