Thurles Greyhounds: Robert leads way in rapid Borna opener at Thurles last Saturday

Six heats in the opening round of the Borna Kennels A4 525 Yard Stake dominated the Saturday fixture at Thurles Greyhound Stadium last weekend and producing a fastest of the night performance to occupy pole position in the competitive event was the Kilvil Syndicate’s Kilvil Robert (Ballymac Best-In A Heartbeat).

Back to winning ways in the same grade a week earlier, the Pete Pattinson stalwart displayed all of his slick early dash following a level break from trap 5 in the opening heat and two lengths to the good at the opening bend, extended further clear to the backstraight with Anfield Bud in pursuit. Never seriously threatened, Kilvil Robert was approaching his very best career form when stopping the clock at 29.18 (-20) for a five-length verdict over that same rival, with a baulked Montore Brian four lengths back in third.

The remaining five heats of the A4 stake were far more competitive with many close finishes and less than a length separating the winners on the clock as Jennifer Lee’s Code Skye (Droopys Sydney-Boherna Abbie) just about enters Round Two as the next fastest having backed-up her latest victory in the same grade to land Heat 3.

Tracking a sharp Rosscomroe Rusty throughout the early exchanges following a moderate break from trap 1, the lightly raced September 2019 wheel railed well around the bends and overturning a one length deficit, struck the front on the run to the backstraight. Seeing out the trip stoutly, Code Skye repelled the late attentions of the strong running Cloneen Valerie in 29.42 (-20).

Next best in the event when claiming Heat 5, young Tommy Walsh’s Mysterious Star (Droopys Sydney-Mysterious Ways) doubled her win tally when just about leading throughout her first Thurles appearance.

Breaking on level terms from trap 2, the September 2020 whelp eased her way to a tight first bend lead and extending while turning, reached the backstraight with two lengths in hand of One For Billy. Revealing strong running abilities from halfway however, Mysterious Star readily increased her advantage to the line when posting 29.44 (-20) in a four-length defeat of that same rival with Kelzomic Sprinks third.

The remaining three heats of the A4 stake returned the same winning time and actually returned four winners as a three-way photo-finish to Heat 4 failed to separate the Knockedofflaidin Syndicate’s Epic King (Belles Direction-Priceless Dancer) and Paddy Scally’s Cabra Sonic (Kinloch Brae-Cabra Ebony).

It was Cabra Sonic who dominated the early exchanges having began well from trap 1 but within two lengths when gamely securing clear passage amidst runners at the opening bends, Epic King set sights on the leader approaching halfway. Little changed to the closing bends but drawing ever closer approaching the home straight, a sustained effort on the inside saw Epic King join Cabra Sonic on the line in 29.47 (-20) with both only just repelling the powerful and hugely eye-catching finish of Miss Celebrity by a fast-diminishing head within a thrilling contest.

Almost as tight at the business end, Heat 2 saw the dual Dog of the Year winner at Thurles claim his second win of this season as Stephanie Ryan’s Knockalton Conor (Silverhill Shay-Kitmins Denise) also posted 29.47 (-20) in typically game fashion.

Leading to the opening bend from trap 1, he would find Tribal Council rushing up on his outside to lead at the third bend but rallying on the run for home, the John Byrne trained winner denied that rival in the shadow of the post for a shorthead verdict with Chloe Girl third.

The concluding heat of the round also returned that time of 29.47 (-20) and gamely shedding her maiden tag at the fourth time of asking, Kathleen Pomfret’s Freedom Sonia (Magical Bale-Freedom Dream) impressed in a strong running performance.

A first Thurles outing, the October 2021 whelp overturned a four length second bend deficit when denying Code Jackal by three parts of a length, with Kind Cian running-on well in third.

Outside of the stake action on Saturday, the next best return arrived in the concluding Irish Retired Greyhound Trust A2 525 when the Feelgood Racing Syndicate’s Shackleton (Budgie Marbh-Trying Times) shrugged off his latest bumpy outing for a sixth career win.

Breaking on level terms, the September 2020 whelp contested for the lead on the outside of a three-way tussle approaching the corner but gamely holding strong against bumping, galloped his way to a two-length backstraight lead over Cabra Hasty. Certain to see out the trip stoutly, Shackleton impressed while extending the winning margin to six lengths over that rival at the line, posting a bump affected 29.37 (-20).

With a sole previous win, the lightly raced career of Sarah Taylor’s Two Short Planks (Ballymac Best-In A Heartbeat) had seen him absent since last September within a very interrupted profile. However, returning for Saturday’s RCÉTS A3 525, he left a very pleasing impression in a strong running second career win.

Breaking well from trap 3, the March 2020 whelp took a strong one-length lead to the bend before reaching halfway with two lengths in hand of Fairest Roxy. Displaying strong staying abilities thereafter, the Kim Taylor trained Two Short Planks extended to five and a half lengths over that rival in 29.40 (-20).

Commencing the Saturday fixture, James Treacy’s Montore Harry (Farloe Blitz-Montore Sally) stepped up from his debut outing when leading throughout a shorthead verdict over Sugarfoot in their A5 525 clash, posting 30.31 (-20) before John Ryan’s Ace Express (Grangeview Ten-Ballybrack Lexi) shed her maiden tag at the eighth time of asking in the Split The Pot A6 525, three lengths in advance of On The Wildside in 29.81 (-20).

Top Dog

Fastest in the opening round of the Borna Kennels A4 525 Stake, Kilvil Robert (Ballymac Best-In A Heartbeat) set up a hattrick bid ahead of this week’s second round and will prove tough to beat as he further approached his career best form in 29.18 (-20).

Best Bitch

In fine form at present, Code Skye (Droopys Sydney-Boherna Abbie) will seek a hattrick in the second round of the Borna Kennels A4 525 Stake following a highly pleasing opening round victory in 29.42 (-20).

One To Watch

Very slow to stride before badly baulked at the opening bends in his heat of the A4 525 stake, Stephen Gough’s Kelzomic Sprinks (Premier Fantasy-Kelzomic Satnav) caught the eye when staying strongly in his seven-length third to Mysterious Ways in 29.44 (-20). More will be required in the early exchanges this week but with just three starts as a September 2021 pup, he looks capable of improvement with a future which lies over extended distances.