Greyhound Racing: Odin enjoys final Freedom in Mackey Memorial four-timer

An event which predictably proved far hotter than the advertised grade, the Dinny Mackey Memorial Cup A5 525-Yard Stake reached its conclusion on Saturday and following a month of entertaining action, Denis Ryan’s Freedom Odin (Good News-Freedom Dream) completed a wonderful unbeaten passage to victory in a dominant final performance.

Breaking best from trap 4, the January 2021 whelp immediately established a narrow lead in the early strides before slick dash to the bend saw the Ryan winner sweep across tightly packed rivals while readily extending clear on the run to the backstraight. Extending beyond his four-length winning margin at halfway, Freedom Odin was pursued by a duelling Kylenoe Maid and Racenight Bigtom who were certain to stay stoutly.

Maintaining a powerful gallop out front however, Freedom Odin was never for catching and completing competition victory while scarcely sighting a rival in four wonderful heat winning performances, he posted a new career best of 29.09 (-30) in timely fashion with Racenight Bigtom second, a neck in advance of the fast-finishing Yankee Molly.
Bill best in blistering finale

The undercard to the feature event on Saturday delivered a host of smart performances to savour but the best of all was reserved for the concluding A2 525 where Bernie Hogan’s Old Bill (Droopys Sydney-Starry Display) found due reward for recent consistency in a fastest of the night performance.

Not outside the trio places in each of his last eight outings, the July 2020 whelp only went down by a neck over 570-yards last time but finding a swifter break on Saturday, the Hogan winner held every chance when little more than two lengths adrift of the pacesetting Cabra Hasty off the second bend. With the leader also a strong runner at the standard trip, a stiff task still lay ahead but displaying all of his powerful backstraight pace, Old Bill ranged up on the inside of the leader at the third turn.
Duly staying stoutly thereafter, Old Bill advanced to a career best of 28.89 (-30) while drawing clear to a classy two and a half length verdict over Cabra Hasty.

Next best on a saucy Saturday in the Premier, the Skywalker Barry @ Stud A1 525 saw John Ryan’s wonderful stalwart Private Jet (Droopys Jet-Sidarian Fern) claim the thirteenth win of his career while setting up a hattrick bid next time.

In the form of his career for trainer John Byrne, the October 2019 whelp broke smartly from his trap 6 berth and immediately displaying his slick early dash, crucially repelled Kilvil Arnold to the corner before stretching readily clear to the backstraight. With the verdict beyond doubt at halfway, Private Jet repelled the strong staying Borna Flame by a diminishing half-length in 29.19 (-30).

Another impressive early paced victory on Saturday came from Paddy Scally’s Cabra Veyron (Kinloch Brae-Cabra Ebony) when taking advantage of an appealing mark to lead throughout the Talking Dogs A4 525.

Ideally housed on the fence, the September 2019 whelp displayed his customary dash to the bend following a smart break and sweeping to a decisive four length lead at the top of the backstraight, retained ample resolve to repel the running-on Athlacca Taylor by a length in 29.37 (-30).

Jedi impresses on debut
Saturday featured a brace of novice contests and the Split The Pot @ Thurles Greyhound Stadium ON2 525 looked a particularly warm event before John Kelly’s Last Jedi (Skywalker Farloe-Cabra Diva) impressed in a most game debut victory.

Housed in trap 3, the April 2021 pup began just off the early lead but pacing up well on the run to the corner, joined Gealltanas while securing the rails pitch before turning. That leading pair would exchange a bump with the latter just showing in front to the second bend but a superior turn of pace approaching halfway would see Last Jedi strike the front as the advancing Bogger Swift tracked the move. A length to the good around the closing bends, Last Jedi defended that same advantage all along the home straight and posting a smart 29.41 (-20), repelled a gallant Bogger Swift.

The night’s action began with the preceding ON2 525 and finding a highly pleasing debut win was David Ryan’s Clunedarby Rhona (Iso Octane-Slaneyside Rhona). Breaking on level terms from trap 3, the December 2020 whelp outpaced rivals to her inside for command of the rails position at the opening bend. Fully securing the lead while turning, the Ryan charge led Cashel Ava to halfway before repelling the strong staying Many Talents by a length and a half in 29.93 (-30) as that rival thoroughly caught the eye after significant early crowding.

Saturday featured just a sole sprint contest but impressing in a most game performance was Seamus McGrath’s Mustang Merlin (Kinloch Brae-Murlens Raw) when bouncing back from an indifferent run of form to claim the S5 350. Breaking just behind the pace from trap 4, the Ann Taylor charge drew clear to a one length first bend lead and despite challenged by Lillys Pearl while turning, again forged ahead when registering a game half-length verdict at the line in 18.06 (-10).

The Irish Retired Greyhound Trust A3 525 saw James Quinlan’s Bull Run Bow (Droopys Sydney-Bull Run Byte) gain a first victory when confirming the promise of his latest second placing in strong running performance to deny Code Rubble. Just a third career start for the December 2020 youngster, that pair chased down long-time leader Micks Elite with the winner advancing from third at the closing bends for most game one-length score in 29.45 (-30).

Swift double for Kim
All but matching that time in the earlier A4 525, Sarah Shmidt & Keith Taylor’s Swift Fellowship (Farloe Blitz-Swift Niamh) made a return to winning ways for an overdue fifth career win. Tracking Dromulton Jet to the backstraight before overhauling that rival at the third bend, the Kim Taylor charge extended to a four-length winning margin over Tribal Council in 29.46 (-30).

That victory completed a double on the night for handler Kim Taylor after her Onthewildside (Ballymac Best-In A Heartbeat) doubled her win tally in the A6 525 when leading from the opening bend for a three and a half length defeat of Dripping Wet in 29.93 (-30).

Rounding out the Saturday winners, the night’s A5 525 saw William Corbett’s Chloe Girl (Magical Bale-Goldmine Lily) double her win tally when leading throughout a two and a half length defeat of Cashel Rex in 29.48 (-30), a new career best for the September 2020 whelp.