HOPES TEDDY FLAWLESS IN ‘GYKE’ O’SULLIVAN FINAL

Peter Farrell

The final of the €2,800 to the winner Michael ‘Gyke’ O’Sullivan Memorial served as the feature at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it went the way of Hopes Teddy as he maintained his unbeaten record in the stake to post a blistering career best.

Chasing four straight victories on the trot, Hopes Teddy had taken this competition by storm in the earlier rounds and the Pat Buckley-trained charge saved his best to last, which is a huge feather in his cap considering he clocked the likes of 28.19 in an earlier outing. Owned by Ciaran O’Sullivan, the August 22’ whelp is certainly at the top of his game at present and he duly produced a trap-to-line performance to secure a fifth win from just eight starts. A full-brother off a repeat mating to the great Ballinabola Ed, ‘Teddy’ donned the blue jacket in the decider and he was paw-perfect at traprise as he pinged out to stop the early sectional clock at 1.24. Rallying Girl occupied second at this point and she was to round the opener just one length shy of the hot favourite. However, a one length advantage soon doubled passing the sprint box and ‘Teddy’ was simply majestic in extending his lead once again to three lengths on the approach to the penultimate bend. In total control, barring incident this was to be a terrific performance from Buckley’s charge and although Rallying Girl did just that in the closing stages, Hopes Teddy crossed the line to comfortably win by three lengths. Rallying Girl ran the race of her life in second for Neilus O’Connell, while it was a further three and a half lengths back to Cagey Billy in third. The time, as mentioned, was a phenomenal 28.05 on a track rated .10 fast on the night.

MICHAEL PASCAL O’RYAN MEMORIAL

The opening round heats of the Michael Pascal O’Ryan Memorial kick-started the Limerick card and the mantle of the quickest performer of the opening round went to Daleroad Poppy as she opened her account in superb fashion.

Trained by Patrick Guilfoyle for Thomas and John O’Keeffe, Daleroad Poppy was luckless in her last start at Tralee, however, she was always worthy of plenty of respect given the kennel she hailed from. 5/2 at the off, the May 23’ whelp turned heat four into a procession as she pinged out wearing white to immediately open a healthy lead on the run-up. Already in charge by five lengths, the daughter of Good News and Good Poppy quickly drew clear of her rivals and she maintained a relentless gallop to emerge an eight length winner over Peakys Glory in second. A telling performance from Guilfoyle’s tracker, her clock was a blistering 28.31 .10f.

In other heats, the opener was claimed by Lohort Lady (Droopys Noah - Droopys Flavour) for John Rainsford and Liam Murphy as she doubled her career tally to win by two and a half lengths in a time of 28.98. In heat two, Rallying Dove (Ballymac Bolger - Rallying Saidso) broke her maiden tag for Dan Flynn as she crossed the line one and a half lengths clear of Senahel Beauty in 28.94, while heat three was landed Bright Morgan (Broadstrand Bono - Bright Ella) as she arrived late to reel in Barntick Midget by a comfortable two lengths. The time for Mary Lynch’s charge was 28.93.

KATIE STARS IN NED & BABS QUINN OPENER

The second sweepstake to get underway on the night was the opening round heats of the Ned & Babs Quinn Memorial A2 525 and it was Starson Katie that set the standard in heat three.

Owned by Colm and Pat O’Connell, Starson Katie was on the comeback trail in heat three, however, her re-qualifying trial suggested that she was in fine fettle ahead of her return. Running from four, the daughter of Explosive Boy and Hazelfield Echo was on point at traprise as she pinged out of her middle berth to get the better of both Carneys Firmino and Hazelhill Percy early on. In doing so, ‘Katie’ was comfortable thereafter in seeing off Carneys Firmino by three lengths, in a slick time of 28.43 .10f.

In other heats, Right Mag (Ballymac Cashout - Mystical Luna) produced a make-all performance to justify her 4/5 starting price for Patrick Guilfoyle and Greg Corcoran. Chasing a maiden victory, ‘Mag’ was flawless in seeing off Tally Ho Socks by two lengths in 28.51. Heat one was landed by Cossies Dream (Dorotas Wildcat - Last Lady) as Michael Cosgrave and Dave Bourke’s tracker took charge at the midway point to win by one and a half lengths in 28.82, while the concluding heat was claimed by Onthe Run Ollie (Grangeview Ten - Muckinish Flyer) come from well off the pace to reel in Cherrygrove Four by a half length. The time for Alan O’Toole and Padraig O’Lore’s tracker was 28.74.

CONNIE GOES KABOOM

The last of the sweepstakes to kick-off was the Greyhound & Petworld A2 550 and Connie Kaboom set the standard as he romped to a first career victory.

Jointly owned by James Kelly and Tom McCarthy, this choicely bred son of Malachi and Love Island arrived fresh from a rapid 18.72 trial at Limerick and he displayed all of his fizzing early gear to shoot past the early leader, Gulleen Hulk. In doing so, Connie Kaboom exploded down the back straight to open an unassailable advantage over his rivals and he stayed on expertly to cross the line with a six and a half lengths to spare. An excellent performance from this half-brother to Kirby winner Knockeen Dazzler, the time was 29.64 .10f.

In the other heats, Hukum (Good News - Early Rise) got back to winning ways for Adam Dunford and the Fantasy Syndicate as he popped out in front from trap three to win by five lengths in 29.70, while heat two saw Fast Fit Pennie (Dorotas Wildcat - Fast Fit Maeve) bring up her dozen as John Quinn’s bitch made every yard to record a three and a half length victory over Kyletaun Coco. The time was 29.75 .10f.