Notshort Ofpace wins Geoff Thompson Memorial Final

The Final of the Geoff Thompson Memorial 500 was the feature event on the 7 race programme at Brandywell on Monday.

It was generously sponsored by Sam Stewart and his family, and Track Lotto. John & Jamie McGee also remembered their good friend Geoff on the night by sponsoring a couple of races on the card; Remembering The Good Times 500 and the Gizmo Cash @ Stud Sprint which were races 5 & 7 respectively on the night.

Racing got underway with sprint action and it was Deirdre Eastwood’s Tammy Kay (Broadstrand Bono x Believer, Aug ’22) that was first to earn her place on the winners podium. Tammy’s chance looked to have evaporated after a very slow start from trap 6, but she paced well to the bottom bend and with some crowding ahead she cleverly tucked in behind the field rounding the bends to emerge alongside the leaders entering the home straight.

Keeping to the inside rail, she stayed on well to win by 1.75 lengths in 17.51. This was her first win but there should be plenty more to come from this lass given a half decent exit from traps.

Brian Macklin’s Barnish Silver (Grangeview Ten x Tarastar, Apr ’23) was an impressive winner of the second race over the 300 yards. This striking looking blue fawn lad was only moderately away from trap 1 but had the pace, inside position and determination to drive into the lead at the first bend.

From there this 18 month old pup ran on strongly up the straight to clock 16.95 with 3.5 lengths to spare over Fagans Rocky in second. This was his first success on what was only his second attempt.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 5. The Remembering The Good Times 500 Yds was sponsored by John Mc Gee and was won by SHANTY MOYOLA in 28.10. Pictures with, from left, winning owner Andrew Hagan, George Cregan Jnr & Sam Stewart who represented the sponsor for this photo.

Early pace was the key to race 3 over the sprint distance and the Raymond Fay & Colm Sweeney owned Emily Amore (Judicial Post x Best Illusion, Oct ’21) had that in abundance. Ideally drawn in trap 1, she flew from the boxes and led around the first bend. Despite being under pressure from her rivals from there on in, she held off the fast finishing Divine Mission by a neck in 17.07. This brings her career tally to 4 wins for this 3 year old.

The Final of the Geoff Thompson Memorial 500 was the fourth race on the night. Recent form predicted the winner with Seamus McCloskey’s Notshort Ofpace (Mineola Farloe x Mineola Radical, Nov ’22) going through the early rounds undefeated. As expected the early pace came from Generous Tricast in trap 6 but the writing was on the wall as Notshort Ofpace got a clear run from trap 1 and tucked in just behind the leader at the first turn.

Tricast held off his challenger until the third turn when he left space on his inside. Seamus’s hound had the trackcraft to drive into the lead and he ran on to win by 1 length in 27.69 from the fast finishing Scally Annie in second.

Tricast held on for third a further 2.5 lengths away. With 3 wins from 6 starts, Notshort Ofpace certainly has lived up to his name and he was a worthy winner of this inaugural running of the Geoff Thompson Memorial competition.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 7, The Gizmo Cash Stud Stake 300 Yds was sponsored by JamieMc Gee. It was won by GENEROUS CASHOUT in 16.65. Pictured with, from left, winning owner Charles Baxter and Sam Stewart who represented the sponsor for this photo.

Race 5, Remembering The Good Times 500 saw a return to form for Andy Hagan’s Shanty Moyola (Ballymac Bolger x Moyola Toto, Jan ’22). Her only previous career success had come in November 2023 over the 525 yards at Brandywell. She was moderately away from trap 3 and was lying in third place at the first turn.

She held her position until the third bend when the leaders tangled and Moyola shot through on their inside. With stamina being her forte she ran on well to win by 2.25 lengths in 28.10.

Dean Townsend’s Cricket Bolt (Magical Bale x Myahs Friend, Oct ’22) made it 13th time lucky when he relinquished his maiden tag in Race 6 over the 500 yards. Only moderately away from trap 3, he was in a share of second place at the first turn but had the track craft to take full advantage of some crowding and emerged into the back straight in front. Once in front, he stretched his lead to an impressive 7 lengths as he crossed the line in 28.34.

