Derry Greyhounds: Beepers Mary fans were buzzing at Brandywell

PICTURED ABOVE: Wishing Connor Coyle good luck for his Valentine’s Day Boxing Match at Madison Square Garden are; (from left) Rhea, Josh & Emma Campbell, Orla & Ronan Wray, Devanni Brady & Kevin O’Kane with Track Record Holder Sniper Ria who made a special guest appearance.

The importance of community spirit was a feature of Monday’s race meeting at the Brandywell.

Jim McDaid’s family arranged a sponsored race (Race 2) named in his honour to mark his 80th birthday. There was great turnout by Jim’s extended family to show their support for what was a second big birthday surprise for him in just a fortnight.

Jim is a track stalwart and a joy to be around. He always has a friendly greeting and makes time to exchange pleasantries with those he meets on track. Some might say he is the Brandywell Racing Community’s own little piece of national treasure.

Ahead of local lad Connor Coyle’s boxing match on Valentine’s Day in Madison Square Garden, the Brandywell Racing Community rallied together to show their support for him.

Sniper Ria, the reigning Sprint Track Record Holder visited the track for the occasion and sported a Connor Coyle ‘Relentless’ racing vest. Some of the local youth also got involved and wore ‘Good Luck Connor Coyle’ rosettes on the night.

Connor’s family connection to the Track goes back to when it first opened in 1932, when his great grandfather Spider Kelly was present for an iconic photo with greyhounds and their owners in Shipquay Street.

The first three races on Monday’s seven race programme were over the Sprint distance. Charlie Baxter who was the owner with most wins in 2024 at Brandywell was back behind the podium in Race 1 with Karen Who (Ballymac Wild x Heard No Evil, Jul ’23) who got her first career win on what was her fourth start. Jointly owned by Seamus Toal, Karen clocked a pleasing 17.10 when winning by 2.5 lengths from trap 3.

Cals Storm (Coolavanny Hoffa x Cals Talent, May ’23) won Race 2 The Jim McDaid 80th Birthday Sprint for Michael Calvert in 16.87. Storm had a similar record to the Race 1 winner, also getting his first career success on his fourth start. Well away from trap 1, Storm was joined by the consistent Goose Airlines at the first turn but had the benefit of the inside pitch and enough stamina to hold off his challenger.

Race 7 was won by DRUMCROW GAL in 16.80. Pictured with (from left) Ceallach Talbot, Roy Ruddy & his father Harold Ruddy.

Robert Ayres was rewarded for making the long trip from Ballyshannon with Beepers Mary (Droopys Sydney x Beaming Smasher, Jun ’21) who he co-owns with Leonard O’Hanlon.

Mary had a tough task on her first visit to the track in Race 4 over 500 yards when she was taking on the likes of track specialist Newsreel who was the ‘Dog With Most Wins’ in 2024 at Brandywell.

Mary was evenly away from trap 3 but couldn’t match the early pace of the in-form Mallogs Miley on her inside.

Jim McDaid celebrating his surprise 80th birthday at Brandywell.

A case could have been made for all 5 runners as they were tightly packed at the third turn but Mary kept tight to the rail throughout and her stamina got her to the front near the line. She won by half a length in a fast 27.71 from Miley who ran a great race in defeat, as did Newreel who was another length behind in third.

Meet More Often was going for 6 wins in a row in Race 5 which was over the 500 yards trip. Ideally housed in trap 1, Often led to the second turn where she swung off wide.

The Paul Ryan owned Blackstone Senna (Ballymac Best x Blackstone Angie, May ’22) took the opportunity to nip up her inside in what was a race winning move. From there, Senna ran on strongly to win by 3 lengths in 27.98 and made it a lucky seventh career success.

Race 4 was won by BEEPERS MARY in 27.71. Pictured with Robert Ayres at our Valentine’s themed podium.

He kept up a strong gallop throughout and held off the late challenge of Swift Lulee by 1.5 lengths.

Reverting back to sprint action for the last race, Roy Ruddy’s Drumcrow Gal (Drumcrow Darwin x Drumcrow Holly, Sep ’22) made it two wins from three starts when setting the early pace from trap 2. Sniper Big Joe ranged up on her outside at the first turn but ran a wide course which allowed Gal to regain her advantage and she clocked a smart 16.80 with 2.25 lengths to spare over the running on Old Fort Lakota.

There were a number of smart performances at Lifford Stadium over the weekend, however, the headlines belong to Declan Crossan as he accounted for a brilliant double on Saturday night as he claimed both semi finals of the Trackside Restaurant A3/A4 525.

Brandywell; Race 3, was won by DRUMDOIT MAGIC in 17.28 for owner Rebecca Porter. Pictured with Millie Grant displaying her ‘Good Luck Connor Coyle’ rosette.

Excelling down the back, ‘Trend’ found himself with five lengths in hand rounding the bottom two bends and he maintained his relentless gallop all the way home to cross the line six and a quarter lengths clear of Whobreakstherules in second. The time was a scorching 28.93.

Prior to that, Rustys Councel showed that the Crossan kennel was in flying form as he came from a mile off-the-pace to maintain his unbeaten run in the event. As expected, it was Do It Jella that blazed a red-hot trail early on and she looked home and hosed in occupying an eight length advantage down the back straight.

However, ‘Jella’ struggles in the closing stages of the 525-yard trip and this was evident as Rustys Councel ate up the ground in behind. Now in full throttle, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Our Brave Heart quickly breezed past Do It Jella approaching the winning line and he stopped the clock in 29.33. A bit to find on his kennel companion ahead of next week but nonetheless a smart display from the 2/1 chance.

IN PICTURES: Funeral takes place of Derry TV producer Vinny Cunningham

On Sunday evening, it was all about the kennel of Willie Mullan as he recorded a litter treble, the highlight of which being the victory of Rains Bono in the final of the Fitzwilliam S5/S6 325. Indeed, this fellow was quietly fancied for Noel and Ben Freeman and he broke marginally behind Jimmys Dream to dispute the early proceedings.

Showing excellent track craft, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Rains Annabell powered past ‘Jimmys’ on the hill, before extending his lead to three parts of a lengths crossing the line. The time for the €500 to the winner feature was 17.81.

Lifford; Tom Mullan with littermates Rains Lightning, Rains Bridie & Rains Bono who all won their races on Sunday.

The time was 29.40. The curtain raiser saw Rains Lightning kick-start a memorable night for the litter and indeed the Mullan kennel.

Well supported into 6/4, Rains Lightning set a blistering gallop from trap three early on and despite coming under pressure from the powerful Roanna Due, Mullan’s charge kept plenty in reserve to cross the line with one length to spare. The time was 29.52.