Shelone Glory held the winning hand in Signet Ace 500 at Brandywell

There was an air of excitement at Brandywell on Monday as racegoers looked forward to a competitive 8 race programme.

It featured the Signet Ace @ Stud 500 sponsored by Kevin Hutton, the Track Lotto 745 Marathon Shoot Out sponsored by Track Lotto and two O’Neill’s Dog Food races which were sponsored by Andrew O’Neill.

Racing got underway with sprint action and it was Joseph White’s Finnside Story (Crafty Gonzalo x Thats My Story, Apr ’22) in the first race that registered her first career success on only her second attempt after a smart exit from trap 5.

She showed good early pace, steered a middle course and had enough in the tank to hold off the late challenge of Bogside Gaffer on her inside by 1 length in a decent 17.11. Although she boasts a coursing pedigree, she is showing plenty of aptitude for track racing.

The Ruddy father and son team landed a double on Monday at the Brandywell. First up was Harold Ruddy’s Key Kelly (Ballymac Bolger x Shes Blonde, Jun ’22) who made his career debut a winning one when he clocked 17.13 for the 300 yards in the second race, the O’Neills Sprint. However, the time did not reflect the impressive manner by which he won. He was slow away from trap 1 and lost significant ground on early leader Darkies Gold.

It looked like Kelly had lost his chance but he tracked the bends well, kept an inside course and came with an eye catching charge up the home straight to get the better of Gold by 1.5 lengths. Hailing from the famed Pinhead damline, this lad would have went into a few notebooks as one to follow.

Well-bred

Race 3 was also over the 300 yard circuit and Geraldine McCabe’s well-bred Sweet Marymo (Pestana x Bobbers Meabh, Sep ’21) took advantage of her preferred trap 6 pitch to record a third career success.

Brandywell Race 3, was won by SWEET MARYMO in 16.94. From left; James Canavan, Thomas Light & James Light

Evenly away from boxes, this great granddaughter of Kildallon Maid paced up to the first bend on the outside of the early leaders and ran a strong bend to burst clear of her rivals. She held off the challenge of No Consequences by 2 lengths and stopped the clock in 16.94.

The Track Lotto 745 Shoot Out was quite a spectacle. Tuttles Ben (Good News x Tuttles Twilight, Jun 21) was last seen in competitive action when he won a Novice 820 event in Lifford last December by a staggering 10 lengths.

Whilst there is a lack of distance race events in the North, any doubts about his competitive fitness were soon dispelled as Michael & Rory Stewart produced this stunning blue fawn dog in great form to go one better than he did in Lifford and put 11 lengths between him and his closest rival Cals Range who was fresh from a victory in the Greyhound Trader 500 at Brandywell last week.

Evenly away from trap 6, Ben paced up to the first turn alongside his rivals but ran a terrific bend to lead and the further he went, the further he extended his lead. With a smart 42.06 clock for Brandywell’s 745 yards, the biggest challenge for Tuttles Ben will be to find distance racing opportunities and worthy opposition in the North.

Brandywell Race 6, O'Neills Greyhound Foods 500 was won by GENEROUS PIXIE in 28.39. From left; Peter O Kane & winning owner Charlie Baxter.

Shelone Glory (Laughil Blake x Glory Celeine, Jun ’21) has been running well in defeat, finishing in second or third place, in seven of her last eight races.

Drawn in trap 1 in race 5, the Signet Ace @ Stud 500, she was afforded a clear run in the dash to the first bend. It was enough for her to secure her pitch on the inside rail at the first bend and gain a couple of lengths on her rival Moss Flyer who pressured her throughout the race.

But Seamus Boyce’s Glory left her bridesmaid days behind her and scored by 2.25 lengths in 28.09 for a well-earned second career success in 18 starts.

Charlie Baxter’s Generous Pixie (Ballymac Anton x Generous Daisy, Sep ’21) made a welcome return to the winners’ podium after she got the verdict by a short head in race 6, the O’Neills Dog Food 500, in a time of 28.39. Drawn in trap 2, Pixie tracked the first bend in behind the early leader Call You Tonight and looked ominous as she ranged up on the leader’s shoulder at the third bend.

Brandywell Race 7 was won by TRAIN TRICKS in 28.50. From left; Shane Talbot, Rian Talbot who is joint owner with his sister Ceallach Talbot. Matthew Talbot on right of photo.

Pixie galloped on well up the home straight and withheld the late surge of Scally Annie who had met crowding in running. With a spell of 13 races without a win, Pixie certainly earned her place on the podium and adds a fifth success to her career tally.

