Derry Greyhounds: Fabulous winners for Derry owner Stephen Radcliffe at Lifford

The kennel of Stephen Radcliffe enjoyed a memorable evening on Sunday’s SIS meeting at Lifford Stadium as the Derry handler recorded four winners on the card, the pick of which being a thoroughly impressive performance from Catunda Quinn.

Running in an A5 contest, this daughter of Ballymac Anton - Cabra Diva ensured she will be keeping much stronger company next time around with a masterclass of front-running. Sent off as the 2/1 favourite, ‘Quinn’ pinged out of trap three and in doing so, quickly put the contest to bed.

Drawing clear with every stride, there was no catching Radcliffe’s charge as she sealed the quadruple on the night with a slick 29.14 effort.

Prior to that, the evergreen Deadly Thunder got the ball rolling in the curtain raiser. Installed at odds of 9/4 just behind the 7/4 favourite, Slicer, ‘Thunder’ would have made light work of his rivals in his hay day, however, he was still up to the task on this occasion as he produced a late flurry.

Drawn in three, the son of Vulturi and Ballymac Breeze sat in midfield early on but he stalked the leaders at the halfway mark, before delivering his customary powerful finish to chin Urbanesque on the line. Just a short-head between the pair, the time was 29.41.

In the very next race, Brassneck Max secured a fifth career win for his joint owners Martin Healy and Shane McColgan. Some good support still saw ‘Max’ sent to traps as a generous 9/2 chance and he made his intentions clear at traprise with a slick exit from four. In doing so, the son of Ballymac Cashout - Ballymac Cams never saw another tail as he galloped to a two length advantage over the staying-on Smurfing Gamer in second. The time was 29.30.

Sunday; Race 8 - The EXPRESS FOOD SERVICE A7 525 was won by OLD FORT RAZZLE in 29.76. Pictured with (from left) Harry Whyte, Jordan Keys, Ruiari Whyte, Rachel McNulty & Keegan Whyte.

Leg three of the four-timer came in race four as Knockavilla Jet (Dorotas Woo Hoo - Fill The Till) got back to winning ways for the first time since October of 2024. Owned by Ethan Tyre, ‘Jet’ set out his stall early doors as he bolted from five to quickly excel on the run to the opening bend. Holding a commanding lead at this point, Harrys Pip kept the leader honest throughout, however,

was never threatening Radcliffe’s charge as he stayed on stoutly to record a one and three parts of a length victory. The time was a decent 29.20.

Tippenyaki (Dorotas Wildcat x Love Queen, Oct ’22) is also worthy of a mention after notching up his third consecutive win at Sunday’s SIS meeting for owner Orla McGhee and trainer Cathal McGhee.

Sunday Race 10 - The FITZWILLIAM A6 525 was by CROKERS MILLIE in 29.47. Pictured with Shane Crossan.

He was slowly away from trap 6, but had enough pace to share the lead on the outside of Solo Magic at the first turn. These two had a real battle for superiority throughout but Tippenyaki’s stamina was the deciding factor that allowed him to claim victory by 1.25 lengths in 29.52 for the 525 yard trip.

A ping break from trap 2 saw the John Croker owned and Austin Maxwell trained Crokers Millie (Vulturi x Abbylea Marta, Oct ’20) shake off the cobwebs as she led her rivals a merry dance to win Race 10 on Sunday by 4.75 lengths in 29.47. Millie retains plenty of enthusiasm for racing as she approaches her 5th birthday in October.

The Saturday night card at Lifford was dominated by sweepstake action and it was a Willie Mullan takeover in the semi finals of the March ON2/ON3 325 as he accounted for both winners.

Of his two winners, it was Dance Hoffa that really caught the eye as the heavyweight 87-pounder decimated his rivals from the outset. A winner on debut, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa - Sinfonia was sent to traps as the 7/2 second favourite behind the fancied Mineola Eugene, however, he proved too hot to handle at traprise with a devastating exit from two. As a result, ‘Hoffa’ built up ahead of steam as he galloped to a convincing three and a quarter length victory over ‘Eugene’ in second. The time was a rapid 17.69.

Saturday, Race 9 - The NORTHWEST GREYHOUND SUPPLIES A3/A4 525 Round 1 Heat 3 was won by WHODOYOUCOLLAR in 29.09. Pictured with Nigel Mc Garry.

In the second semi, the double was complete. Miss Bluewood (Ballymac Anton - Burgess Millie) was another fine winner on debut and she justified her 1/2 billing with back-to-back wins, albeit in less convincing fashion than kennel companion, ‘Hoffa’. Drawn in two, Miss Bluewood was headed by Evie Star early on, however, she showed fine determination to cling onto her coat tail and this was rewarded with a narrow victory.

Crossing the line with a half-length to spare, the time was 18.11 and Mullan will come into next week’s decider with a very strong hand indeed.

Further down the card, the opening round heats of the €1,000 to the winner NW Greyhound Supplies 525, which was kindly sponsored by JP Brennan, took place and the standard was set by Nigel McGarry’s Whodoyoucollar.

This lady has some superb form to her name, most notably a 17.48 sprint effort, and she looked the one to beat coming into the contest after contesting the Midlands Derby at Mullingar on her last start. Sent off at 7/4, the daughter of Broadstrand Bono - Pro Melody proved a class above from trap-to-line.

Breaking smartly from three, she immediately asserted on the run-up, before tracking brilliantly to shoot into a comprehensive lead. In doing so, McGarry’s charge drew further and further clear as the race progressed and she crossed the line with a massive ten and three parts of a length to spare. The time was a swift 29.09.

Sunday, Race 5 - The Northwest Greyhound Supplied A5 525 was won by Tippenyaki in 29.52. Pictured with Caeleen Anderson (left) & Orla McGhee.

Next best on the clock was John Croker’s Crokers Captain. Making his first appearance at Lifford, his previous outing saw him win at Mullingar and he didn’t read the script as he won with ease at generous odds of 4/1. Trapping expertly from one, the son of Burgess Bucks - Crokers Wish showed a lovely turn of early speed to go clear. Running to a virtual solo thereafter, ‘Captain’ motored up the hill to cross the line with just under seven lengths to spare. The time was 29.19 and given it was his first race at Lifford, improvement will be expected.

The remaining heat was landed by Seamus McCloskey’s Mineola Peerless. Indeed, Seamus recorded a double on the night and ‘Peerless’ delivered in fine style. A 6/4 chance at the off, the striking fawn son of Mineola Farloe - Mineola Coolagh loomed alongside the early leader, Izzys Jack, at the penultimate bend and after the latter checked, the superior stamina came to the fore for the Minola Peerless. Drawing clear in the closing stages to record a five length win, the time was 29.33.