PLENTY OF QUALITY PERFORMANCES AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

A nine-race card featured at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and, while there was no sweepstake action on offer, there were plenty of strong performances throughout the card.

In the opener, Fagans Zippi got the ball rolling for Larry Kearns as she made it back-to-back wins, producing a career-best performance in the process. Drawn in one, the 5/4 chance outpaced her rivals to the opening bend before opening a sizeable advantage between the bottom two bends. From there, it was all one-way traffic for the daughter of Head Bound as she drew clear to record a seven-and-a-half-length victory over Seamie in second. The time was a scorching 16.15.

In race four, Silver Side Eye doubled her career tally for Molly Finn. Drawn in three, the daughter of Romeo Magico - Keeperhill Lizzy broke well but failed to negotiate the opening bend fluently, surrendering the advantage to Aces Young as a result. However, she regained control at the midway point and stayed on well to record a one-length victory in a smart 28.86.

Freeway Max represented Alan Brazier and Keith Freer and, despite stepping into deep waters on what was his debut start, he made light work of his A4/A5 opposition. Installed as the 5/4 favourite, the son of Good News - Farranrory Megan broke well from five and, despite suffering a hefty bump early on, he shot clear entering the back straight. A four-length advantage quickly increased with every stride thereafter and he eventually crossed the line nine lengths clear in a fast 28.58.

The Derek Kehoe-owned Slaneyside Joel was bidding to seal a tenth career victory in race seven and he duly obliged, making it back-to-back wins in the process. Donning his favoured striped jacket, ‘Joel’ showed a nice turn of early pace from his wide berth and coursed around runners entering the back to take control passing the sprint boxes. From there, there was no catching the impressive son of Mustang Jet as he powered to a three-and-a-half-length victory over Hollyhill Cody in second. The time was 28.68.

There was another wide-margin victory in the eighth race as Mustang Havoc brought up a seventh career success for the Battle-Cry-Syndicate. Another donning the striped jacket, ‘Havoc’ was on-song from the outset, recording a 2.82 sectional to take charge of his rivals. Holding a clear advantage thereafter, the son of Grangeview Ten - Battle Cry proved six lengths too strong for Hollyhill Rapid, stopping the clock in a brisk 28.62.

The penultimate race saw Chasing Philly make virtually every yard for the Four-Par-Syndicate. Drawn in six, ‘Philly’ broke well from his outside berth and showed plenty of courage to ride some early traffic before going clear into the back. In doing so, the son of Ballymac Bolger - Chasing Maggie proved too difficult to reel in as he crossed the line two-and-a-half lengths clear of Ballinaglerablue in a fast 28.75.

The concluding race saw Glencroft Avatar shed her maiden tag in terrific style for Aaron O’Hanlon and Mark Flood. Just a January ’25 whelp, the daughter of Droopys Flytline - Droopys Avatar was dominant from the lift of the lids, pinging from trap six to outpace her rivals to the bend. From there, she proceeded to draw clear, blitzing her rivals to win by ten-and-a-half lengths in 16.28.