A MIGHTY DISPLAY IN SHELBOURNE FEATURE
Ian Fortune
There was plenty of entertaining action on offer at Shelbourne Park on Friday evening with three sweepstake finals up for decision as well as the opening round of a valuable Open Unraced stake.
The feature in terms of monetary value was the final of the €4,000 Go Greyhound Racing A3 (NB) 525 and Highview Mighty confirmed his impressive semi-final form to see off Astra Fairy and Kilgraney Bolger.
Kapuka Lord again set a strong pace from the front but was to run out of steam. In contrast, Highview Mighty stayed on well to come through to score. Trained by Gerry Merriman for Dolores Merriman, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Picture closed on the pace-setter into the third turn before moving on up the run in. Astra Fairy also stayed on well but Highview Mighty came home a length and a half clear in 28.55. Kilgraney Bolger was a half length further back in third.
MANGO WITH A SWEET DISPLAY
Bernard and Molly Farrell’s Mollys Mango (Ballymac Bolger/ Lovee Dovee) was a hot favourite for the final of the This Runs Deep A2 Dual Distance but had to work hard for victory after finding the trouble spots.
Starshine Babe got loose at the head of affairs but Mollys Mango finally got into the clear into the third turn.
Once doing so, she displayed real pace and strength to close rapidly on the leader. Staying on strongly to the line, the Owen McKenna trained Mollys Mango emerged a three parts of a length scorer in 31.53.
BONNYLASS SHOWS HER STRENGTH
Whyaye Bonnylass displayed all her power to win the final of the Barking Buzz App A3/A4 Bitch 525 or Martin Langley, David Lamb and trainer Michael Donnelly.
Creevy Bird set the pace after a fast start but Whyaye Bonnylass was poised in second and she began to make her move around the last two bends.
Running on at speed, the daughter of Malachi and Droopys Megan came home three lengths clear in 28.85. Creevy Bird held on or second with Gallant Jewel another half-length back in third.
POWERFUL JOAN SETS UNRACED STANDARD
The opening round of the Talking Dogs on Monday Open Unraced saw many promising youngsters make their debut. Predictably, many of those on show did show signs of inexperience and youth but there were a few notable performances.
Honour of going fastest went to Racenight Joan in the final heat as she really turned on the afterburners from halfway. Here Indian Floyd and Coolavanny Bruno disputed the early leader only to run into each other at the bend and again at the second turn.
Racenight Joan was third at this point but was suddenly challenging for the lead into the third turn. Taking over on the inside of the track, the daughter of Kinloch Brae and Halo Dimebar began to ease on before turning for home. Powering up the straight, the April ’22 whelp pulled right away in the style of a bitch that would certainly stay further. By the line Kevin O’Shea’s bitch had six lengths in hand on Coolavanny Bruno in 28.53. Indian Floyd was best of the rest, a length further back.
ANTON WINS A COMPETITIVE OPENING HEAT
The opening heat went the way of Cill Dubh Anton.
One of the three dogs battling for the lead for much of the opening half of the contest, the Owen McKenna trained son of Ballymac Anton and Knockdrinna Skye always had the inside line in his favour and he began to ease on at the third turn.
Both Phoenix Charlie and Droopys Deploy were short of luck in defeat but Cill Dubh Anton looked a nice sort as he emerged a two and a half length winner for Michael Bergin and Keelan O’Donoghue in 28.61. Phoenix Charlie was second with Droopys Deploy another length and a half adrift in third.
LUCIA TOO STRONG
Ballymac Lucia is bred to be strong and she came through to win Heat 3 for Liam Dowling.
The daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Merkle chased Knockduff Power into the back straight before taking over around the third turn. Thru The Roof came home fast but Ballymac Lucia emerged a length in front in 28.95. Knocduff Power was three and a half lengths back in third.
TORRES STRIKES TO GIVE HOLLAND A DOUBLE
Heat 2 was a messy affair with much of the field badly hampered on the corner including the early leader and eventually winner Romeo Torres.
The son of Fernando Bale and Fabulous Mila was in front into the turn but couldn’t clear Explode, who raced into the turn, before finding himself short of room.
As he checked wide, he hampered half of the field, leaving Malley clear.
Romeo Torres recovered very well, however and soon chased the leader down to lead as they hit the home straight. Representing Graham Holland and David Firmager, Romeo Torres skipped on to win by three lengths from the fast-finishing Ballymac Eli in 29.27.
LIAM LOOKS A PROSPECT
There was actually a fine display to kick off proceedings with Knockmitten Liam entering the notebook as he came from off the pace to win in 28.58.
Owned by Jimmy O’Hanlon and May Kearns, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Knockmitten Mag was only fourth into the back straight but he would finish with a real flourish to lead late for a length verdict over Cappaneale Bono.