CRISPY STARS IN DUBLIN IN MERRIMAN MEMORIAL
Ian Fortune
It was again the Droopys Crispy show at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as she set a stunning standard in the semi-finals of the valuable Paddy Merriman Memorial.
The other heat was also won in good style by the rapidly improving Portumna Levi but his clock of 28.25 was some way behind the 27.99 of Droopys Crispy.
FLAWLESS CRISPY BREAKS 28
Droopys Crispy was seeking a third straight win and she made light work of her task.
It soon developed into a two-dog affair with Droopys Crispy shooting from the inside box to dictate into the turn.
Her kennel companion Not Just Jo gave chase and the pair were quickly clear of their rivals, but none could get close enough to deny Barry Clancy a one-two. Indeed, Droopys Crispy had little to worry about. Increasing her lead over Not Just Jo to halfway, she had matters well in hand by the third turn.
Jointly owned by Barry Clancy and Graham Ashe, the daughter of Droopys Addition and Droopys Alyssa powered home to see of Not Just Jo by four and a half lengths in a stunning 27.99. Headwire Trout ran on strongly to finish just a length and a half away in third.
LEVI GOING PLACES
Portumna Levi had hinted at serious ability in his four previous outings but he took a giant step forward in the opening semi-final, turning close to the pace in third before blowing holes in the opposition from halfway.
In a contest packed with early speed, Hollyhill Stacey was fastest from traps, leading up from five. Born Sassy also went up fast from three but both were under real pressure from the outset with Portumna Levi sitting a close third.
Trained by Paul Hennessy for Owen Horan and Ger O’Neill, Portumna Levi quickly made his move. Staying wide of Born Sassy, he went early in the back straight before edging inwards to challenge the leader soon after halfway.
Cruising through the gap along the fence, the son of Orchestrate and Portumna Saphire hit the third turn with a couple of lengths in hand and soon put the result beyond any doubt. Maintaining a strong gallop to the finish, the December ’24 whelp eased away to win by five and a half lengths in 28.25. Hollyhill Stacey was second with Born Sassy another three lengths back in third spot.
AWAY AND GONE FOR SUSIE
Maireads Susie and Silent Noelle are no strangers to each other and the pair will meet again in the final of the Greyhounds Make Great Pets open Bitch 525 after the pair won their respective semi-finals in an identical 28.25, albeit in very different fashion.
Maireads Susie was sharpest in the opening semi, making every inch for Joe Horan and Fraser Black. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire always seemed to have the measure of those in behind.
The Other Mel and Ballymac Alexei had a great battle for much of the way in second and third but both were nabbed late by the fast-finishing Ballymac Altobel. None could get close enough to worry Maireads Susie, however. The August ’24 whelp went on to score by two and a half lengths. There was a further length and a half gap to Ballymac Alexei in third.
BRILLIANT NOELLE SHOWS HER CLASS
Silent Noelle produced perhaps the performance of her career in the second heat.
She has gone faster in the past and boasts some superb successes but the manner of her victory was so impressive given the fact that she found herself off the pace in the early stages.
The run to the turn was very tight but The Other Eimear made the most of an inside path to go to the front entering the back straight. Highview Carol was also prominent but neither could match Silent Noelle into the third turn.
Showing real pace and purpose, the daughter of Newinn Taylor and Terezas Mendoza shot up the inside take over on the third turn. It was a decisive move and one that allowed her quicken clear to win by three lengths in 28.25. The Other Eimear was second with Highview Carol third, just a shorthead away.
QUEUE ALWAYS UP FRONT
The opening round of the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust A0 525 made up much of the early part of the card and Orderly Queue set the standard in the second heat, coming home clear in 28.53.
Orderly Queue held off the strong challenge of Montore Magic to make virtually every inch for Liam Cahill and Tony Lacey. A slick exit from the inside box was a good platform for the son of Koblenz and Tory Aria.
Going up strongly he held a comfortable lead on the bend, but Montore Magic flew down the back to challenge on the third turn. The pair bumped briefly with Orderly Queue kicking again before staying on to secure a length victory over Montore Magic.
HEAVEN HOLDS ON
Sheer Heaven, owned by the Outoftheblue Syndicate, displayed fine early speed to take the opening heat, although she was dependant on the judge calling her name after a tight finish.
Showing fine speed from five, the Shaun Conway trained daughter of King Sheeran and Goldirocks Magic comfortably cleared the bend and made every inch despite being pressed hard by Gallant Prince.
Button It joined in in the press in the closing stages, but Sheer Heaven held on by a head in 28.60. Button It was second with three parts of a length to Gallant Prince in third.
BALLINTINE HANGS ON IN WILD FINISH
The final heat saw Ballintine Wild cling on in a desperate finish.
The Ray Melia trained son of Dorotas Wildcat and Bo Bobbity flew into the turn to move clear with Canya Talk Now and No Tickets slipping around in second and third.
It was clear passing halfway that No Tickets was on a charge and going to emerge the main danger. He got up the inside of Canya Talk Now into the third turn and set his sights on the leader. Indeed, off the final turn, it seemed as though No Tickets had done enough. He was upsides the leader and most would have expected him to forge his way into a race-winning advantage.
But his efforts to get to the leader seemed to take their toll. Running out of steam, he allowed Ballintine Wild to rally. The pair flashed past the post together with the nod just going to Ballintine Wild. Owned by the Ballintine Cross Syndicate, Ballintine Wild won by a short head in 28.74.
KING REIGNS
There was another very tight finish in the penultimate race with Toolmaker King (Droopy Sydney/ Droopys Curio) just containing the eye-catching Daleroad Magic and Aulton Cash.
The last named broke fastest to lead into the bend where Toolmaker King forced his way through on the fence to assume control.
Daleroad Magic was behind the duo in third and took off down the back straight to go second. He continued to close on Toolmaker King around the last two bends but couldn’t quite get past on the run in.
Trained by Robert Gleeson for Willie Hyslop, Toolmaker King dug in to see off his rival by a head in 28.29. Aulton Cash was only a half length adrift in third.
SIUN DIGS IN TO WIN FINALE
Racing ended with another superb display as Ballymac Siun held the power-packed finish of Unassuming over the 575yd trip.
Ballymac Siun was always in the driver’s seat once coming away racing from three. She increased her advantage around the opening two bends and seemed a certain scorer when entering the back with three lengths in hand.
Unassuming wasn’t finished with, however. She began to close at the third turn and stayed on strongly up the run in but Ballymac Siun wasn’t going to be denied. Liam Dowling’s daughter of King Elvis and Ballymac Merkle held off her rival by a half length in a rapid 30.88.
SHONA LEADS THE WAY
Racing commenced with an A0 600 and Coolavanny Shona found herself in unknown territory. Normally a big finisher that comes from off the pace, she popped out from four and was in charge from the early strides.
Trained by Neilus O’Connell for Pat Grffin, the daughter of Malachi and GeeloCelticgold stormed away on the run in to eventually beat Hazelhill Chick by five and a half lengths in 32.51.
COLA FIZZES
There was also an impressive run over the 600yd trip in race 5 as Blackstone Cola displayed all her stamina to come through in the latter stages.
Dippy set a strong gallop, chased by Gunner Bun into the back straight but Blackstone Cola was never too far away in third and was certainly a big danger as they hit halfway.
A proven stayer, the David Flanagan trained daughter of Dromana Bucko and Blackstone Lacey moved second on the third turn and it became evident she was going to pick up the pace-setter. Finishing at speed, Matthew Derrick’s daughter of Dromana Bucko and Blackstone Lacey flew up the straight to win by a length and a half from Dippy in 32.68.