Impressive victory

The seventh race over the 500 yard trip was won at the first bend when Ceallach & Rian Talbot’s early paced Train Tricks (Broadstrand Bono x Zoos Sophie, Apr ’22) in trap 3 skipped around it in front and extended his lead to 11 lengths after crowding behind him at the third bend. The time was 28.50 and second place honours were claimed by a running on Knockadoo Chris.

Harold Ruddy’s son Roy completed the family double in the last race of the night over the sprint distance. Drumcrow Salt (Drumcrow Obama x Drumcrow Pepper, May ’21) had his preferred trap 6 box but had his work cut out to catch veteran track record holder over course and distance, Sniper Ria, on the run to the first bend.

Salt ranged up on Ria’s shoulder at the first turn and from there galloped on strongly to win by 3.25 lengths in 16.74 which was the fastest time of the night. This was his first competitive race since December and he is likely to strip fitter for the run.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

There were 12 races on the programme for both Friday & Sunday at Lifford.

Trainer John McGee landed a terrific treble on the Friday evening. He trained Cypress Creek (Magical Bale x Down The Green, Aug ’22) who won in a sizzling 17.59 (325 yards) for owner Padraig Fitzgerald.

Lifford on Sunday; Race 10 - N.W.G.O.B.A ON2/ON3 325 Final was won by THATS OUR DOLL in 31.58. From left (front) Finn Carlin, Misa Mc Brearty, Lila Rooney, Lucy Rooney, James McGhee, Niall McGhee, Tom Rooney. Back row (from right) Laura Rooney, Rhylie Mc Bride, Rachel McCrory & Orla McGhee.

Then Tralee Warrior (Magical Bale x Greenisle Athena, Mar ’22) won for the Home For Half Past Syndicate in 29.24 (525 yards) and lastly there was a very pleasing win for Breaking Stones (Ballymac Bolger x Spread My Wings, Feb ’22) in 29.37 (525 yards) who is owned by John’s grandson Jamie who was celebrating his birthday on Friday.

Two sweepstake finals were the feature events on the Sunday programme. The Orla McGhee owned, Cathal McGhee trained Ardnasool Arc (Droopys Cain x Droopys Esther, Apr ’21) dominated the Track Restaurant A3/A4 525 Final winning in a rapid 28.93. Looming large on the outside of the early leaders as they exited the second bend, Arc soon hit the front on the back straight and thereafter it became a formality. She outpaced her rivals and stayed on with fine determination to seal a 3.5 length success and lift the 700 euro first prize.

Droopys Cynthia (Droopys Sydney x Droopys Fia, Aug ’22) blew her rivals away in the 1,000 euro NWGOBA ON2/ON3 325 Final. Charles Coyle’s runner was flawless in her past two displays and from a favourable trap 3 draw she outpaced her rivals on the run up. From here, it was a straightforward assignment for this unbeaten tracker as she powered up the Lifford hill to record a 3.75 length victory in a brilliant 17.56.

Elsewhere on Sunday’s card, three trainers secured doubles. Michael Taggart, training hounds for owners Thomas Hasson and Paul Ryan respectively, won with Blackstone Aldo (Dorotas Wildcat x Love Honey, Jul ’21) in 31.32 for the 550 yards and Blackstone Steel (Burgess Bucks x Blackstone Balad, Jun ‘22) who dead heated with Workers Rights in 17.67 for the 325 yards.

Trainer Tony Maxwell, training hounds for owners Gerry McGettigan & Michael O’Kane respectively, won with Illnotbethere (Droopys Nidge x Shirocco Star, Oct ’20) in 30.73 for the 550 yards and Workers Rights (Ballymac Best x Airfield Biddy, Jun ’22) who was involved in the dead heat with Blackstone Steel.

Lifford on Sunday; Race 5 - TRACKSIDE RESTAURANT A3/A4 525 Final was won by ARDNASOOL ARC in 28.93. From left we have James McGhee, Lesley Barber, Cathal McGhee, Spencer Saberton RM at Lifford who presented Orla McGhee with the trophy & Kian McGettigan.

And Charles Coyle who won the final with Droopys Cynthia completed his double after the Norman and Raymond Lecky owned Fiery Sally (Burgess Bucks x Patterdale Donna, Jun ’22) won in 17.78 for the 325 yards.

Arguably the best performance of Sunday night was by Thats Our Doll (Droopys Cain x Droopys Esther, Apr ’21) who won impressively by 7.25 lengths in 31.58 for the 575 yards for trainer Niall McGhee and owners Rachael McCrory and Laura Rooney. She is a litter mate of Ardnasool Arc who won the Trackside Restaurant Final earlier in the programme and both these ladies have been successfully showcasing their talents at the Lifford circuit in recent months much to the delight of their many fans.