Derry Greyhounds: Fantastic five for 'Meet More Often' in Charles Baxter 500

PICTURED ABOVE: Brandywell on Monday; Race 2, The Townsend Swift Sprint was won by MAIRES ROCK in 17.17 who is on the left of photo with Cara Doherty. Amongst all the connections of the winner, the sponsor & the Brandywell Greyhound Supporters Group in the photo, Thomas Brennan is holding Townsend Swift on the right of photo. Liam O’Driscoll (holding trophy) is representing his sister Bernie McCusker who sponsored the Seán O’Driscoll Memorial Trophy in memory of her late father. Sean’s great grandson Brandon McLaughlin is centre of photo holding the framed certificate. Photo by John Killen.

Brandywell Greyhound Stadium celebrated our 2024 Annual Awards Winners as part of a 7 race programme on Monday. Each of the winners of the 5 categories received £50 from the Brandywell Greyhound Supporters Group, £10 vouchers from both Martin Lavery & Daniel White, framed certificate courtesy of Stephanie English and a race named in their honour. They also received an individualised mug and rosette, and an engraved trophy which were individually sponsored.

First to earn their place on the winners’ podium was the aptly named Brandywell Pride (Broadstrand Bono x Velvet Holly, Oct ’21). Patsy Doyle’s lightly raced Pride last won in November 2023 but her patience, perseverance and experience deservedly paid off. She made the most of her trap 1 draw and tucked in behind Lucky Blake on the run to the first turn. With crowding on her outside affecting the leader, Pride bravely held her inside pitch and ran on well up the home straight to get the better of Jumpstart Jesse by 2 lengths in 17.64.

Race 2, The Townsend Swift 300 was named after the ‘Bitch With Most Wins’ in 2024 who topped our Brandywell league table. Swift had notched up 8 victories at the circuit and came along to the track on Monday for the photo presentation with the eventual winner of her race, Maries Rock (Ballymac Cashout x Culdaff Lady, Oct ’22).

Drawn in trap 2 and with a vacant box on her inside, Peter McMenamin’s Rock had every opportunity to make it back to back wins. After a slick start she bravely held off Goose Airlines who challenged on her outside at the first turn and thereafter Rock continued a strong gallop up the straight to win by 0.75 lengths from Goose in 17.17.

Townsend Swift’s owner Thomas Brennan was presented with the Sean O’Driscoll Memorial Trophy which was sponsored by Sean’s daughter Bernie McCosker.

Kevin Canning was the ‘Private Trainer With Most Wins’ at Brandywell in 2024 and Race 3 was named in his honour. After encountering crowding on his first 2 starts, the Becca Porter owned and Alan Byrne trained well bred Drumdoit Pat (Pat C Sabbath x Ballymac Natalie, Jul ’23) had no such trouble on Monday when afforded a clear passage after a speedy exit from trap 4.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 3, The Kevin Canning Sprint was won by DRUMDOIT PAT in 16.89. Marty Healy (left) representing the sponsor Michael Stewart presented Kevin Canning with the R S Auto Body Repair Trophy. Rebecca Porter is holding Pat and sisters Cara & Eva Doherty are on either side of her.

He led throughout and clocked a fast 16.89 for the 300 yards to relinquish his maiden tag in impressive fashion. After the race, Kevin Canning was presented with the R S Auto Body Repair Trophy sponsored by Michael Stewart.

The Newsreel 500 was the fourth race on the programme and it was named after the ‘Dog With Most Wins’ at Brandywell in 2024. Newsreel notched up 5 wins at the circuit and was trained by Kevin Canning for owner Sarah Leahy. This race was a thriller to watch and it was the prolific Do It Jella (Broadstrand Bono x Coolatee Molly, Mar ’22) that was once again back on the winners’ podium for owner Andrew White and trainer Ray White.

Ideally housed in trap 6, the early paced Jella had to play second fiddle to Meenagh Moscow who set a fierce gallop. But Jella was on her right shoulder throughout and managed to pull half a length clear of Moscow as she crossed the finish line in a very respectable 27.98 for the 500 yards.

Jella had made it into the GRI League Table for Top 20 Greyhounds in Ireland With Most Wins, with 11 to her credit and she has kicked 2025 off to a great start. After the race, Newsreel’s trainer Kevin Canning received the Lissan Kennels Trophy which was sponsored by Johnny Scott.

Race 5 The Charles Baxter 500 was named after the ‘Owner With Most Wins’ at Brandywell in 2024. Charlie had 12 winners from his 56 races entered and he was presented with the Assurance Roofing Trophy sponsored by John McMonagle after the race. In this race we saw Meet More Often (Magical Bale x Maid Me County, Aug ’22) make it 5 in a row, with 4 of those being at the Brandywell circuit.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 7, The Stephen Radcliffe Sprint was won by INNISKEEN MANDY in 17.06. Pictured with (from left) Fionnula O’Kane who presented Stephen Radcliffe with the Cullmac Contracts Trophy sponsored by Brendan Cullen. Stephen’s father Seán Radcliffe is holding Mandy, then Colm Mc Conomy with his daughter Cadhla. Photo by John Killen. 

