RIP-ROARING DISPLAY FROM FOXWOOD IN OLD CREAMERY BAR HOSPITAL ACTION

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the Old Creamery Bar Hospital AO 525 served as the feature at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and for the second week running, Foxwood Rip set the standard with a thoroughly impressive performance.

In the opening round, Denis McGrath’s charge bounced back to winning ways in devastating fashion as he posted 28.48 and he was expected to take some stopping when he lined out in heat two of last night’s second round. Installed at slender odds of 4/5, those odds looked quite inviting when he pinged out of trap one to immediately excel into the opening bend. In doing so, Foxwood Rip manufactured a two length advantage over Starson Frankie in second and he drew even further clear passing the 750-yard box as he set a relentless pace up top. As a result, the son of Bockos Jon Jo put this contest to bed in polished fashion as he comfortably led home Starson Frankie to win by four and a half lengths, in a time of 28.40. On that evidence, ‘Rip’ is really at the top of his game at present and he looks the one to beat going forward should he continue in such a rich vein of form.

BEN FOLLOWS SUIT

In the opening heat, Highview Ben went just one spot slower than Foxwood Rip as Paraic Campion continued his fantastic start to 2025.

A wide open betting market saw three trackers installed at odds of 5/2 but it was Highview Ben (7/2) that shot from four to narrowly lead Torpedo Turtle early doors. In doing so, ‘Ben’ just nipped around clear of his rivals and he was followed into the back straight by the improving Francis Murray runner, Rich Pursuit. At this point, it was very much race between three trackers as Torpedo Turtle was once again progressing back in third, and the trio quickly opened up a gap back to the rest of the field. Highview Ben remained in the ascendancy however, and despite coming under serious pressure up the hill from Rich Pursuit, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Ivy, owned by the VHR-Syndicate, held on gamely to score. Rich Pursuit lost little in defeat as she ran a fine race to finish just a half length adrift, while the clock stopped in a brisk 28.41.

TEEMING SHOWS PLENTY OF SPIRIT

The Jack Kennelly-trained Teeming Spirit slipped through his opening round assignment in fourth, however, clearly took plenty from his first outing at Limerick as he bounced back to winning ways in heat three.

Owned by The-Very-Quiet-Synd, Teeming Spirit is just a May whelp and arrived at Limerick with a smart reputation having clocked 28.50 around the Kingdom in an earlier start. Indeed, patrons at Limerick saw exactly what this promising puppy was about last night as he came from off-the-pace to win in impressive style. Running from four, the 7/2 chance was headed at traprise by both Boozed Burgess and Ballygibbon Cash, however, was showing eye-catching improvement around the opening two bends, before taking charge down the back straight. In doing so, the son of Ballymac Wild and Jamaica Joy hit the front and never looked back thereafter as he stayed on stoutly to account for a two length victory over Boozed Burgess in second. The time was 28.59.

BEAMING BRONCO CLAIMS GOBA FEATURE

Prior to the Old Creamery Bar Hospital action, the final of the €900 to the winner Limerick & Clare GOBA A5 525 was down for decision and Beaming Bronco landed this contest in exceptional style.

Owned by Corona Ryan, Beaming Bronco is just an August puppy but he outlined his talent when coming from off-the-pace in the semi final to win impressively. As a result, Ryan’s charge was installed as the 5/4 favourite and there was certain inevitability surrounding the result when he turned just one length shy of Shanakyle Sally rounding the opener. Given the way he sliced through runners last week, ‘Bronco’ quickly got to work down the back straight and within the blink of an eye, he raced to the front and quickly excelled into a two length lead rounding the penultimate bend. Thereafter, the son of Doolin Duke and Beaming Scarlet drew clear of Shanakyle Sally in second and he duly crossed the line with six and a half lengths to spare, in a time of 28.73.

BLISTERING FROM BUCKO

The concluding race of the night was a high-class AAO 525 and this was landed in phenomenal style by the Lucy Roche-trained Hazelhill Bucko.

Indeed, Michael O’Connell’s charge has really kicked on since he claimed second in the Irish Laurels in 2024 and he was fresh from winning in a terrific 29.46 over the 550-yard contest last time out. As a result, it wasn’t surprising to see Hazelhill Bucko installed at odds of 4/5 and he was electric from trap five to immediately assert. In doing so, the son of Dromana Bucko and Flat White took a healthy lead into the back from Stands Out and he was never under threat as he raced to a facile five length victory over Stands Out in second. The time was the fastest of the night, a fantastic 28.25.