Derry Greyhounds: Curraheen Coco lands Brass Neck Bar Final victory

The feature event on Tuesday evening’s Brandywell card was the Brass Neck Bar and Track Lotto Dual Distance 300/500 Final which was sponsored by Marty Healy and the Track Lotto Team.

Action kicked off with three sprint races before the main event. Following a technical issue last week the race was rerun as Race 1 on Tuesday night and it was Leslie Hunter’s homebred Golan Jacob (Jaytee Jerry x Golan Hunter, Sep ’22) that bounced back to his best ever form to win by 2 lengths in 17.11 for the 300 yards. Fast away from trap 2, Jacob knuckled down to business and made every yard of the running up front.

This brings his career tally of wins to 3 from 11 starts and his win secured the first half of a great double on the night for Leslie Hunter.

It was 8th time lucky for Lorcan Sweeney’s Greedy Belly (Doolin Duke x Droopys Loretta, Oct ’23) who relinquished her maiden tag in Race 2. She made every yard of the running up front from trap 1 to win by an impressive 5.25 lengths in 17.24.

Galliagh Voice (Ballymac Bolger x Greenfield Lark, Dec ’23) made her racing debut a successful one in Race 3 over the 300 yards trip. Ciaran McLaughlin’s Voice made the most of her trap 6 draw. The field arrived at the first bend in virtually a line but Voice used her outside pitch to drive around her rivals at the turn and build up enough of a lead to be able to hold off the fast finishing Lady Ruby by a neck in 17.54. Plenty to look forward too with Voice given her youth and competitive racing attitude.

The Brass Neck Bar and Track Lotto Dual Distance 300/500 Final turned into a real thriller to watch. Dreenan Jacko cut out the early pace in Race 4 from trap 6, skipping clear of the field at the first turn. Kealan O’Kane’s Curraheen Coco (Burgess Bucks x Capel Emerald, Jun ’22) was short of early pace from trap 3 but tucked herself in behind the leaders at the first bend.

She emerged into the back straight in third place and looked to be a potential threat to the leader. Indeed, approaching the finish line, Coco’s determination paid off and she got up to win by 1 length in 28.80 with the fast finishing Karen Who taking the runner up spot. Jacko was a further 1 length back in third. Coco’s win was the first of a great double on the night for the Sniper Kennels of the O’Kane family.

Tuesday @ Brandywell, Leigh Thompson was presented with the Beepers Mary Trophy which was sponsored by Lenny O’Hanlon after Diegos Manna was voted our favourite performer at last week’s race meeting. Trophy presentation by Martin McLaughlin.

Early pace was the key to Race 5 over the 500 yards when Richard Graham & Patrick Edgar’s Dellser Bolger got back to winning ways after a slick exit from trap 3. He was under pressure from Ferndale Power throughout but held off his challenge by 0.5 lengths in 28.38. Zoos Ariel ran on for third place and this lad looks like he will benefit from more racing experience to develop his track craft.

Leslie Hunter completed his double in Race 6 with a rallying performance from Maggies Return (Loggies Kodi x Hour Glass Elle, Mar ’22). Slow away from trap 4, Maggie slipped around the first two bends in behind the field to emerge into the back straight in third place. She was making good headway approaching the third turn and took up the lead entering the home straight. Maggie plugged on gamely to win by 1 length in 28.74 for the 500 yards.

Porthall Hannah (Ballymac Bolger x Porthall Maria, Oct ’23) made her racing debut in Race 7 a winning one. Benefitting from a rails pitch in trap 1, she was evenly away from boxes but was only lying in fifth place at the first turn. She tracked the bends well and entered the back straight in second place, hot on the heels of Ballyquin Tilly who was setting a good gallop up front. Hannah took up the lead on the home straight and opened up 3.5 lengths on her rival as she crossed the line in 28.93 for owner Kyle Porter and trainer Dylan Porter.

Tuesday @ Brandywell, Race 1 was won by GOLAN JACOB in 17.11. Pictured with owner Leslie Hunter (right) & Enda O’Goan.

The efforts of Sniper Big Tom (Broadstrand Bono x Sniper Ria, Aug ’22) were too much for his rivals in the closing sprint of the night. Housed in trap 4, Big Tom was the only runner to dip below the 17 seconds barrier on what was a slow track. He had 3.5 lengths to spare over the valiant Townsend Swift who appears to be coming back to her best form again.

The time was 16.89 and Big Tom’s victory completed a terrific Sniper Kennels double for the O’Kanes who hails from their prolific home bred litter that have already notched up more than 40 wins between them.

There were a number of quality performances at Lifford Stadium over the weekend to coincide with the glorious weather in the Northwest and Yeah Mick got the ball rolling in race two on Saturday night. Owned by Martin Healy, this pocket-sized June puppy had tasted success at Kilkenny prior to arriving at Lifford and he was to make a winning debut for connections when well-supported into even money.

Drawn in three, the son of King Sheeran made no mistakes at traprise as he immediately accelerated into the opening bend, before drawing clear of his rivals to win by an impressive four and a three parts of a length. The time was a rapid 17.67.

In race five, Rockpit Lenny made it back-to-back wins for Charles Coyle with the 6/4 favourite now confirming how comfortable he is with his new surroundings. A fine winner last time out, he immediately took charge from trap two and although challenged for the majority by Knockroe Pearl, he gamely stuck it out to win by three lengths in 28.96.

Race eight saw Benny Treanor making a winning return to Lifford as Quivers Curly narrowly ousted Ardnasool Arc. A thrilling contest, the 5/2 chance led early from four, however, was challenged at the midway point by Beebees Princess.

The latter was forced to check at the penultimate bend, in turn allowing Ardnasool Arc to now enter the equation. That said, Quivers Curly showed brilliant determination to come back for more in the closing stages and the daughter of Pestana got the nod by a head crossing the line. The time was 29.03.

Saturday @ Lifford; Race 5 - the NWGOBA A2/A3 525 was won by ROCKPIT LENNY in 28.96 for winning owner Nathan Coyle on the front right of the picture. Nathan’s parents Claire & Charles & his brother Shane Coyle are all standing at the back. From front left; Ella Stewart with her mum Nicole Stewart & then Ciaran McLaughlin.

It was a case of saving the best to last on Saturday night as Eunan McBride’s Smurfing Gamer produced a career-best effort to win at odds of 7/4. A consistent daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Murlens Madison, she nestled in behind Pavalova early on, however, had plenty on her plate with the leader holding a four length lead out in front. Not to be deterred, McBride’s strong stayer upped the ante between the bottom two bends and duly took control up the Lifford hill to pull clear and win by one and a half lengths. The time was 28.91, which was the fastest of the night.

On Sunday evening’s SIS card, the standout performer on the night was the ever-reliable Slicer, who is owned by Orla McGhee and trained by Cathal McGhee. A brilliant servant, the 7/4 chance proved a class above his rivals in this contest as he pulled clear off the second bend, before running out a commanding eight and a half-length winner. The time for the son of Malachi was a swift 28.98.