Derry Greyhounds: Connor and Mallon doubles at Brandywell

The last meeting of Winter at Brandywell was a cold, wet and windy reminder that Spring had still not arrived. However, spirits were not dampened and the dogs enjoyed their weekly jaunt around the circuit. There was a competitive seven race programme lined up, but the sixth race had to be rescheduled for next week due to a technical issue.

First up was Hugh Mallon’s Longrange Abaigh (Ballymac Bolger x Longrange Dawn, Oct ’22) who claimed the accolade of being the first of her litter to win a race. Drawn in trap 3, she was evenly away from boxes and tucked in behind the leaders at the first bend. She tracked the bend well and finished strongly up the home straight to get the better of Generous Smile by a head in 17.17 for the 300 yards.

It was a commendable effort from this young bitch in only her second race and her competitive racing attitude should be an asset going forward. The Mallon double was completed in race 5 over 500 yards with Abaigh’s litter brother Longrange Trend.

Drawn in trap 1, Trend was slow away from boxes and at this stage his chances of winning looked slim. However, he paced up well to the first bend and then going down the back straight he passed those at the tail of the field. He had moved into a threatening looking third place by the third bend and came up the home straight with a wet sail between the leaders to win by 1 length in 28.35.

The track craft he showed on what was only his second career start, certainly was eye catching and bodes well for his future. Securing the double was a deserving reward for Hugh Mallon’s home bred litter.

Shane Talbot’s Train Flash (Pestana x Glenegat Mildred, Jul ’21) flashed from trap 4 in the second race to notch up her third career success. The field were hot on her tail by the first bend but she ran a great bend to pull clear of her competitors and held off the strong finishing Generous Payout by 1.25 lengths in 17.07 for the 300 yards.

Tenth win

Race 3 was also over the sprint distance and Brendan McLaughlin’s Insidethehuddle (Ballymac Best x Ballydoyle Grace, Oct ’20) notched up his second career win in 2024 to bring his overall tally of wins to 10. He was fast away from trap 5 but De Three Divils showed good pace to challenge for the lead at the first bend.

Huddle ran a stronger bend than his rival and, despite running wide off the second bend, had enough in the tank to stay on well up the home straight to clock 16.82 which the fastest sprint time of the night. De Three Divils was a commendable 3 lengths away in second place.

Brandywell: The Harry Mc Guinness Construction Trophy was presented to Colm McConomy by the sponsor (left of photo) after Inniskeen Mandy was voted our favourite performer at the 11th March 2024 race meeting. Also in photo; Fionnuala O’Kane & children; Rioghan O’Kane & Cadhla McConomy.

Jim Connor got the first leg of his double up in Race 4, the Greyhound Data 500 with Leathem Cool (Pestana x Coolavanny Dame, Nov ’21). Drawn in trap 1, he battled for the early lead with Shrewd Stories in trap 6. Cool had the ideal inside pitch as the pair went around the first two bends and came out of the second bend in the lead.

Cool extended his lead to 4 lengths over his rival as he crossed the line in 28.19 which was the faster of the two 4 bend races on the night. This was a third career success for Cool and his first win around the Brandywell circuit.

Jim completed his double in the last race over the 300 yards. Yarn Teller (Farloe Rumble x Caw Caw, Jan ’20) has just moved into the veteran phase of her career but she certainly still has plenty of enthusiasm for racing and retained plenty of ability.

She was well away from trap 5 and battled hard for the early lead. She secured her victory after running a great first bend which gave her an unassailable lead and she clocked a smart 16.85 finishing 5.5 lengths ahead of track specialist Finnside Gem.

Brandywell: Race 2 was won by TRAIN FLASH in 17.07. From left we have Ceallach & Shane Talbot with their Uncle Matthew Talbot.

This brings her career tally to 7 career wins and in this sort of form, there could well be more to come.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Track conditions at Lifford Greyhound Stadium were in pristine condition over the weekend and this resulted in some serious performances from several trackers.

On Friday night, the opening race was landed by the John McMenamin-owned Tullys Tyrone. A strapping brindle son of Belles Direction and Maid In Tyrone, he took no prisoners as he bolted from trap five to pace into the opening turn in full control. From here, the May pup drew clear up the Lifford hill to record a five and a quarter length victory, in a brisk 17.81.

