Derry Greyhounds: Notshort Ofpace lives up to his name

The postponed race programme from the 30th September was carried forward to Monday evening and it drew a good crowd to the Brandywell to watch some great quality racing. The three first round heats of the Geoff Thompson Memorial 500 were the feature events on the night and this competition has been kindly sponsored by Sam Stewart and family, and Track Lotto.

Racing got underway with a couple of sprint events and it was Oliver Canavan who was the first to make his way to the winners podium after his Mercury Rising (Malachi x Dragonfly, Nov ’22) was well away from trap 6 and ran a great first bend on the outside of his rivals to create an unassailable lead. Despite running wide off the second bend, Mercury still had 5.5 lengths in hand as he crossed the line in 17.15 to record his first career success on his sixth start.

Patience paid off in Race 2 when James Lafferty’s Maisies Susie (Ballymac Cashout x Wee Maisie, Oct ’21) produced the best run of her career to land the spoils. This 3 year old lightly raced lady had only 1 win on her card which was over course and distance last October. Roll on a year and she showed she is certainly a force to be reckoned with, given half a chance.

Racing from trap 2, her early pace took her to the front at the first bend. Despite being challenged on her outside, she tracked the bends well to draw 3 lengths clear crossing the line in a smart 16.82.

Race 3, saw some classy hounds taking each other on, but it was Roy Ruddy’s Drumcrow Fudge (Drumcrow Darwin x Ballymac Meo, Oct ’22) that produced a fantastic effort from trap 2 to win in a slick 27.38 for the 500 yards.

It was his searing early pace that took him to the front at the first bend and he still had 4.75 lengths to spare over his nearest rival Moss Flyer at the finish. Fudge’s sweet success brings his tally to 6 wins and 3 seconds from only 11 races.

Heat 1 of the Geoff Thompson Memorial 500 saw stud dog Drumcrow Darwin throw a second consecutive winner on the night when Patrick Daly’s County Song (Drumcrow Darwin x Drumcrow Holly, Sep ’22) made it two wins from only two career starts. Drawn in trap 2, Song was only moderately away from traps but she tucked in behind the early leaders rounding the first bend and showed some searing pace to move into the lead early on the back straight after the leaders tangled.

She opened up 6 lengths over her rivals as she crossed the line in a smart time of 27.85.

Brandywell Race 6. The Geoff Thompson Memorial 500. Rd 1 Ht 3 was won by TUTTLES TIMMY in 27.85. Pictured with John McMonagle.

Seamus McCloskey’s home bred Notshort Ofpace (Mineola Farloe x Mineola Radical, Nov ’22) was one for the notebooks in Heat 2 of the Geoff Thompson Memorial 500. He was moderately away from trap 2 and had to buckle for position on the run to the first bend with Scally Annie on his inside.

This allowed Generous Tricast on his outer to open up what looked to be a race winning lead. However once Seamus’ hound had got the inside rail to himself, he showed great pace on the back straight and overtook Tricast entering the home straight to run out an easy 5 length winner in a fast 27.61.

This was his first success on his fifth attempt and he looks the one to beat in this competition should trap draws be favourable to him.

The last heat of the Geoff Thompson Memorial 500 went the way of track regular Tuttles Timmy (Good News x Tuttles Jill, Sep ’21) for John McMonagle. After a dry spell without a win, Timmy was paw perfect from trap 5. He was fast away from boxes and made all to win by 2.5 lengths in 27.85. Mineola Topman ran on for second place. The semi-finals of this competition will be decided next Tuesday 15th October at the Brandywell. There will be no racing on Monday 14th October at Brandywell.

Brandywell Race 3 was won by DRUMCROW FUDGE in 27.38. Pictures with (from left) Patsy Daly, father & son Harold & Roy Ruddy.

Reverting to sprint action, races 7 and 8 were won in similar fashion to each other. Tracey Muldoon’s Tinas Higa (Ballymac Bolger x Tinas Peggy, Sep ’22) made all from trap 4 to win by 4.25 lengths in a fast 16.67. This was her first career success on only her second start and her fast early pace bodes well for her future.

Leading lady Townsend Swift (Blame The Game x A Wild Weegirl, Jun ’22) proved why she is currently top of the 2024 Brandywell league table for ‘Dog With Most Wins’ when she once again got to that crucial first bend in front and ran out a 4 length winner in 16.80 for Thomas Brennan. Racing from the 2 box, she led from trap to line.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Those that journeyed to Lifford over the weekend were left in no doubt surrounding who the star of the weekend was as So Its Herc produced an outstanding performance to land his S4/S5 325-yard contest on Saturday night. In truth, he did stick out like a sore thumb in this contest based on his last winning display, which was 19.42 around the notoriously slow-running Galway circuit.

Brandywell Race 2 was won by MAISIES SUSIE in 16.82. Pictured with (from left) Cyril O’Hagan, Kim McKinney & James Lafferty.

As a result, it wasn’t surprising to see this August 22’ whelp installed as the 4/6 favourite to land the spoils but that said, few would have predicted how impressive he would be in doing so. Donning the blue jacket, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Go Again quickly got to work as he pinged the lids to record a rapid 4.26 early sectional.

In doing so, he left his rivals for dust on the approach to the opening turn and the gap was increasing with every stride thereafter. Urbanesque set off in chase in second, however, her efforts were all in vain as So Its Herc drew clear to win by five lengths at the finish.

The time was an incredible 17.41, which ensures that this speedster will be gracing SSO company next time he lines out.

The kennel of Willie Mullan may have found So Its Herc too hot to handle one race prior, but Catunda Chloe (Ballymac Best – Swallow) kick-started a brilliant double for the Derry handler in race three. Installed as the even money favourite, ‘Chloe’ didn’t come away too fluently from her trap one berth and in contrast, it was Dreenan Zeus that dictated early doors.

Lifford on Saturday Race 3 - The ROSIES CAFE S3 325 was won by CATUNDA CHLOE in 17.93. Pictures with Tom Mullan.

However, the latter has stamina limitations even over the sprint trip and this was shown up the Lifford hill as Catunda Chloe began to close the gap with every stride. Crossing the line with three parts of a length to spare, the time was 17.93 and this was a fine performance given she completely fluffed her lines at traprise.

The double was secured in the very next race as recent eye-catcher in defeat, Knockroe Pearl, just held on to secure her second win from three starts.

A recent sales purchase, she broke well from her inside berth in one and although drifting to the middle, maneuvered well to hold all the aces into the back straight. Thereafter, the daughter of Ballymac Best and Rosmult Racer came under late pressure from Maggies Aim, however, held firm to secure a one length victory. The time was 29.34.

Lifford on Sunday Race 7 - The TRACKSIDE RESTAURANT SPRINT OPEN 325 was won by IZZYS JIMMY in 17.48. Pictured with winning owner Ann Breslin and her daughter Isibeal Breslin.

On Sunday afternoon, the standout performance came in what looked a red-hot sprint as Izzys Jimmy built on his superb displays around Dundalk. Owned by Ann Breslin of Fermanagh, ‘Jimmy’ is top-class on his day and the 2/1 chance flew from trap one to set a scorching gallop (4.25 sec).

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In doing so, he was always going to prove a tough nut to crack and the son of King Sheeran duly went about his business in fine style