TIME GREYHOUND NUTRITION CONFINED DERBY HOTS UP

Peter Farrell

Twelve second round heats of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Confined A4 Derby dominated proceedings at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it produced some terrific action with more heat winner’s biting the dust as a result of exceeding the 28.90 barrier.

 

Please note that due to a technical issue, the winning times and distances will not be available on the ‘Results’ tab of GRI until Monday, 17th June. However, videos are online and the following report has all the required information.

 

Note - Those with an asterisk (*) noted beside their name will not be permitted to progress in the Time Greyhound Nutrition Confined A4 Derby due to the time finding rule.

 

Heat 1 -

1st - SIR RODGER

2nd - CROKERS CAPTAIN

3rd - BALLYCOWEN MILA

4th - GLENGAR PETSY

5th - CAPE LODGE

6th - ADMIRAL CROFT

 

Time = 28.92

Dist = 8&1/2l, 1/2l, SH

 

Sir Rodger made it back-to-back wins in the Derby with another accomplished performance for Michael Keating. Leading early from six, the son of Pestana and Rinnwood Pearl displayed his customary early pace to manufacture an unassailable lead at the midway point and he came home clear of Crokers Captain, who finished well, in second. The final qualifier was Ballycowen Mila, who ran on well, in third.

 

Heat 2 -

1st - SING HALLELUJAH *

2nd - AVONGATE STURDY

3rd - FREYAS QUEEN

4th - GLENGAR WILDER

5th - ADAMANT MIA

 

Time = 28.53

Dist = 6l, 3l, 5&1/2l

 

This was a make-all performance for Sing Hallelujah in trap two as the Paul Hennessy-trained runner broke his maiden tag in spectacular fashion as the son of Jaytee Taylor and Darver Bridie, owned by Carol O’Riordan, broke well before drawing clear of her rivals to win with ease. Avongate Sturdy was his closest rival in second, while Freyas Queen was next best in third

 

Heat 3 -

1st - OSCAR THE GROUCH *

2nd - ROSSHILL DIXIE

3rd - GORTGLAS DREAM

4th - CREGANE MAID

5th - GROUP GOLDSTAR

 

Time = 28.67

Dist = 4&1/2l, 6l, 4&1/2l

 

Oscar The Grouch returned to his very best last night for the We-Pay-And-We-Lay-Syndicate as he doubled his career tally in emphatic fashion. Running from trap one, the son of Burgess Bucks and Please Blossom recovered from an early bump to take charge approaching the penultimate turn and it was lights out thereafter for his rivals. Staying on stoutly to earn a comfortable victory, he was over four lengths clear of Rosshill Dixie, while Gortglas Dream claimed third.

 

Heat 4 -

1st - INNFIELD PLACE

2nd - GLAMOUROUS WOOHOO

3rd - BOSRA BONO

4th - AVON AGAIN

5th - GRANGEVIEW YAN

6th - UNLOCK QUEEN

 

Time = 29.03

Dist = SHD, 1&1/2l, 6l

 

Jointly owned by Evan McAuliffe and Barry Dermot Murphy, Innfield Place is all about early speed and despite being pipped last time out by Glamourous Woohoo, the daughter of Magical Bale and Going Place exacted revenge on this occasion. Early traffic saw Unlock Queen hit the deck while Grangeview Yan also suffered crowding, however, Innfield Place was to see off Glamourous Woohoo to record a sixth career win. The final qualifying position went to last weekend’s first round scorer, Bosra Bono.

 

Heat 5 -

1st - YOTOTA LAD

2nd - ROWLERS ROAD

3rd - CROKERS HUGO

4th - KNOCKDRUM CHARLY

5th - SKIDROES FLASH

6th - TOPSIDE ELLIE

 

Time = 28.90

Dist = SHD, 6l, 1l

 

Yotota Lad (Dorotas Wildcat - Peggotty) was forced to play second fiddle behind Rowlers Road in the opening round but the Michael Kennedy-trained runner was to reverse the form in heat five. ‘Rowlers’ led early in this contest, however, the veteran tracker couldn’t hold off the powerful finish of Yotota Lad as the latter emerged from a thrilling buckle to come out the right side of a judge's call. Crokers Hugo also advanced for John Croker and Vincent McKenna.

 

Heat 6 -

1st - SUNNYBANK MIA

2nd - ON THE RADIO

3rd - CARRY ON SYD

4th - YOUSONOFATHENA

 

Time = 29.06

Dist = 1&1/2l, 1&1/2l, 4l

 

A four-dog affair saw Sunnybank Mia, trained by Marie Gilbert, strike late to make it two wins from nine starts. Owned by John Fox and Maria Ryan, the well bred daughter of Droopys Sydney and Sidarian Pearl was headed early on by On The Radio as he bid for back-to-back wins at Limerick, however, ‘Mia’ wore down the longtime leader to take control late on in very impressive fashion. The final qualifier was Carry On Syd for owner Susan Hennessy.

