TARTAN ‘TIMES’ IT PERFECTLY IN MARATHON DECIDER

Peter Farrell

Lifford Greyhound Stadium hosted two stake finals on Saturday night, however, the feature was the final of the €1,000 to the winner TIME Greyhound Nutrition & Northwest Greyhound Supplies A1-A7 Marathon, run over the grueling 820-yard trip.

It was difficult conditions on the night given the deteriorating weather, however, Tartan Grace was all the rage in the betting market given she had some six lengths in hand in terms of the semi final clocks. Owned by Rhys McBride, this lady was bidding to remain unbeaten over the marathon distance having also been ultra-impressive on her six-bend debut at Shelbourne Park prior to her return to Lifford. As a result, she was installed as the 4/6 to land the spoils and in truth, the writing was on the wall early doors after a smart exit from trap two. Running a courageous opening bend to nestle into second place, Harryannafreya was in the ascendancy at this point and given she is an A2 performer over the standard trip, it was no surprise to see her suppress the favourite for a large part of the contest. However, ‘Grace’ showed her power over this extended trip as she hit the front between the fifth and sixth bends, while displaying a fine change of gear in the process. In doing so, the roars from the stand went up as the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Esther stretched clear and she was to emerge a comfortable winner thereafter, despite the monstrous strides of Carvoeiro, who was eating up the ground in behind. His efforts were in vain however, as Tartan Grace continued to stay on stoutly up the grueling Lifford hill to win by a comfortable, two and a quarter lengths in hand. The time was 47.19 .30s and that win brings ‘Grace’s’ tally to three wins from three starts over six-bends, which outlines an exciting 2025 for McBride’s charge over the extreme distances.

DRVEEN LASS LANDS NOVICE DECIDER

Elsewhere on the card, the final of the €700 to the winner Track Bookmakers ON2/3 325 served as the supporting act and this was landed by Drveen Lass as she turned the tables on the luckless Lisdrum Paddy.

A wide-open contest saw Lisdrum Paddy installed as the 2/1 favourite but he was headed at trap rise by the inside duo of Drveen Lass and Easy Mucker in traps one and two respectively. The former emerged as a slender leader on the approach to the opener but at this point, Lisdrum Paddy was showing big progress in four and looked certain to swoop the opening bend and assert. However, after Easy Mucker was forced to check, this hindered the progress of ‘Paddy’ which in turn allowed Drveen Lass (Burgess Bucks - Moss Avenue) to storm into a commanding lead. In doing so, Jim Joe McGrath’s bitch, who is just a September 23’ whelp, powered up the hill to cross the line as a two and half length winner. The time was a smart 17.75 .10s.

VICTORY FOR VIS

There was one other performance of real note in the concluding race on the card as Ardagh Vis produced a demolition job in testing conditions for owner Conor Crossan.

A top sprinter around the Northwest venue, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Venice was luckless in his only start over four-bends at HQ and he came in for good market support as a result when installed as the 6/4 jolly. A smart exit from five saw him dispute with the early-paced Do It Jella early on but in truth, ‘Vis’ put the contest to bed once winning that early battle with ‘Jella’. Setting a powerful gallop around the second bend, Crossan’s charge opened up brilliantly down the back, before pressing home his advantage in the closing yards as he put to bed any stamina concerns from his on-lookers. Storming to an ever-extending eight and a half length win over Do It Jella in second, the time was a red-hot 29.12 .20s, which was a massive run on the night.