Derry Greyhounds: Heroic performance by Swan lands Meenagh Kennels Marathon

The final of the Meenagh Kennels Marathon was the feature event on an 8 race programme at Brandywell which also included three first round heats of the inaugural Lornie McMonagle Memorial Sprint.

First to earn a place on the winners’ podium was the Michael O’Kane owned and Tony Maxwell trained Tiermana Scott (Ballyhimikin Jet x Tiermana Jetty, Oct ’23). Slowly away from trap 2, Scott showed impressive early pace to cut between the early leaders and forge a decent lead at the first turn. He kept on well up the home straight to hold off the late charge of Greedy Belly by 0.75 lengths in 17.12 for the 300 yards. It was a promising debut for this young pup.

Skywalker Tina (Skywalker Barry x Skywalker Cilla, Feb ’23) also won on her career debut in Race 2. Owned by Dominic McGarrigle, Tina made full use of her trap 1 pitch to lead from lid rise and despite being under pressure throughout, held off her nearest challenger by 1.25 lengths crossing the line in a decent 16.93 for the sprint distance.

Race 3 was once again over the sprint distance and, for the third time on the night, it was a first career win for a debutant. Tri Bella (Ballymac Best x Santas Jet, Sep ’23) was fast away from trap 1 and led throughout to land the spoils by 1.25 lengths in 16.98 for Ciaran Murphy. Plenty to look forward to with this well-bred lady as her career progresses.

Sponsored by Michael Corr in conjunction with the Brandywell Greyhound Supporters Group, Race 4, the Meenagh Kennels 745 Marathon Final, was a thrilling contest for spectators. Fiona Devlin’s Swan Hero (Dorotas Wildcat x Mydras Dawn, Sep ’22) was well away from trap 3 but had to play second fiddle to Maggies Aim who flew the lids from trap 1.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 7, The LORNIE MC MONACLE MEMORIAL SPRINT heat was won by SNIPER RORO in 16.73. Pictured with Kealan O’Kane.

However, Hero showed great early pace and took up the led around the first turn with Whobreaksderules showing good pace to take second place as they entered the home straight on the first circuit. The placings remained unaltered until the fifth bend when last year’s Marathon winner Maggies Aim looked to be making significant ground on the leaders. However, Maggie was short of room and checked slightly losing momentum.

As Swan Hero straightened up for home on the final circuit, she had plenty left in the tank and gamely bounded across the finish line in a fast 42.28. She held off the last ditch efforts of Maggies Aim by 1.75 lengths and notched up her 4th career win from only 11 starts. Given her youth, we may well see Swan Hero back at the Brandywell to defend her crown in this event over the next couple of years.

The only 500 yards event on the night was Race 5 and it went the way of Jonathon Patton’s Bonnet Lily (Ballymac Cashout x Clondoty Amy, Jun ’23). Lily made her task more difficult after a slow exit from trap 1 but she paced up to the first bend in contention and turned into the back straight in third place.

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Turning for home Lily was still only lying in third place but she seen out the race well and came with a late surge to win by 2.75 lengths in 28.64. This was her first success on her fifth attempt.

Brandywell on Monday; Thomas Cregan visited the Brandywell with his dad for the first time. He is the 4th generation of the Cregan family to attend the venue.

Races 6, 7 & 8 saw the first round heats of the Lornie McMonagle Memorial Sprint get underway. Evenly away from trap 2, the Richard Graham and Patrick Edgar owned Dellser Bolger (Ballymac Bolger x Fair Act, Jul ’23) showed an impressive turn of foot to lead into the first bend. He ran on well to win by 1.25 lengths in 16.82. This was only his fourth career start and he looks an exciting sort that’s open to improvement with age and racing experience. Generous Who, Allegra Zaur and Meet More Often qualified for the semi-finals from this heat.

Super consistent and talented Sniper Roro (Broadstrand Bono x Sniper Ria, Aug ’22) made the most of his trap 1 draw to outpace his rivals to the first bend for Kevin O’Kane in Race 7. Thereafter he ran on to win by 2.25 lengths in 16.73 which was the fastest time of the first round heats. This was an 8th career success for Roro. Comer Runaway, Oisin Mac and Snowplough picked up the qualifying places from this heat.