Charlie Baxter’s Generous Cashout (Ballymac Best x Generous Daisy, Sep ’22) made it two in a row as he landed the Gizmo Cash @ Stud Sprint which was the last race of the night.

Robert Montgomery (left) was presented with the Olwinn Kennels Trophy by sponsor Oliver Canavan after De Three Divils was voted our favourite performer at the 15th Oct 2024 race meeting.

He now has an impressive record of 4 wins from his last 5 starts with only a short head defeat tarnishing a perfect 5 from 5. Cashout showed his customary early pace from trap 2 to lead to the first turn. He swung wide off the second bend but had enough in the tank to hold off the fast finishing Mr Jackson by 1.25 lengths in a fast 16.65.

Mayor’s visit to the Brandywell

Mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr, attended the Brandywell on Saturday 19th October to receive a £245 donation from the Brandywell Supporters Group for her chosen charity, The BUD Club.

There is currently a ‘Just Giving’ fundraiser online for anyone who wishes to donate to this charity. During her visit, the Mayor had the opportunity to be ‘on-track’ and hear from the Track Management Team about the preparation that is involved in keeping the track surface in pristine condition for the hound breeds that exercise and run there.

She also got to meet some of the hounds that use the facility and saw first-hand the care and attention that goes into ensuring their welfare. It was an enjoyable visit for everyone and important messages about welfare, heritage and community unity appeared to be well received.

Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Lilian Seenoi Barr, was a special guest to the Brandywell Greyhound Track at the weekend to receive a donation of £245 on behalf of the Brandywell Greyhound Supporters Group to the Mayor’s chosen charity this year, The BUD Club. From left; Kirsty Harpur with Bonnie, Peter Farrell with Roger, Stephanie English who is behind Leah O’Driscoll, Lisa McLaughlin, Martina McLauglin and Brendan McLaughlin who are behind Brandon McLaughlin and Millie Grant with Sally the whippet, Mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr, Eamon and Caira O’Goan & Charlie Mooney who are behind Jude, Orla and Enda O’Goan with Baby.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Storm Ashley played havoc over the weekend and Lifford Greyhound Stadium rightly postponed Sunday afternoon’s race meeting due to safety and welfare. As a result, the Northwest venue hosted just one meeting on Saturday night, however, there were a couple of really likeable performances.

The first of those came from the Brendan McLaughlin-owned Culmore Queen, who duly made it back-to-back wins with a very accomplished display. A winner in 18.01 one-week prior, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Culdaff Lady pinged out of trap three and she raced into a comprehensive lead, while posting a slick 4.31 sectional in the process. Holding all the aces around the bottom two bends, there was no catching McLaughlin’s 2/1 chance as she rallied to a three and a quarter length victory over Wise Words in second. The time was a rapid 17.69.

In race four, Find The Puzzle (5/2) bounced back from a hat-trick of recent defeats to win in style for new owners, Tyler and Shay Patterson. A choicely bred son of Droopys Sydney and Nemesis, ‘Puzzle’ was only moderately into stride from trap three, however, showed fine early dash to turn handy behind the early leader Blue Luna.

In behind, Dreenan Jacko skittled the entire field with his wide-running tactics from trap two and in turn, this quickly became a two dog affair between Find The Puzzle and Blue Luna. Switching to the inside on the run for home, this proved decisive for Find The Puzzle as he stayed on strongly up the hill to chin the longtime leader Blue Luna. Just a neck separating the pair, the time was 17.78.

Tartan Grace (5/2) is a bitch in fine form of late and she made it back-to-back wins for Rhys McBride in race six, the A1 Roofing A3 550.

Brandywell on Saturday; Mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr visited the Brandywell Greyhound Track to receive a £245 donation for her chosen charity; The BUD Club. Whilst she was there she met young Brandon McLaughlin. Many generations of Brandon’s family have been regular patrons at the Brandywell.

Bust The Tins had caught the eye in defeat last time out and as such, was installed as the 5/4 favourite to come out on top with the additional twenty-five yards at his disposal. However, he had no answer to Tartan Grace as she produced a big finish to take charge at the final bend.

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A winner one-week previously with a similarly powerful finish, she very much appreciated the additional yardage as she flew to an extending two and three parts of a length win over Longrange Cian in second. The time was 30.55.