EVENLY MATCHED GOBA SWEEPSTAKE OPENERS AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

Last night’s Limerick card was dominated by GOBA competitions and it proved a very competitive affair with each of the stakes very closely matched in terms of the clock.

Although all of the stakes were kindly sponsored by the Limerick & Clare GOBA, it was the opening round heats of the Tri-Distance which attracted most interest and Vigorous Vincent was to set the standard with an accomplished performance for owner Ronny Wuyts. Running from trap two, the son of Droopys Nidge and Vigorous Lindsay is an A1 performer at best but after finding wins hard to come by in recent starts, he duly dropped down a grade to seal a tenth career victory. Fast into stride wearing the white jacket, Vigorous Vincent made his intentions clear from an early stage as he led early and in truth, it was curtains for his rivals at this point given his strong running abilities displayed in prior starts. Maintaining a powerful gallop throughout, Wuyts charge proved a tough nut to crack as he came home three and a half lengths clear of Scala Annie in second. The time was a smart 28.98.

ROUNDING UP THE HEATS

In heat one, Larchill Port bounced back to winning ways for owner Michael Donohue. A winner of his debut contest in a blistering 28.97 at Galway, this greyhound clearly possesses an engine and the 7/4 shot broke well from four to sit in behind Yeravan early doors. Taking control off the second turn, the son of Ballymac Best and Port West Pop set the fine gallop thereafter to cross the line with a length and a half to spare over his rival. The time was 29.09.

Heat two saw a shock result as 4/1 chance, Peata Mhuinteoir,bounced back to winning ways for the first time since early December. Owned by the Chasing Tail-syndicate and trained by James Roche, Peata Mhuinteoir (Droopys Sydney - Ravenswood Margo) won in trap to line fashion in his last victory and he deployed a similar tactic this time around as he bolted from trap three to make every yard. Coming home a length and a half clear of the dead-heating pair of Sopwell Thady and Tyrap Leo in second, the time was 29.22.

There was another shock in heat three as Take It Fast ran out a 6/1 winner for the Get-In-Get-Out syndicate and Jack Kennelly. Only a July whelp, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Jaytee Jordan was first to show wearing the striped jacket and he proceeded to show the superior early gears to head the field. Setting a good pace down the back straight, Take It Fast was all out in the closing stages as Aarons Sensation finished at speed, however, he held on gamely to score by a length at the winning line. The time was 29.09.

The final heat of the night was landed by Tallyho Angel as she got punters back on track in justifying her 5/4 price tag. Owned by the Walls-Of-Tallyho syndicate, this was another trap-to-line success as Tallyho Angel flashed from trap one to head the field early doors. From here, the daughter of Tally Ho Lee and Crottys Act proved a class above her rivals in coming home three and a half lengths clear of Portdrine Champ in second. The time was 29.20.

MAGS LAYS DOWN MARKER IN A6/A7

There were also three heats of the Limerick & Clare GOBA A6/A7 525 down for decision and although two of the heats went the way of the Loughnane kennel, it was Slaheny Mags who went quickest.

Heading to traps a 3/1 chance, Slaheny Mags made light work of this contest as the Peg Lenihan runner broke her maiden tag in emphatic style. Running from trap four, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Drumcrow Clara broke best of all from the middle berth and she controlled this contest from the outset. Drawing clear in the closing stages, Slaheny Mags stormed to an eight length victory over Fast Fit Sam in second. The time was 29.25.

LITTER DOUBLE FOR LOUGHNANE

The remaining two heats were landed by the Loughnane kennel as Ready For Zoe and Ready For Adam both scored.

The first to come home in front came in the opening race of the night as Ready For Zoe made every inch of the running to seal a first career win. Owned by Aoife Loughnane, the daughter of Ballymac Eske and Ballyfin Lass was quickly into stride from trap four and she opened a healthy lead over her rivals midway down the back straight. From here, it was all one-way traffic as Ready For Zoe raced to a six length win over Gower Dazzler in second. The time was 29.47.

In the final heat, Ready For Adam made it a litter double for the Ballymac Eske and Ballyfin Lass litter. A 6/4 favourite at the off, Ready For Adam was forced to play second fiddle to Erins Houdini for the majority of the contest, however, she pounced late to display the superior stamina. Storming past her rival in the closing stages, Ready For Adam was a three and a half length winner, in a time of 29.42.

ROISINO HOLDS THE ACES IN A5

The card came to a close with three heats of the Limerick & Clare GOBA A5 525 and it was Blastoff Roisino who took home the bragging rights for Classic winning owner, Philip Buckley.

Sent off the 2/1 favourite to land the spoils, Blastoff Roisino was still searching for a first career win but she made her intentions clear from an early stage as he flew from trap three to show first. Setting a fine gallop thereafter, the daughter of Tarsna Havana and Blastoff Khalesi was five lengths better off than Gower Jet crossing the line. The time was 29.06.

Next best in terms of the clock came in the final heat of the night as Thurles raider, Private Jet, scored for John Ryan and John Byrne. A winner of three prior to arriving in Limerick, the son of Droopys Jet and Sidarian Fern familarised himself with his surroundings early on as he broke well from one to take over from Orlando Amy in the opening yards. The classy brindle proved too hot to handle thereafter as he raced to a four and a half length success over Orlando Amy as the clock returned a decent 29.13.

In the remaining heat, heat one, Gortkelly Franky maintained his consistent form to come home a 4/1 winner. Running from trap five, Andrew Murray’s charge led early and although briefly headed by Hot Melt on his outer, the son of Shaneboy Lee and Gortkelly Lola showed good determination to race to a three length success. The time was 29.41.