Dreenan Jill lands the Greyhound Trader 500 at Derry's Brandywell

Patrons were welcomed back to Brandywell on Monday with a 7 race programme featuring the Greyhound Trader 500 sponsored by Nathan Corden.

Prior to the main event there were 3 sprint contests to be decided. Kealan O’Kane’s Da Heat Ison (Dorotas Wildcat x Scullys Flo, Sep ’21) went into the first race, still a maiden, after 8 career starts.

However, it was to be ninth time lucky for this strapping 80 pound lad who has been lightly raced and given plenty of time to mature. He was moderately away from trap 5 but showed a lovely burst of pace as he accelerated towards the first bend. Taking up the lead just before the first turn, he ran on strongly up the straight to win by 4.5 lengths in 16.93 for the 300 yards.

It was another 80 pound hound that won the second race. Meenagh Mcgorrey (Droopys Sydney x Meenagh Midget, Jul ’22) lined up for his career debut coming off a smart 17.15 trial over course and distance. Evenly away from the 3 box, Meenagh had to battle hard to hold his position amongst the leaders at the first bend.

Fagans Lilly burst through the pack to take up a 3 length advantage but when Meenagh finally got some space on the inside of the track he wasn’t to be denied and he determinedly rallied to the line, getting the better of Lilly by 0.75 lengths in 16.95. This was a valiant effort for the pup in what was a competitive race.

Droopys Sydney was also the sire of Mohane Dolly (x Mohane Vicky, Apr ’22) who won the third race on the programme. The Georgina Gibbons owned and Declan Crossan trained Dolly had won in Cork in 29.55 for the 525 yards but had failed to convert that form in two attempts over 4 bends since arriving to their kennels in the North West.

However, the switch to 2 bends proved successful as she blasted out in front from trap 5 and although challenged on her inside for the lead at the first turn by Emily Amore, Dolly ran a strong bend and stayed on strongly up the straight to win by 5.25 lengths in a fast 16.78.

Back-to-back

Dreenan Jill (Ballymac Cashout x Wee Maisie, Oct ’21) made it back-to-back wins over course and distance for Gary McHugh after a gusty display from trap 1 in the Greyhound Trader 500. Evenly away from boxes, Jill was squeezed for room at the first bend but she held her position gamely on the inside rail and emerged from the second bend three lengths adrift of the leader, Longrange Rapid.

Brandywell: Johnny Scott (left) presents the Lissan Kennels Trophy to Shane Crossan after Midas Music was voted our favourite performer at our 29th April race meeting.

She made steady headway thereafter and made her winning move by taking the inside of Rapid as the pair exited the fourth bend. From there, Jill ran on well to win in 28.25 by 2.25 lengths ahead of the staying on Newsreel who was unlucky in running.

The fastest run over the 500 yard trip was 28.06 which was clocked by the John McLaughlin owned Galliagh Black (Good News x Chatam Lady, Jun ’21). He was well away from trap 6 but was challenged for the early lead on his inside by both Skinnylittlemiss and Finnside Gem.

However, the long run to the first bend suited Black and he had just enough early pace to skip clear of his opposition. From there he kept up a strong gallop to win unchallenged by 2.25 lengths. In winning this race, he also won the draw for the Brandywell Greyhound Supporters Group £50 Bonus.

Tinas Mila (Ballymac Bolger x Tinas Peggy, Sep ’22) relinquished her maiden tag in emphatic style when she won race 6 by a staggering 9.75 lengths in 28.09 for the 500 yards. Tracey Muldoon’s Mila showed she was finding her form when runner up in Dundalk last time out with a 21.87 calculated time for their 400 yards.

Brandywell: In recognition of local trainer William Mullan reaching his 1,000th winner milestone, Patsy Doyle (left) from the BGSG presented a framed photo by John Killen to William’s nephew Tom Mullan. It was one heck of an achievement and we wanted to add our congratulations to the many that William has already received.

This 500 yard trip was perfectly suited for her to display her stamina and after winning the battle for the lead at the first bend, Mila just stretched further clear of her opposition the further she went. This lass looks to have a bright future ahead.

We reverted back to the 300 yards for the last race of the night. The prolific Kilbride Classic gave sire Droopys Sydney his third winner on the night and the father and daughter team of Declan Crossan and Georgina Gibbons their second winner on the night.

Classic has an incredible strike rate of 10 wins from only 29 starts and she made it 11 wins after a faultless display of sprinting from trap 4. Out and away, and it was all over in a time of 16.66 which was the fastest of the night. Her opposition never looked threatening at any point as Classic crossed the line 1.75 lengths ahead of the staying on Generous Who who ran well in defeat.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

On Friday night, there was a fine double for kennel of Seamus McCloskey and this was kick-started by the impressive Mineola Surprise in race six, the A1 Roofing 525. A notable eye-catcher on his last appearance at the Brandywell, the son of Premier Fantasy and Mineola Radical went to traps a 2/1 chance and he tracked the early leader, Inniskeen Mandy, into the bend.

Brandywell: Race 5 The Monday Night 500 yards was won by GALLIAGH BLACK in 28.06. Ciaran Mc Laughlin on left is presented with the BGSG £50 Bonus by Patsy Doyle from the BGSG Committee.

Turning within a couple of lengths, the writing was on the wall midway down the back as ‘Mineola’ breezed alongside the leader and he took charge at the third turn before staying on powerfully to score. The time was 29.29. Shortly after, Baba Yaga delivered on a brilliant performance in defeat last time out at Lifford.

Despite sitting three lengths adrift entering the back straight, the full brother of Mineola Radical showed incredible back-straight pace to bridge the gap and he railed like a cat in the closing yards to win by two and three parts of a length.

The time was 29.09. Stepping back to the 325-yard trip and the bar was set pretty high by Ardnasool Rebel, which is jointly owned by Cathal McGhee and Leslie Barber. A known flying early-speedster, the son of Ravenswood Hugo and Droopys Elite stepped out lively from one and he outpaced his rivals into the opener with an exhibition of sprinting power.

Thereafter, the strapping blue held off Dusty Dan by one and a half lengths in a slick 17.62.

Moving on to Sunday night and the curtain raiser saw a masterclass of sprinting from Tip Off. Owned by Michael Farrell, the strapping fawn son of Ballymac Best and Blackstone May was a winner last time out at Galway, however, stepped it up a notch in winning at his leisure on his first start at the Northwest venue.

Green Giants was heavily supported into 4/5, however, this was all over at traprise as Tip Off (2/1) clocked a blistering 4.26 sectional on route to the opener. From here, it was a straightforward assignment for the fawn as he cantered to a four and a half length success, in 17.78.

Lifford on Friday: Race 5 - The EXPRESS FOOD SERVICE S2 325 was won by ARDNASOOL REBEL in 17.62. Pictured with owner/trainer Cathal McGhee and his son Cillian. Photo by John Killen.

On a rain-soaked night, Follom Fleet went quickest over the standard trip for John Mohan of Fermanagh. Having clocked an incredible 28.41 around HQ in the past, the son of Pestana and Golden Mist showed he still retains some of that ability as he won his A2 contest in fine style.

Showing a lovely turn of early speed, ‘Fleet’ made every yard to hold off the fast-finishing Illnotbethere in second. The time was a brisk 28.98.