 

Heat 7 -

1st - HIDDEN JACK *

2nd - CASHEN HOFFA *

3rd - RANCHERS CRYBABY

4th - SHE DID IT

5th - GOWLANE DANCER

6th - BEAMING APACHE

 

Time = 28.78

Dist = 1&1/2l, 4&1/2l, 2l

 

While both Hidden Jack and Cashen Hoffa may have produced career best efforts in heat seven, they will not be permitted to advance any further in the Derby. Owned by Kathleen Browne, Hidden Jack was searching for a first career win when donning the blue jacket and he was swiftly into stride this time around to lead. Making every yard thereafter, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Hidden Jaylo proved too strong for Cashen Hoffa, who ran a fine race in second. Ranchers Crybaby took third.

 

Heat 8 -

1st - GAYTIME ELMO

2nd - TRUMPERS DEL

3rd - DE MAGIC BOX

4th - STAC LEE

5th - DRUMGEELY JIM

6th - DARING MARLEY

 

Time = 28.93

Dist = SHD, 1l, 4&1/2l

 

Trained by Kieran Lynch for the Length-And-A-Half-Syndicate, Gaytime Elmo didn’t have the clearest of passages in the opening round of the Derby, however, put things right this time with a polished performance for connections. Running from trap one, the son of Gaytime Hawk and Gaytime Luna took control at the opener and despite coming under serious pressure from Trumpers Del, and indeed De Magic Box who was finishing like a train out wide, he held on to score for the first time in his career. A thrilling contest throughout.

 

Heat 9 -

1st - CANYA MAGS *

2nd - SHANAVULIN OISIN

3rd - GULLEEN DES

4th - CLAREABBEY BOB

5th - BELLAGORS VAVOOM

6th - NADY DES

 

Time = 28.80

Dist = 5l, 1l, SHD

 

Canya Mags slipped through by the skin of her teeth last week when winning in 28.91, however, there was no such luck for David Flanagan’s fine tracker this weekend as she dominated her contest to break the magical 28.90 barrier. Running from trap three, Imelda Sinclair’s daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Mags Angel showed fine courage to shoulder her rivals aside at the opening corner, before making every inch thereafter to emerge a facile winner from Shanavulin Oisin in second and Gulleen Des claiming third.

 

Heat 10 -

1st - PRICELESS HERO

2nd - CARRIGMORE DANTE

3rd - BARNAGRANE ED

4th - ABIGAILS SINEAD

5th - RATHRONAN DREAM

6th - ONLY FOR MAGGIE

 

Time = 29.06

Dist = 1l, 1&1/2l, 1l

 

Trained by David Hickey, Priceless Hero emerged from a level break to show the superior early pace and take a one length lead into the back from Barnagrane Ed in second. Extending his lead at the midway point, the son of Laughil Blake and Battle Cry did come under late pressure from the fast-finishing Carrigmore Dante, however, he had enough in the tank to see off his rival. Barnagrane Ed ensured his participation in the next round when finishing third for Paudie O’Keeffe.

 

Heat 11 -

1st - SYDS BUTTON *

2nd - BRACKILE ROXY

3rd - CABRA CASTRO

4th - EVER SO ABBEY

5th - KILLDUFF BARKLEY

6th - ASHMORE TOBY

 

Time = 28.60

Dist = 9l, 3l, 4l

 

Syds Button was the victim of early bumping last time out when finishing second behind Cluas Exile, however, the son of Knocknaboul Syd really displayed his gears in heat eleven, albeit at the expense of any further participation in the Derby. Owned by the Button-Syndicate, ‘Syd’ broke well from two to lead at the opener and he drew clear of his rivals with every stride to record a comprehensive victory over Brackile Roxy in second. Third was Cabra Castro.

 

Heat 12 -

1st - LEMON ANTON *

2nd - CLOONTURK HONEY *

3rd - GOINGTHEWRONGWAY

4th - OAKVALE BUCK

5th - ROCKET DUKE

6th - WESTWIND DONNA

 

Time = 28.71

Dist = 2l, 1&1/2l (Not official)

 

Cloonturk Honey was a winner of her opening round assignment when winning in 29.12 and it looked like she was set for back-to-back wins when developing an early three length lead. However, owned by Tom Lennon, Lemon Anton (Ballymac Anton - Cats Belle) quickly bridged that gap down the back and he produced a power-packed finish to breeze past his rival and win comfortably from Cloonturk Honey in second. Goingthewrongway ran an eye-catching race in behind to finish third.