Derry Greyhounds: Marvel was the superhero of the Liam Melly Memorial Night

PICTURED ABOVE: Brandywell Race 4, The Liam Melly Memorial & Track Lotto 525 Final was won by DRUMCROW MARVEL in 29.10 for the 525. Liam’s family & friends were out in force to show their love and appreciation for Liam’s life. Liams wife Annie, is left of photo. Harold Ruddy is holding the trophy & he is the father of Roy Ruddy who bred, owns & trains Marvel.

Brandywell Greyhound Stadium hosted the Final of the Liam Melly Memorial 525 yards on Monday evening as part of a generously sponsored 8 race programme.

There was a great turnout for the meeting and thanks go to everyone who played a part in organising or ensuring the success of the event.

A special mention must go to Sean Melly who put in a huge amount of effort to ensure it was a night that his Uncle Liam would have been proud of.

Action got underway with the Willie Mullan Sprint which was sponsored by Willie Mullan and Marty Healy. It was Owen Charlie (Ballymac Anton x Springwell Pearl, May ’22) who relinquished his maiden tag when he made it tenth time lucky for Cyril O’Hagan. He flashed out of trap 3 to make every yard of the running to win by 1.25 lengths in 17.30.

Sponsored by Gary Rouse, the GR Scaffolding Sprint was the second race of the night. Only moderately away from trap 3 Seamus McCloskey’s Mineola Topman (Mineola Farloe x Mineola Radical, Nov ’22) showed good early pace to put himself in contention at the first turn. He ran a great bend on the outside of Sniper Big Les and with some crowding on his inner he opened up enough of a lead to win in 17.23, making it two wins from only three starts.

Meenagh Munich (Blame The Game x Meenagh Melody, Apr ’23) won Race 3, the Pyper & Parke Electrical 500 for Michael Corr.

He was no less impressive than his sister Meenagh Moscow who impressed when winning at last week’s race meeting.

This looks to be a very exciting litter. Generous Tricast took up an early lead from trap 6 whereas Munich in 3 was last to leave the boxes. Munich paced up to take the outside of runners at the first bend and made steady headway down the back straight.

Brandywell Race 6, The C.T. Shopfitting Sponsored 500 was won by COMER RUNWAY in 28.15. Pictured with members of the On-The Run-Syndicate who owns him along with Stephen Radcliffe in centre of photo.

He looked to have an impossible task from his position at the third bend but he powered up the home straight to win by 0.75 lengths and clock a decent 28.05. It was a great performance from a novice pup having his first start.

The Liam Melly Memorial 525 Final was organised and generously sponsored by the family of the late Liam Melly, their friends and Track Lotto. It was Race 4 on the programme and it was La Calabaza in 5 that flashed from boxes with Fayes Diamond and Drumcrow Marvel (trap 3) in hot pursuit. But Marvel’s early pace took him to the front at the first turn.

Wee Chancer made eye catching progress on the back straight but he was just squeezed for room at the third bend. Meanwhile up front Drumcrow Marvel was keeping up a strong gallop and comfortably made it three in a row as he crossed the line in 29.10 to land this prestigious event for Roy Ruddy who bred, owns and trains him.

Brandywell Race 3, The Pyper & Parke Electrical 500 was won by MEENAGH MUNICH in 28.05. From left; Faye Campbell, Rian Talbot, John McGorrey & Sean Melly, who is a nephew of the late Liam Melly.

Wee Chancer ran on well for second place with Fayes Diamond a gallant third. There was a great turnout for the trophy presentation and the style of Drumcrow Marvel’s victory would have no doubt impressed the late Liam Melly who loved the sport and his dogs.

On a night where the first 4 races were won by the hounds in trap 3, Newsreel (Good News x Oldburrin Queen, May ’21) bucked the trend when winning Race 5, The BR Mechanical Pipework & James McGhee 500, from trap 6. Sarah Leahy’s hound loves the Brandywell circuit and given half a chance will post a fast clock.

