Derry Greyhounds: Rein Back fastest in Edgar Memorial Semi-Finals

The semi-finals of the Willie & Mary Edgar Memorial 500 were the feature events on Monday’s seven race programme at Brandywell. The event was organised by Willie’s son Patrick to coincide with his dad’s 100th heavenly birthday.

Prior to the main event, there were a couple of sprint races to kick off the action. Andrew White’s Do It Bluff (Burgess Bucks x Fridays Macushla, Oct ’23) got her racing career off to the best possible start when she won Race 1 in a smart time of 16.96. Evenly away from trap 4, Bluff showed lovely pace to lead at the first bend and this 53lbs pocket rocket pulled away from her rivals on the home straight to win by 4.25 lengths.

Colm Sweeney’s home bred Mulroy Torpedo (Ballymac Bolger x Skirk Illusion, Nov ’22) has been super consistent finishing in the first three in his last 10 races over course and distance. His consistency was rewarded in Race 2 when he got the verdict in a nip and tuck race against Mineola Rebel.

Racing from trap 4, Torpedo was hot on the heels of early leader Rebel in trap 6. Rebel had a length lead by the first turn and it looked like he had stolen the race but Torpedo ran on relentlessly and got up on the line to win by a head in 17.13. This was a second career success for him in a personal best time.

Fastest in both the first round heats and the semi-finals, Rein Back (Rileys Hill x Over Easy, May ’23) was the first to book his place in the final of the Willie & Mary Edgar Memorial 500. He was only moderately away from trap 4 but showed impressive early pace and scooted clear at the first turn as he took full advantage of Bows Hill Jet (1) and Corcass Coyote (5) getting in each other’s way.

The Roy Ruddy trained Rein Back clocked 28.06 with Corcass Coyote finishing strongly for the runner up spot ahead of Bows Hill Jet in third. 3.75 lengths and a short head separated the first three home.

The evergreen veteran Starcash Barry (Droopys Noah x Lightfoot Marie, Aug ’21) was once again back on the podium for his 17th career success. He landed the 2nd semi-final of the Willie & Mary Edgar Memorial 500 after a slick exit from his favourite 2 box. He had to relinquish the early lead to Roseville Bob but Barry kicked into overdrive entering the back straight and stretched his lead to a staggering 7.25 lengths as he stopped the clock in 28.30. Dellser Bolger took the runner up spot 0.75 lengths ahead of Do It Jella.

Trap Draw for the Willie & Mary Edgar Memorial 500; T1 Bows Hill Jet, T2 Starcash Barry, T3 Dellser Bolger, T4 Corcass Coyote, T5 Rein Back, T6 Do It Jella.

The Townsend Kennels Trophy was presented to Patrick Gibson (left) by Sean Rouse after Diegos Manna was voted favourite performaner at last week’s meeting. Diego’s owner Leigh Thompson also in photo

Race 5 was a real thriller with just slightly over 3 lengths separating the whole field at the finish. Mineola Eugene was fastest away from boxes with the eventual winner Sprintinthesky (Ballymac Inspeed x Our Ginger Rose, Mar ’23) in trap 5 getting shuffled back through the field rounding the first couple of bends.

But Gary Simpson’s lass is as game as they come and despite only entering the back straight in a share of 5th place she ran on strongly to win by a short head in 28.19 for the 500 yards. It was a terrific effort given that the race threw up so many challenges for her. This lady should improve on her clock again and may be a contender for the Brandywell Oaks later this year.

Ocean Mini (Droopys Sydney x Ocean Olive, Apr ’22) has hit a rich vein of form with a 29.73 clock in Race 7 over the 525 yards for owner Mairead Miller and trainer Stephen Radcliffe. A relatively new recruit to the Radcliffe Kennels, Mini had 30 races without success prior to winning last week at Lifford and a favourable trap 1 draw on Monday was just the luck she needed to notch up back to back wins.

She was evenly away from traps and this 73lbs lady really won the race at the first turn when she held her inside pitch bravely to open up enough of a lead to allow her to hold off the late challenge of Lye In Wait by 0.75 lengths crossing the line.

We witnessed a very special performance in Race 7 by Rein Back’s unraced brother Over Cast (Rileys Hill x Over Easy, May ’23). Taking on prolific winning sprinters at Brandywell is a tough ask for any dog but especially so for a novice on its racing debut.

Brandywell; Race 1 was won by DO IT BLUFF in 16.96. Pictured with Andrew White & Mandy Blee.

Flashing from trap 1, 10 time winner and recent Benny Barrett Memorial Sprint winner, Meet More Often, laid down the gauntlet but the Pearce Gaskin owned Over Cast in trap 3 showed wicked early pace and got to the bend with a 1 length advantage. He drove the bend hard and sprinted away to win by 3.5 lengths in 16.58. This was only 0.02 behind Stouke Trump’s fastest time of the year which he recorded at last week’s meeting. Over Cast completed a terrific litter double on the night for trainer Roy Ruddy.

The Fitzwilliam A3/A4 525 Final was the feature event at Lifford Stadium on Saturday night and Saoirses Girl secured a swift sweepstake double for Eddie and Teresa Hurson with a comfortable win.

Previously victorious in an unraced sprint final at Lifford, the well-bred Saoirses Girl (King Sheeran x Cielo, Jan ’24) smoothly transitioned to the longer four-bend distance. Starting with intent from trap one, she posted a rapid 2.61 sectional, leaving her competitors behind early on and eventually winning by three and a half lengths over Glavin Thief with a fast time of 29.15.

Bogger Ollie was fastest over the two bends at Lifford on Saturday. The litter from Callaway Pro Am - Bogger Megan continues to impress. Bogger Bob clocked a fast 29.17 at the challenging Thurles circuit, while Bogger Ollie earned his first career win at Lifford.

Owned by James Campbell, Ollie started swiftly from trap five, taking an early lead against Credit Note. He increased his lead to win by four lengths in a time of 17.66 and Ollie looks sure to excel when stepped up in distance.

Brandywell Race 7 was won by OVER CAST in 16.58. Pictured with (from left) Harold Ruddy, Roy Ruddy & Patsy Doyle from the BGSG.

Effernogue Dave (Ballymac Bolger x Ballymac Helena, Mar ’23) was the fastest over the 525 yards at Lifford’s Sunday race meeting. Owned and trained by Willie Mullan, Dave was slow away from trap 5, but had enough speed to turn the first bend in second place. He showed a lovely burst of pace down the back straight passing the early leader Rough Saint and opened up an 8 length lead on his nearest rival Mineola Flutter as he crossed the line in 29.17.