JOSEPE HAS ALL THE TOOLS

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the Rural Kennels Unraced 525 featured at Clonmel on Thursday night and although quality oozed from all from four heats, it was Toolmaker Josepe that set the standard with a fantastic performance for Robert Gleeson and William Hyslop.

The 2025 renewal of the Rural Kennels Unraced is proving to be extremely hot indeed and one suspects that we will be hearing plenty from several of these pups in all the major competitions throughout the year. Blossoms Syd set the standard in the curtain raiser last weekend and he was once again on the mark in making it back-to-back wins, however, it was Toolmaker Josepe that landed the headlines as he built on an eye-catching display in defeat last time out to score in mighty impressive fashion.

Indeed, Toolmaker Josepe came into the event with a big reputation for his pedigree alone given he is a half-brother to the great Droopys Kathleen, however, he showed more than enough last time out to suggest he has a limitless future of his own ahead. As a result of his huge promise in defeat in the opener, the Robert Gleeson-trained charge was installed as the 2/5 favourite chance in a five-dog affair in heat four. At traprise, it was Radical Mystery and Brideside Bill that disputed early on, however, the former ran off the opening bend, which in turn allowed Toolmaker Josepe to nip up the inside of his rivals and go neck and neck. The son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dancer was now in prime position to showcase his massive engine and as the greyhounds passed the sprint box, ‘Josepe’ got to work. Quickly manufacturing a three length lead within the blink of an eye, Gleeson’s charge got stronger as the race progressed and he powered around the bottom two bends, before drawing clear on the run for home to score by an extending five and a half lengths crossing the line. Brideside Bill claimed second and it was a further two and a half lengths back to Cloncunny Flash in third. The time was the fastest of the four quarters, 28.39.

HOLLAND DOUBLES UP

Graham Holland has strong representation in this year’s renewal and he claimed two of the four quarters with Blossoms Syd and Faypoint Ranger.

Of the duo, it was Faypoint Ranger that went quickest as he went one better than his second placed finish in the opening round. Owned by Patricia Flanagan, this puppy was narrowly beaten last time out but still clocked a mighty impressive 28.52 in defeat, franking his impressive qualifying effort of 16.18 coming into the stake. As a result of that performance, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa was installed as the 4/5 favourite and although failing to trap well, he immediately showcased his stunning early speed to leave his rivals for dust. In doing so, he quickly opened a four length lead over his kennel companion, Newinn Vision, and he proceeded to stop the third-bend sectional clock in a magnificent 15.97. Newinn Vision stuck to her task well in keeping the leader honest throughout, however, in truth this was all one-way traffic as Faypoint Ranger continued his relentless gallop all the way to the winning line to score by four and a half lengths. The time was 28.44 as Getup Me Girl claimed the final qualifying position back in third.

It was a quick-fire double for Graham Holland in the very next quarter final as Blossoms Syd made it two wins from as many starts for Pat and Justin Muldoon.

Blossoms Syd landed the headlines in the opening round as he reeled in Faypoint Ranger to post 28.49, so it wasn’t surprising when he was chalked up as the 4/6 favourite to land the spoils in the concluding heat. Drawn in four, ‘Syd’ looked to mean business from the outset as he bolted from trap four to head proceedings, however, he had no answer to the early speed of kennel companion, Snazzy Boss, on the run-up. Holding the inside line, Snazzy Boss barged his way through at the opener turn as he and Blossoms Syd came together and he quickly opened a two length advantage passing the sprint boxes. That said, Blossoms Syd had recovered well to remain second and he got back to work midway down the back to close the gap on his rival. Going for a daring run up the inside, ‘Syd’ regained control over Snazzy Boss on the approach to the home straight and the son of Droopys Sydney and Blossoms Pet cemented his stamina superiorities in the closing stages as he stayed on stoutly to record a two length lead over Borna Parachute, who flew home to grab second. Snazzy Boss claimed the final qualifying position in third and the time was 28.66.

WILD GOES WILD

The remaining heat proved a masterclass in early speed as The Other Wild blew his rivals away for the Borna-Wild-Syndicate.

The Other Wild won his opening round assignment as he dead-heated with Clonmoyle Blacky and he was installed at odds of 4/6 to maintain his unbeaten career start. Drawn in trap six, the son of Ballymac Wild and Whitings Gift took an absolute flyer from his wide berth to post a 2.80 sectional and already manufacture an unassailable lead over his rivals. Opening up to go five clear down the back, it was Ballintee Roxy that set off in chase but in truth, this was all over barring incident as The Other Wild stopped the third-bend clock in 16.03. In doing so, he remained strong in the final stages of the contest to see off Ballintee Roxy by five and a half lengths, in a time of 28.60. The final qualifying position went the way of Skywalker Schar as he finished one length further adrift in third.