She was fast away from trap 2 to lead up fast early pacer Monroes Kiss to the first bend. Owned by Eamonn Curran, Meet More Often won unchallenged by 3.25 lengths in 28.15 for the 500 yards and she is proving to be a real force to be reckoned with.

Adrian McGarry’s Portrush Tootsie (Ballymac Anton x Trinity Pearl, Nov ’23) won Race 6 after leading up to the first bend from trap 6. She made all to win by 4.5 lengths and clocked 30.32 for the 525 yards. This was only her second career start and given her young age, it is likely there is plenty more improvement to come.

The last race of the night, The Stephen Radcliffe 300 was named after our ‘Public Trainer With Most Wins’ at Brandywell in 2024. It was won by Inniskeen Mandy (Superior Panama x Slaneyside Kerri, Sep ’21) who Stephen trains for Colm McConomy. Better known for her 4 bend exploits, Mandy was taking on a field of decent sprinters but they were no match for her early pace and Mandy made all from trap 3 to win by 3.25 lengths in 17.06.

Brandywell on Monday; Brendan McLaughlin (right) was presented with the Harry McGuinness Construction Trophy (by Harry) after Comer Hero was voted our favourite performer at the 13/1/25 race meeting.

After the race, Stephen was presented with the Cullmac Contracts Trophy which was sponsored by Brendan Cullen.

With the freezing conditions finally in the rear view mirror, Lifford Stadium got back on track with their two race meetings over the weekend and there were some terrific performances on Saturday night, none more so than from the star of the weekend, Fridays India.

This lady, owned by Paul Whyte, landed her debut in a brisk 17.77, however, improved in rapid style despite a hefty upgrade into S3 company. Indeed, given the quality of her debut win, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Tyrur Lucille was installed at short odds of 4/5 but this looked a generous price as she blew her rivals away.

Lifford on Sunday; Race 7 - The ROSIES CAFE A7 525 was won by the in form kennel of Paul Whyte who trained BELLATRIX DOLL to win in 29.54. This was his third of four winners at the weekend at Lifford. Pictured with (from left) Kyra, Keegan & Harry Whyte, Rachel McNulty & Ruiari Whyte.

Running from five, Fridays India was headed on the run-up by Roddicks Lindsay in four, however, quickly asserted around the opener to hit the front. In doing so, ‘India’ powered up the Lifford hill to put four and a quarter lengths between herself and Roddicks Lindsay in second. The time was a blistering 17.48.

Elsewhere on the card, the opening two races saw a novice sweepstake get underway and both were landed in devastating fashion by Armagh Buckfast and Droopys Fibre. It was Aidan McVeigh’s ‘Buckfast’ that got the ball rolling as he justified strong market support to run to a virtual solo. Drawn in four, the son of Ballymac Cooper outpaced his rivals at traprise and in truth, he got better and better as the race progressed. Powering up the hill to emerge a six and a quarter length winner, he stopped the clock in a flying 17.67.

Not to be outdone, Droopys Fibre, owned by Frank Barron, was mighty impressive as he ensured the decider in one week’s time will at least prove competitive. Trained by Ray Hamilton, the well-bred son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Miriam broke well from his tricky trap six berth to show the superior early dash to lead. In doing so, he too proved a class above his rivals in storming to a seven length victory. The time was 17.71.

Unlucky loser

The feature event on Saturday’s card was the final of the Lifford Stadium S3/S4, which offered €400 to the winner and this was also landed by a Paul Whyte runner. So Its Bono went to traps as the 11/10 favourite, however, after missing the kick, he was to prove an unlucky loser despite making up serious ground in the latter stages.

In contrast, Blue Luna was first to show from four as she blitzed her rivals on the run to the opening bend to manufacture a healthy lead. Jointly owned by Carol and Anthony Dunnage, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Donna Rose was all out on the run for home to hold off the advances of So It’s Bono but she was nothing if not game in securing a diminishing three parts of a length victory. The time was 17.69.

Lifford on Sunday; Race 8 - The TRACK BOOKMAKERS A7/A8 525 was won by PHARIS SARAH in 29.94. Pictured with father & daughter Jimmy & Caeleen Anderson. Charlie the lucky teddy dog mascot is also in the photo and helped the kennel land a double on the night.

Over the standard trip, the performance of the weekend came from the in-form Willie Mullan kennel as Dance Cooper bounced back from eight straight defeats with a polished performance in good company.

Owned by James Logue, the 2/1 chance needed a good exit and he broke on terms from two to show good determination on the run-up. As a result, the son of Ballymac Bolger looked a likely winner from a long way out as he showed the superior stamina abilities to see off Fridays April in second. The time was a rapid 28.95.