FOXWOOD DELIVERS IN STYLE IN KENNEDY CUP SEMIS

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by Gammell Car Sales, the semi finals of the Kennedy Cup served as the highlight on Saturday nights Limerick card and Foxwood Rip opened his account in the competition with a powerful performance to win convincingly.

Indeed, litter brother Foxwood Carter was in the news recently after posting a blistering 28.39 and the reputation of up and coming sire, Bockos Jon Jo, was further enhanced last night with a brilliant performance from Foxwood Rip. Owned by Denis McGrath, the son of Oakfield Dancer was sent to traps as a 4/1 chance with last week's fastest performance Ashmore Susie understandably installed as the 5/4 favourite. At traprise however, it was clear that there was only going to be one winner. Fast Fit Pennie was the first to show from trap two but a step right allowed the freedom of Limerick to Foxwood Rip and he didn’t need a second invitation to stream up the inside and take control. Opening a three length lead over both Ashmore Susie and Drombeg Max, this lead soon doubled at the midway point as ‘Rip’ stretched out majestically into the penultimate bend. From here, the outcome was a formality as McGrath’s charge stayed on stoutly to see off Ashmore Susie by five lengths, in a time of 28.42 .20f. The final qualifying spot went the way of Fast Fit Pennie.

BLAZE ROARS HOME

In the opening semi final, Blaze More Fire built on her second round performance with another trap to line display for joint owners, Kim Bennis and Tony Brigdale.

A winner last weekend in a brisk 28.55, Blaze More Fire is clearly a bitch in form and she was a 2/1 market chance to make it back-to-back wins for connections. Donning the blue jacket, like last week, ‘Blaze’ pinged the lids to immediately create daylight and she was followed into the bend by Zari Socks, who did extremely well to overcome a horrid draw in six and get across his rivals. The duo took a clear lead into the back from Azeman in third, however, it was very much between the two up top entering the penultimate bend. That said, Blaze More Fire showed the superior stamina late on and the daughter of Ballymac Eske and Blaze Bee refused to be undone as she galloped to a two and a half length victory. Zari Socks ran a blinder in second and remains a massive threat in the decider, while Azeman claimed the third qualifying spot in third place. The time was 28.58 .20f and the decider is sure to be a thrilling contest with six exceptional greyhounds set to do battle.

TEDDY TAKES OFF

Aside from the semi finals of the Gammell Kennedy Cup, there was no doubt surrounding the performance of the night as Hopes Teddy took off in the opening round of the Michael Gyke O’Sullivan Memorial A1 525.

Trained by Pat Buckley for Amanda Jeal, Hopes Teddy was very lightly raced coming into stake but his ability was there for all to see given he posted a scarcely believable 17.59 in his first trial around Thurles Park. Indeed, confidence was high of a big run from the son of Confident Rankin and Dolls Lady as he was installed as the red-hot 4/6 favourite to come out on top. That said, he was made to work extremely hard by Carrigmore Freya, who came home with a wet sail to force a thrilling finish. Hopes Teddy pinged the lids from one and opened a four length lead over his rival and from here, it looked all one-way traffic up front. However, ‘Freya’ went into overdrive off the final bend and forced the jolly to pull out all the stops in the closing stages. Hopes Teddy holding on gamely to win by a decreasing one length, the time was an incredible 28.16 .20f.

HEAT WATCH

There was another front-running display in heat two as Cushie Tornado (Cushie Jet - Liberty Marie) sprung an 8/1 surprise for owner Morgan Crowley. A three-time winner coming into the contest, the striking brindle broke brilliantly from trap six and swooped the opening bend to quickly open a five length lead. Ballintoher Bud chased hard thereafter and closed the gap rapidly in the closing yards, however, ‘Cushie’ showed good determination to win by one length. The time was 28.76 .20f.

Heat three saw Westside Ranger make it back-to-back wins for Dave Bourke and Billy Thompson. Only moderately into stride from trap four, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Last Lady excelled in the opening yards to show fine track craft and go neck and neck with Lurriga Lady into the back. A closely run affair thereafter, it was nip and tuck all the way to the winning line as Westside Ranger just came out on top to win by half a length. The time was 28.75 .20f.

Grouchos Blake was another to make it back-to-back wins in heat four as John Byrne’s tracker made every inch to win in comfortable style. Owned by Shane and Luke O’Connell, ‘Blake’ was on the receiving end of a ping start from trap four and he proceeded to open an unassailable lead at the midway point. Holding a six length advantage at this point, the son of Magical Bale and Clondoty Amy could afford to take his foot off the gas in the closing yards as he prevailed by three lengths from Rallying Girl in second. The time was a rapid 28.48 .20f.

The final heat of the night saw Carrigmore Bruno return to winning ways for Aoife and Patsy Coffey. A massive 85-pounder, the son of Droopys Sydney and Carrigmore Dizzy was forced to play second fiddle in behind Knockalton Cody in the early exchanges, however, once he got going at the midway point, there was only going to be one winner. Stretching out brilliantly around the bottom two bends, ‘Bruno’ landed the knock-out blow on the run for home as he crossed the line three lengths clear of Coolavanny Story in second. The time was 28.77 .20f.