Derry Greyhounds: Cals Range was all the rage at Brandywell

There will be no racing at Brandywell on Easter Monday so there was an Easter theme at Monday’s race meeting instead.

The 8 race action got underway with a couple of sprint events. First up was He Doesnt Stay (Deerjet Sydney x Funny Pippa, Sep ’22) for Kevin Canning.

Well away from trap 2, this pup showed good early pace to lead into the first turn on what was his career debut. He ran on well win by 1.75 lengths in 17.07 for the 300 yard trip. He is the first of his litter to race and the first to win, which bodes well for the litter’s future.

In the second race, Oliver Canavan’s Olwinn Seen It (Ballymac Cashout x Jumeirah Zena, Dec ’22) was impressive when she won her sprint in a fast 16.82 on only her second career start. Drawn in trap 4, she was evenly away but caught the eye of spectators when she burst through the pack at the first bend to open up an unassailable lead. It was a great effort by such a young pup and just like our previous race winner she was the first in her litter to race.

The third race was over the 500 yards trip and Cals Range (Out Of Range ASB x Coolavanny Dream, Jul ’21) claimed an early lead in the 2024 Brandywell league table when she notched up her third win of the year. Housed in trap 1, Michael Calvert’s Range had plenty of room on the inside of the track with trap 2 being empty.

She was evenly away from the boxes and turned the first bend in a share of second place, behind early leader Eileens Story. She tracked the first two bends well and was hot on the leader’s heels as she approached the third bend. Taking the outside route around her rival, her stamina brought her 5 lengths clear of a staying on Rough Romano in second place and her clock of 27.92 proved it was a quality run for the trip.

Due to a mechanical fault, the fourth race was void and in race 5, which was the voided race from last week, the Watch & Learn Syndicate’s Regent Sky (Broadstrand Bono x Hop The Ball, Apr ’22) converted her Newbridge, Kilkenny and Enniscorthy form into a win around Brandywell’s 500 yard circuit on her first attempt at the track. She was well away from trap 5 and led at the crucial first turn.

The Easter Bunny visited the Brandywell and met with some of her fans. Pictured with Ethan Martin.

She maintained her lead all the way to the line when clocking a decent 28.28 with the fast finishing Leathams Lotto just a half-length away in second place. Sky’s win was a welcome first in 2024 at Brandywell for her owners and her trainer Dylan Porter.

Impressive

The Ballymac Bolger x Longrange Dawn, Oct ’22) litter have been impressing on their debuts at Brandywell. Longrange Chico was no less impressive when he came from off the pace to win race 6 over the 500 yards. Evenly away from trap 4, Hugh Mallon’s Chico got squeezed for room on the run to the first bend.

He was forced to keep middle around the first couple of turns and looked to have an impossible task to catch the early leader Townsend Swift who had skipped clear down the back straight. But Chico kept up a strong gallop and came with an eye catching run to burst between the leaders close to the line. He clocked a moderate 28.46 to win by 1 length, but it was the style of his efforts on only his third race that were noteworthy.

As soon as the lids lifted in Race 7, Rough Rocko (Good News x Bubbly Rose, Nov ’21) in trap 3 staked his claim on proceedings and snatched victory with a smart trap to line, 9 length win in a fast 16.74 for the sprint distance.

Brandywell Race 3, The Monday Night 500 was won by CALS RANGE in 27.92. Pictured with winning owner Michael Calvert.

John McQuillan’s hound was last seen in competitive action in October 2023 when he had a decent 17.91 success to his credit at Lifford and he has certainly built on that effort given time and maturity.

The finale was a thrilling affair with several dogs in with chances of winning on the homestraight. It was the KMR Syndicate’s Mister Prout (Pestana x Droopys Gala, Sep ’21), drawn in trap 5, that came with a late swoop on the outside of early leader Auto Blue and the staying on Eva Pearl, to grasp victory in a decent 16.89 for the 300 yards. Only 0.75 lengths and 0.5 lengths separated the first 3 home which made great viewing for the racing enthusiasts.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Lifford Greyhound Stadium picked up where it had left off one-week prior as several trackers recorded superb victories over the course of the weekend.

