Derry Greyhounds: Three in a row for Knockavilla Jet in Edgar Memorial heats at Brandywell

The three first round heats of the Willie and Mary Edgar Memorial 500 got underway on Monday.

This competition was organised and sponsored by Patrick Edgar and has special significance this month to mark his father’s 100th heavenly birthday. Willie was a regular attender at the Brandywell venue and his love of the dogs has been handed down to his sons.

As fate would have it, it was Willie Edgar’s youngest son that was first to celebrate winner on the night. David’s Edgarstown Boy (Black Parachute x Pink Turkey, Jul ’23) had notched up a quick fire double back in April but has been struggling to get clear runs in recent races.

He made no mistakes in Race 1 when trapping smartly from the 4 box and leading his rivals a merry dance. His time was 17.14 for the 300 yards and he had 4 lengths to spare over Dainty Pearl in second place.

Stouke Trump (Grangeview Ten x Quiet Kitty, Oct ’23) showed exactly what he was capable of in Race 2. He only had 1 win from 12 starts prior to finally getting a trouble free passage in Race 2 where he unleashed his true potential.

Well away from trap 2, he turned the first bend ahead of his rivals and flew home is a sizzling 16.56 for the 300 yards for owner Kealan O’Kane. This was the fastest time recorded over the sprint trip this year at Brandywell.

Races 3, 4 and 5 decided the first round qualifiers from the Willie & Mary Edgar Memorial 500 heats. First to book his place in the semi-finals was Kevin Canning’s Darraghs Flash (Our Surprise x Nothing Gained, May ’23).

Housed in trap 1, he was fast away from boxes and moved middle on the run to the first turn. He had just enough pace to get ahead of his rivals rounding the bend and just enough stamina on the homestraight to hold off the fast finishing Olwinn Swift by a head in 28.26. It was an encouraging first victory for Flash who has plenty of scope for more improvement.

Race 4, Willie & Mary Edgar Memorial 500. Rd 1. Ht. 2 was won by KNOCKAVILLA JET in 28.17. Pictured with (from left) Derek Edgar & Kemi, then father & son; Sean & Stephen Radcliffe.

Knockavilla Jet (Dorotas Woo Hoo x Fill The Till, Sep ’22) is riding the crest of a wave at the moment and in Race 4 he added a superb third win in a row to his victories last week for owner Ethan Tyre and trainer Stephen Racliffe. Ideally drawn in trap 6, he kept a wide berth throughout which kept him clear of any crowding.

He was lying in fourth place rounding the first and second bends but showed good back straight pace to draw alongside the leader, Roseville Bob, at the third turn. Jet’s stamina kicked in and he ran on well to win by 2.25 lengths in 28.17.

The fastest run of the heat’s was recorded in Race 5 by the Damien Patterson owned and Roy Ruddy trained Rein Back (Rileys Hill x Over Easy, May ’23).

Only moderately away from trap 5, Rein Back showed smart early pace to bravely drive into the lead between track specialists Starcash Barry and Do It Jella at the first turn. It was a move that won him the race, as despite late pressure from Barry, Rein Back had a length to spare over his rival in 28.01.

Race 6 Follow @UKGreysales for UK Greyhound Sale 500 was sponsored by Nathan Corden and the writing was on the wall from the outset when talented track specialist Diegos Manna (Premier Fantasy x Sidarian Fern, Jul ’22) drew trap 1.

Willie & Mary Edgar Memorial 500. Rd.1 Ht.3 was won by REIN BACK in 28.01. pictured with (from left) John Mc Cann, Roy Ruddy & his father Harold Ruddy.

Despite there being plenty of quality in the line-up, nothing could match Diegos early pace to the first bend and he turned the race into a procession with a 6.5 length victory in a fast 27.75 for owner Leigh Thompson.

With seven wins at the circuit already this year, he is well ahead on the Brandywell leader board for ‘Dog With Most Wins’ in 2025. His time was the fourth fastest recorded this year over the local distance.

Imokilly Kerri from trap 4 set the early pace in the finale over the 500 yards but the Kyle McCarron owned and Martin Gallagher trained Italian Lady (Burgess Bucks x Cannobio, Jun ’22) who was drawn in trap 2 put in a gallant effort to come from last place to win decisively by 5.25 lengths in 28.35. With 4 wins already to her credit, this was her first victory at Brandywell.

The semi finals of the Fitzwilliam A3/A4 525 took centre stage at Lifford Stadium on Saturday night and the fastest on the clock was Zoos Ariel, who finally broke loose to score for a fourth career win. Sent off as the short-priced 4/6 favourite, the Richard Grieves charge sat third down the back as Saoirses Girl set a hot pace out in front.

Rounding the bottom two bends it was still all to play for with Thisipromiseyou also showing interest, however, Zoos Ariel finished best of all to cross the line one and a quarter lengths clear of Thisipromiseyou in second. The time was 29.25.

Brandywell: Race 1 was won by EDGARSTOWN BOY in 17.14. Pictured with winning owner, Mr. Derek Edgar.

In the opening semi, Glavin Thief made it three straight victories for Jim Joe McGrath. A lady at the top of her game at present, she played second fiddle to Long Claudia for the majority of this contest, however, showed the superior stamina late on to storm to the front.

Crossing the line with one length to spare over the gallant ‘Claudia’, the time for the daughter of Zero Ten was 29.31.

On Sunday’s SIS meeting, there were a brace of trebles for the kennels of Jimmy Anderson and John and Will Berry.

It was the Berry’s that got the ball rolling in the curtain raiser as Lightfoot Pebble made it back-to-back wins. Running from trap six, the son of Ice On Fire took charge at the second bend, before holding off the persistent challenge of Sniper Big Les in second. The time was 29.70.

The double was secured in race six as the early paced Hazelhill Bill led from trap-to-line to win at odds of 9/2.

Lifford on Sunday; Jimmy Anderson had 3 winners on Sunday. Jimmy Anderson & daughter Caeleen pictured with Coldwater Rolo who won Race 11 in 29.43.

All about early speed, the son of Pestana shot into a six-length advantage at the midway point and stayed on stoutly to see off Run On Bean by one length, in 29.44.

Shortly after, a memorable treble was complete with Blue Jig Meg in race ten. Well-supported into 5/2, ‘Meg’ never looked under pressure as she raced to a one and a half-length success over Shes A Showgirl in second. The time was 29.73.

The first of the Anderson treble came in race four as Abbeyside Bono held on gamely to score for the second consecutive week.

A 4/1 chance, the daughter of Broadstrand Bono saw off late challenges from both Mineola Flutter and Portrush Tootsie to win by a half-length in 29.55. While that victory was a close call, the same couldn’t be said of the performance of Berties Jill (Coolavanny Hoffa – Black Eyed Molly) in race seven.

A re-run of last week’s void event, ‘Jill’ made light work of her rivals as she dominated from the outset to win by twelve lengths in 29.23. In similar style, Coldwater Rolo ran out a convincing winner of race eleven to seal the treble.

Lifford on Sunday; the Berry brothers of John & William had 3 winners on Sunday from left, William is holding Blue Jig Meg who won race 10 in 29.73, center is Lightfoot Pebble who won Race 1 in 29.70 & on right is Hazelhill Bill, won Race 6 in 29.44.

Another well-supported into 13/8, ‘Rolo’ took advantage of the downgrade to bolt clear early doors, before romping to a six and a quarter length victory over Ardnasool Ezme in second. The time was 29.43.