Trap 1 runners did well on the night and produced the winner of the last race too. Culmore Queen (Ballymac Cashout x Culdaff Lady, Oct ’22) was evenly away from traps but showed good early pace to turn the bend first. John Joseph Porter’s Queen ran on well to clock 16.81, finishing 2 lengths ahead of Dealornodeal in second, with Ferndale Power and Rosstemple Fred picking up the remaining qualifying places for next week’s semi-finals. The competition is wide open and much will depend on the trap draws for the next round.

ACTION FROM LIFFORD GREYHOUND STADIUM

The feature race at Lifford Greyhound Stadium over the weekend was the final of the Northwest Greyhound Supplies A3/A4 525, which was kindly sponsored by JP Brennan and carried a winner’s prize of €1,000.

In what was a tight affair in terms of the betting, there was nothing close surrounding the outcome as Drveen Lass continued her purple patch to claim a second sweepstake final at the venue.

Lifford on Sunday Race 9 - The TRACK BOOKMAKERS A6 525 was won by LONGTRAIN RUNNIN in 29.75. Pictured with Harry & Caeleen who are representing the owners, the Cheap As Chips Syndicate.

Owned by Jim Joe McGrath, this lady landed a sprint stake at the tail-end of 2024 and she came into the decider as the 2/1 second favourite after winning her semi final assignment in 29.23. Drawn in trap three, her stunning early speed was on full display as she excelled in the early yards to post a rapid 2.59 sectional.

As a result, the daughter of Burgess Bucks quickly opened a three length advantage over Ballygogue Jet in second and in truth, it was a mere formality thereafter as ‘Lass’ set a scorching gallop approaching the bottom two bends. Any stamina concerns were comfortably put to bed on the run for home as McGrath’s September puppy powered up the Lifford hill to win by a comprehensive three and a quarter lengths. The time was a blistering 28.93.

In the curtain-raiser, there was strong support for debutant Portrush Ben and he justified said support for owner Adrian McGarry with a trap-to-line effort. The 4/5 shot came into the contest with very modest trials, however, he left his rivals for dead in the early exchanges from trap one. In doing so, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Dingys Diva had built a healthy advantage and that was required up the hill as he held off the strong challenge of the fast-finishing Hilldun Malachi in second.  A diminishing one and a quarter lengths better off, the time was a red-hot 17.67.

Elsewhere on Saturday, there was another nice double for the kennel of Willie Mullan. The first of his winner’s was the new recruit Blackstone Story as he justified his 4/5 billing.

Lifford on Sunday Race 2 - the OLD DALYS A7 & LOWER 525 was won by BLACKSTONE STORY in 29.41. Pictured with Tom Mullan.

Looking very well handicapped on paper given his sales effort, the son of Skywalker Canny and Blackstone Balad meant business from the outset as he broke well from trap three to assert. In doing so, ‘Story’ stuck to his task well to cross the line three and three parts of a length clear of Staying Hopeful in second. The time was 29.41. In the concluding race, the double was complete as Ballintoher Bud ran a brilliant race to reel in the red-hot Beebees Princess.

The latter was an unbackable 4/6 jolly in this contest and it looked like another straightforward victory for her as she bolted from trap one to lead. However, her petrol gauge was under pressure in the closing yards and Ballintoher Bud was on hand to lay down a challenge. The judge was called into action, however, Mullan’s charge got the nod by a short head in a time of 29.17.  

There was a fantastic 9/1 and 3/1 double on Sunday’s racecard when the Cheap As Chip Syndicate produced Hazelhill Bill to win Race 2 in 29.35 and Longtrain Runnin to win Race 9 in 29.75. The fastest times clocked at the meeting were by the Kevin Conway and Eddie Hurson owned Solo Magic who won Race 4 in 29.23.

This time was matched by the Orla McGhee owned and Cathal McGhee trained Tippenyaki in Race 6. This ex-Galway hound is a model of consistency and has relished the switch to the Lifford circuit.