The standout performance on Friday over the standard trip was that of the Sean Harrison-owned Unwanted Present. This lady was well-supported on her last start but was forced to play second fiddle to an impressive winner in Pivotal Time, however, she bounced back in terrific style to land an A4 contest.

Trained by Dean McComb, the 2/1 chance was briefly headed in the opening yards by the early-paced Do It Jella but this was short-lived as the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Julies Paradise took control off the second turn.

Brandywell Race 5, The Monday night 500 was won by REGENT SKY in 28.28. Pictured with Kyle Porter.

From here, she ensured she will keeping much better company going forward as she drew clear to win by four and three parts of a length, in a swift 28.95. There were two sweepstake deciders on offer on Friday and the first of those was the Trackside Restaurant A6 325, landed in expert fashion by Halo John.

A winner of his semi final outing, Mia and Caroline Friel’s charge took no prisoners in this contest as he stepped out lively from a tricky trap six berth. Showing fine early speed, the son of Laughil Blake and Halo Dimebar stayed on stoutly up the tough Lifford hill to seal a one and three parts of a length victory over Snooty Liam in second. The time was 17.81. The second of the sweepstake deciders was the Trackside Restaurant A5/A6 525 and this saw Moyola Croia pick a perfect night to finally get her trapping in order.

The 4/1 chance, owned by Gerry Bradley disputed the early running with Cals Range, however, quickly asserted rounding the opening turn to go clear. Known for her stamina abilities, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Moyola Toto was never going to be reeled in thereafter and she cantered to a three and three parts of a length victory over Cals Range in second. The time was 29.24.

Lifford Race 5 - The HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY CAOIMHE MCCARRON S2 325 was won by KILLBOBBIN ANNIE in 17.59. In centre is the winning owner Kyle McCarron who is the brother of Caoimhe McCarron (to the right of him) whose birthday race this is. A host of Caoimhe’s family x friends are all assembled around her.

In terms of the two-bend action, the fastest time on the night came from the formidable Charles Coyle kennel. A new recruit with some tasty Clonmel form, Maughera Ace was available at 7/4 at the off and this looked quite generous as he powered from trap one to quickly outpace his rivals on the run to the opener.

This, indeed, proved crucial as despite Follom Wave making good inroads in the closing stages, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Knockmill Girl kept just enough in reserve to account for a one and a half length victory. The time was a rapid 17.54.

Sunday action

Moving onto Sunday evening and there was no doubt about the standout display as Native Margo finally delivered a performance that every man and his dog knew she was capable of.

Owned by James Anderson, this lady had shown bits and pieces of real pace in prior starts without managing to put it all together, however, she certainly corrected that particular wrong in an A6 525. The 7/4 favourite, ‘Margo’ showed a lovely turn of early speed from trap three and she was to gallop further and further clear of her rivals thereafter.

Indeed, the daughter of Good News and Ravenswood Margo never relented in the final stages of the contest and was some ten lengths too strong for her closest rival as she stopped the clock in a stunning 28.85. The ‘Happy Birthday Caoimhe McCarron S2 325’ looked a hot contest on paper and this so proved as Killbobbin Annie pulled out all the stops to win in style for Kyle McCarron and Martin Gallagher.

Lifford; Race 3 - The B.R MECHANICAL PIPEWORK A6 525 was won by NATIVE MARGO in 28.85. From left; Conal Doherty, winning owner Jimmy Anderson, Control Steward James Arrnold & Caeleen Anderson.

The 2/1 shot made her intentions clear from the off with a fast start from three. Brora recovered well from a tardy start to move second and looked a potential winner rounding the bottom two bends, however, she was run out of contention late on as Izzys Jessie emerged the main threat.

That said, Killbobbin Annie was going about her business in great style out in front and she stayed on stoutly to record a one length victory over her rival. The time was a brisk 17.59.