Trained by Kevin Canning, Newsreel timed his exit from trap 6 perfectly and shouts of ‘its all over’ could be heard from those who knew the experience tracker well. Indeed it was all over, as Newreel made all to clock a sizzling 27.62. Whilst he has switched tracks between his races, he has now won his last 4 races at Brandywell.

Brandywell; Danny McGilloway (right) presented the Brass Neck Bar Trophy to Rian Talbot after Spring Thing was voted our Favourite Performaner at the 16/9/24 race meeting.

Race 6, The CT Shop Fitting 500, was won in similar fashion when the On The Run Syndicate owned Comer Runaway (Great Blue Shark x Coolavanny Muir, Apr ’22) made all from trap 4 to win by 1.5 lengths in 28.15. Since arriving up North from Mullingar, he has now won at both Lifford and Brandywell.

Daniel White & Mickey Rooney Bookmakers sponsored Race 7 over the sprint distance. Townsend Swift (Blame The Game x A Wild Weegirl, Jun ’22) made all from trap 1 to win in 16.97 for Thomas Brennan. She has been in a rich vein of form lately and this win currently puts her at the top of the Brandywell league table for ‘Dog With Most Wins’ in 2024.

The trend for trap to line winners continued in the last race of the evening, the On The Run Syndicate Sprint. Sniper Orla Wray (Broadstrand Bono x Sniper Ria, Aug ’22) blasted out of trap 2 and held on to win by a short head as she crossed the line in 17.10 for Kevin O’Kane. It was a thrilling end to a great night’s action.

Thank you to everyone who supported this event in any way. It was a night to remember.

Lifford played host to a ten race card on Saturday night and the feature events were the two BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby Trial Stakes and these were claimed in brilliant fashion by both Pivotal Time and Rough Rocko.

Brandywell Race 5, The BR Mechanical Pipework & James McGhee Sponsored 500 was won by NEWSREEL in 27.62. Pictured with trainer Kevin Canning (centre) Michael Gaughy (left) & Sean Melly.

With a first prize of €600 and a golden ticket into Irish Greyhound racings flagship event next month, it wasn’t surprising to see some top trackers amongst the entries for the Trial Stakes, however, both proved one-way traffic as Pivotal Time and Rough Rocko took charge from the outset.

Spectacular

After returning to form in spectacular fashion one-week prior, Pivotal Time was the first to book her ticket with a make-all victory for Kelmore McConaghie. A winner of a valuable Tri-Distance at Lifford in May of this year, the daughter of Broadstand Bono and Pro Melody bounced back to winning ways in 28.85 one-week prior and as a result, was installed as the 6/4 favourite to make it back-to-back wins.

Donning her favoured red jacket, it didn’t take long for her to assert as she disputed early on with Cloneden Flash in five, before outpacing her rival on the approach to the opening bend. From here, there was no doubt surrounding the result as she burned off her rivals down the back to emerge a facile, six and three parts of a length winner over All Electric in second. The time was a rapid 30.05.

Lifford on Saturday; Race 7 - BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby Trial Stakes A1 550 was won by PIVATOL TIME in 30.05. From left we have John Thompson (BoyleSports Representative ) alongside Cora Mc Clelland.

Not to be outdone, Rough Rocko went one better than his second place finish last time out at Drumbo Park.

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Owned by John McQuillan, the ability of Rough Rocko was never in question but his inconsistency at traps was a concern and this was reflected in the market when chalked up an easy-to-bet 7/2 chance. However, any doubts were put to bed early doors as he pinged out of trap four on this occasion to record a slick 3.93 opening sectional.

In doing so, the son of Good News and Bubbly Rose held all the aces entering the back straight and as a notable stout stayer, there was never any danger of him being reeled in thereafter. Maintained a strong gallop around the bottom two bends, Own And More was running the race of his life in second, however, it was all in vain as Rough Rocko crossed the line with two and a quarter lengths to spare over his eye-catching rival. The time was another fast 30.10.