DRAMA IN NATIONAL PUPPY AS BONNYLAD AND COUNTESS SCORE

Ian Fortune

There was certainly drama at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as the field was halved for the final time in the IGOBF National Puppy Stake.

Scooby Countess claimed her final place with a pretty straight forward victory in the second heat but there were some really worrying few moments in the opening heat as Barefoot On Fire turned back down the track after a tumble on the bend.

FIRE CAUSES HAVOC

The actions of Barefoot On Fire almost certainly cost Clona Curly a place in the final but thankfully no greyhounds were injured.

Whyaye Bonnylad broke smartest but was joined by Dunnanelly Fred into the turn. The pair were side by side on the corner with Whyaye Bonnylad making the most of his inside line to assert. In contrast, Clona Curly walked from traps and was last into the bend only to be left fourth as the three remaining runners clashed.

Barefoot On Fire took a tumble and immediately jumped back up and began to turned back. It was now hard to concentrate on the front two but Martin Langley’s Whyaye Bonnylad continued to dictate, just a head of Dunnanelly Fred.

Clona Curly moved third off the second bend and began to close on the front two but his chances were left in tatters at the final turn. Thankfully, Barefoot On Fire missed the front two at the final corner but, as he turned to course the hare, badly distracted Clona Curly.

The Robert Gleeson trained Whyaye Bonnylad went on to score by a length and a half from Dunnanelly Fred in 28.27, while Jim By Two ended up taking third, some fifteen lengths further adrift. It was a massive run by the first and second and they both go into the decider with obvious claims. 

ALL VERY EASY FOR COUNTESS

The second heat was a far more straightforward affair with Scooby Countess dictating from early. Her task was made somewhat easier as her rivals were all left short of room into the turn. The Jennifer O’Donnell trained Scooby Countess broke in front from trap one and quickly moved into a decisive lead. Steve Noble’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Scooby Princess was four lengths clear of In Good Time at halfway and she increased her advantage to the line. Staying on powerfully, Scooby Countess went on to see off In Good Time and the staying on Omuircheartaigh by six lengths and a head in 28.46.

IGOBF NATIONAL PUPPY STAKE

Final Draw

1 SCOOBY COUNTESS

2 WHYAYE BONNYLAD

3 JIM BY TWO

4 IN GOOD TIME

5 OMUIRCHEARTAIGH (W)

6 DUNNANELLY FRED (W)

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A MODEL DISPLAY

The heats of the Greyhound Racing Ireland Open/A1 600 got proceedings off to a great start and the exciting Fashion Model set a strong standard with a brilliant run in the opening heat.

Taking charge into the opening turn, Fashion Model ran right away from her Pat Guilfoyle trained kennel companion Mystical Messi once hitting the third turn in front. The powerful daughter of Good News and Coolavanny Chick really relished the step up to the 600yd trip and she galloped through the line to emerge a facile six length winner in 32.30 for owners Paul Horig and Stephen Bourke.

BUBBLES FLOATS HOME

Ryhope Beach was a 2-5 chance to win the second heat but could never get back on terms with the high class Lets Go Bubbles, who was always in charge after a fast start from trap four.

Trained by Owen McKenna for Peter Comerford, the talented daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx entered the back straight with a decent advantage although Ryhope Beach seemed close enough in third to challenge despite easing slightly on the opening bend.

Again, Ryhope Beach, took a stride for himself at the third turn and this left the initiative with Lets Go Bubbles who was showing no signs of easing off her foot the pedal. Lets Go Bubbles held the late charge of Ryhope Beach to win by a head in a fast 32.38.

DIVA DANCES THROUGH PACK

Docktechnik Diva emerged a pretty remarkable winner of the final heat despite giving her rivals a sizeable head start after stumbling from traps.

Velvet jenny held a narrow lead into the turn but ran off the corner.

This set up a series of clashes which allowed Docktechnik Diva to get back amongst the pack. Entering the back straight a close second to Velvet Jenny, Docktechnik Diva made her move to halfway.

Cruising to the front, the powerful daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Droopys Flavour began to ease clear. Trained by Kevin Losty for the Dock Technik Syndicate, Docktechnik Diva powered home six lengths to the good over Velvet Jenny in 32.74.

LOTTO A TRUE PRO

Lotto Other News and Coonough Mary shared the honour of going fastest in the semi-finals of the RCETS Open 525 with both flashing from the inside box to dominate in 28.31.

The Shaun Conway trained Lotto Other News really did look a true pro in the first of the three heats, bouncing from boxes to make every inch. The Lotto Express Syndicate owned son of Good News and Shes Made It was never threatened as he emerged a comfortable five length winner over Resurgan.

MAGIC MARY

It was much the same for Coonough Mary in Heat 3.

Trained by Barry Clancy for Richard Cully, the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Holycross Leah was electric from traps and proceeded to make every inch. Delirium Tremens gave chase throughout but Coonough Mary is strong and she shot further clear to eventually cross the line seven lengths to the good.

TOM TAKES CHARGE ON THE TURN

The remaining heat saw Uncle Tom also winning in the red jacket.

Breaking smartly, Mark Robinson’s son of Droopys Sydney and Skirk Grace disputed the lead into corner with Droopys Newmis but ran a wonderful bend to assert before the back straight. Bonkerinsyonkers emerged as the main threat but was always struggling to get back on terms. Uncle Tom went on to win by a length in 28.60.

BOY AND BLAKE CAN’T BE SEPARATED

The closest finish of the night came in the sole sprint as Peter Sutcliffe’s Ballymun Boy Droopys Sydney/ Burgess Helena) flew home to join the Lord of the Rings Syndicate owned Newline Blake (Laughil Blake/ Newline Mo) on the line with the pair dead-heating.

The Brendan Cullen trained newline Blake seemed a likely scorer when making a flying start from three and holding a clear advantage into the straight but Ballymun Boy drew closer with each stride. In the end, the judge declared both winners in 18.60.  

KINGPIN TAKES NO PRISONERS

The penultimate race on the card saw Romeo Kingpin continue his fine run of form.

Second into the turn behind Pintsnotpilates, he stayed tight to the fence to take over. Once going to the front, it was all very straight forward for David Firmager’s son of Superman and Buckos Lass. The Graham Holland trained black went on to beat Pintsnotpilates by three lengths in 28.50.

STORYS LAYS DOWN THE LAW

Storys Law may have been 6-1 for the finale but there was nothing fortunate about his victory as he outpointed his rivals to run out a tremendous two length winner.

The Murt Leahy trained son of Loughteen Blanco was razor-sharp into the turn as he contained Foggy Bottom to turn in front.

The latter stuck to his guns in second but Storys Law was in no humour to surrender his advantage. Owned by Gavin O’Mahoney and Peter McMunn, the April ’21 whelp crossed two lengths to the good in 28.55.