High Bar

The semi finals of the Trackside Restaurant A5/A6 525 featured on the card and it was Sundance Ken (Black Parachute – Daryanoor Shine) who set a very high bar as he romped to victory for new owner Patrick McIntyre. A pocket-sized July pup, he justified his even money pricetag as he made every post a winner in seeing off Moyola Croia by a solid five and three parts of a length.

Brandywell Race 7, The Monday Night Sprint was won by Yarn Teller in 16.85. Pictured with Tommy Connor.

The time for this young prospect was a rapid 28.98. In the opening semi, Sheilas Wonder ensured ‘Ken’ won’t have everything his own way in the decider with an equally impressive performance. Owned by Sean Harrison and trained by Dean McComb, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Julies Paradise set her stall out early with a ping start from trap one.

From here, she proved a class above her rivals on this occasion as she crossed the line five lengths clear, in 29.15. Also down for decision on the night was the semi finals of the Trackside Restaurant S5/S6 325 and it was James Campbell’s Titanic Gift who delivered in style at odds of 4/5.

Just an August pup, this lady flew from traps to clock a brisk 4.29 sectional and she maintained that relentless gallop all the way to the winning line. Two and a quarter lengths clear of Starvin Marvin, the time for the daughter of Burgess Bucks and Titanic Peggy was a fine 17.62. In the opening semi, Halo John recorded a first career victory for joint owners, Mia and Caroline Friel.

Lifford: Race 8 - OLD DALYS A3 525 was won by veteran UNRELIABLE in 28.94 and is pictured with Tom Mullan.

A lightly raced son of Laughil Blake and Halo Dimebar, he improved at traprise to show first from the stripes and this proved crucial in coming home one and a half lengths clear of Snooty Liam in second. The time was 17.78.

Standout Performance

Moving on to Sunday evening and patrons were treated to a St. Patrick’s Day treat with several top-class displays on offer.

Arguably the standout performance on the card came in the A1 Roofing 575, which looked hugely competitive on paper. However, it proved anything but competitive as Tuttles Ben (2/1) extended his unbeaten run to four on the bounce and cement his place as one of the leading greyhounds in the North-West at present.

Running for Michael and Rory Stewart, all distances come alike to the strapping blue fawn and despite a level start from six, he proceeded to outpace his rivals in the early exchanges.

Holding a three length advantage over Kyanite Kate entering the back, the son of Good News and Tuttles Twilight was never under any pressure from his rival as he extended his lead in the closing yards to win comfortably by five lengths. The time was an exquisite 31.56. Switching back to the two-bend trip and there was an explosive performance from Longvale Glory as he justified his 6/4 favouritism.

Trained by Declan Crossan for Georgina Gibbons, this powerful black is one of the top sprinters in the North when at his peak and he certainly cemented that billing with a blistering performance from his preferred draw in red.

Posting a red-hot 4.21 sectional early on, Longvale Glory was always holding Hawkfield Scar around the bottom two bends and although the latter bridged the gap late on, it was too little too late as ‘Glory’ crossed the line with one and a quarter lengths to spare.

Lifford: Race 5 - A1 ROOFING A2/A3 575 was won by TUTTLES BEN in 31.56. This handsome blue fawn hound was presented on the weighing scales before racing by joint owner Michael Stewart.

The time was a powerful 17.37. There was an equally impressive performance in the concluding race of the night as Canya Hot Shot (Droopys Sydney – Easy On) returned from a recent break in fine fettle for Gert Du-Plessis and Peter McGorrey. A top-class lady at her best, she built on a brilliant 16.69 spin around Derry with a trap-to-line victory in seeing off Kilbride Classic by two and a half lengths.

The time was a fast 17.53. There was a notable victory in the penultimate race of the night over the standard trip as the evergreen, Unreliable, proved anything but as he made it fourteen career wins for Willie Mullan of Derry. Running from trap three, the son of Over Limit and Kittys Box took a flier from trap three to lead and despite being outpace down the back by Blackstone Steel, he came back for more in the closing stages to power home and record victory. Crossing the line three parts of a length clear of the staying-on Bogger Molly, the time for Unreliable was a brilliant 28.94.