Derry Greyhounds: Titanic effort from Gift lands top sprint at Brandywell

There was a 7 race programme at Brandywell on Monday with some notable performances amongst the winners.

We kicked off with 3 sprint races and it was Olwinn Surf (Dromana Bucko x Runninta Carbery, Nov ’23) that was the first to earn his place on the winner’s podium for owner Oliver Canavan. It was a professional performance from Surf on only his second career start.

He zipped out of trap 6, effectively gaining enough advantage over his rivals to secure victory by 1.25 lengths in 17.13. Avongate Christy ran on strongly to take the runner up spot and it looks like he will appreciate a step up in distance in due course.

Easy Rosie (Ballyhimikin Jet x Beaming Rosie, Jun ’23) went slightly faster with a 17.08 clock in Race 2. Ideally housed in trap 1, Dean Townsend’s Rosie was moderately away from traps but held the crucial inside pitch at the first turn with Ivy Girl on her outer. Ivy checked wide and that allowed Rosie to gain the advantage and hold of the late challenge of Run On Bean by 1.75 lengths. This was her first career success on what was her fourth start.

Trap 1 housed the winner of Race 3 also. Centre Line (Rileys Hill x Over Easy, May ’23) owned by A Morrow and trained by Roy Ruddy, showed impressive track craft to recover from a slow start. Her early pace took her up to the heels of the leader at the first bend where she cleverly found space on the leader’s outside. That was a decisive move which kept her momentum and she ran on strongly to win by 0.75 lengths in 17.17. The manner of this success on only her second start, bodes well for her future.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 2 was won by EASY ROSIE in 17.08. Pictured with winning owner Dean Townsend, Jessica & her daughter Zelina.

Races 4, 5, & 6 were run over the 500 yards trip. 4.5 year old veteran Illnotbethere (Droopys Nidge x Shirocco Star, Oct ’20) lined up in Race 4. Owned by Gerard MacGettigan and trained by Tony Maxwell, it looked a tough race for the veteran but she flashed out of trap 6 to give herself every chance.

The early pace of her rivals meant Illnotbethere was vying for second place rounding the first couple of bends but she was right on their heels at the third bend. She overtook her rivals on their outside at that point and went on to win by 2.25 lengths in 28.19. This brought her career tally of wins to 8.

Brassneck Coyle (Dorotas Wildcat x Kilara Charm, Mar ’22) was evenly away from trap 5 in Race 5 and took up an early lead on the run to the first turn. Despite being under pressure up the home straight, Coyle had enough in the tank to seal victory by 0.75 lengths in 28.36 for co-owners Martin Healy and Stephen Radcliffe. A pleasing result for this ex-Youghal hound on his first trip to Brandywell.

Charlie Baxter and Seamus Toal’s Karen Who (Ballymac Wild x Heard No Evil, Jul ’23) turned Race 6 into a procession after a swift start from trap 1. With some crowding in behind, Karen stretched her lead to 7.25 lengths as she crossed the line in 28.53. This was her second victory from only 6 starts.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 4 was won by ILLNOTBETHERE in 28.19. Pictured with (from left) Martin Mc Laughlin, trainer Tony Maxwell & Paddy Glackin.

The top sprint of the night went to James Campbell’s Titanic Gift (Burgess Bucks x Titanic Peggy, Aug ’22) in 16.93. This looked a competitive race on form with plenty of early pace in the line up. But Gift’s early pace was superior on this occasion after an even break from trap 3. She crucially got to the first turn in front and ran out a half-length winner from the fast finishing Bartlemy Soldier. Gift has a good strike rate of 3 wins from 11 starts. This was the sort of race that all 6 runners look like they could follow up with a win next time out, given some luck in running.

After making the Derry News headlines last week with 4 wins in a row, the ever green veteran Killmacs Best (Ballymac Best x Killmacdonagh, Mar ’21) made it 5 in a row with a 29.59 victory in Lifford on Sunday for Kealan O’Kane. A terrific run of good form for Best who celebrated his 4th birthday on Monday.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

It was a case of rinse and repeat at Lifford Stadium over the weekend as the kennel of Austin Maxwell recorded another treble on Sunday’s card. Very much a leading kennel on the SIS scene, Ollys Ten (Grangeview Ten – Kitmans Jenny) was the first to score as he recorded back-to-backs wins at odds of 10/3.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 7 was won by TITANIC GIFT in 16.93. Pictured with Jason Campbell

You could set your watch by this tracker at traprise and he took his customary ping start from trap three to immediate outpace his rivals early on. Holding a two length advantage over Tobergal Beauty, the latter made a real fist of it come the business end, however, it was too little too late as ‘Ollys’ pulled out all the stops to win by a short head. The time was 29.62.

Another to make it two consecutive wins was Wrong Price in race nine as she also came through at odds of 10/3. Known for her power-packed finishes, it was a case of roles reversed on this occasion as the daughter of Pestana raced prominently early on from two. In doing so, she held off the strong challenge of Harrys Lucy to win by a half-length in 29.91.

The treble was completed in the concluding race on the card as Crokers Nicola (Good News – Horseleap Nicola) maintained her purple patch on the SIS card. Installed at huge odds of 9/1, this lady was out with the washing early on as Pharis Cashout set the pace, however, she came with her customary wet sail to storm past the latter and win by an extending two lengths. The time was 30.38.

Another kennel that enjoyed a fruitful weekend at the North-West venue was that of Cathal and Orla McGhee as both Slicer and Tippenyaki scored in their respective contests. Slicer was on the downgrade in his A4 contest and the result was never in doubt as the 5/2 shot won comfortably.

Lifford on Sunday Race 6 - BEST VALUE TOTE IN THE WORLD A6 525 was won by KILLMACS BEST in 29.59. Pictured with Kevin O’ Kane.

Running from two, the son of Malachi and Ravenswood Mango took charge at the second turn and never looked back thereafter in sealing a two length victory over Knockavilla Jet. The time was a decent 29.44. Shortly after, Tippenyaki, who had threatened a victory one-week prior, got his head in front with a fine display of front-running. This fellow has a lovely turn of early speed and this proved decisive in running out a two length winner over Pharis Sarah in second. The time for the 11/4 chance was 29.69.

On Saturday’s card, Beebees Princess put to bed her narrow defeat last time out with a masterclass of front-running for Niall McGhee. This lady is brilliant on her day and she made her intentions clear from the outset with a rocket break from two. As a result, the daughter of Grangeview Ten, owned by Martin Lafferty, quickly excelled to the front and she was never under any pressure from her rivals thereafter.

Staying on with real intent around the bottom two bends, the chase of Liberty Katy was all in vain as ‘Beebees’ crossed the line with four and a half lengths in hand, in 29.10. Indeed, Niall enjoyed an excellent double further down the card as Little Gael broke her maiden tag with ease. Owned by Darragh McGhee, the daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet was paw-perfect from trap one in the early yards and this allowed her to enter the back straight in a commanding position.

Thereafter, ‘Gael’ proved too hot to handle on this occasion as she motored to a four and a half length success over Smurfing Legacy in second. The time was 29.69. Sandwiched between the McGhee winners was a very accomplished performance from Aidan McVeigh’s Armagh Buckfast. In truth, this pup proved a class above his rivals as he stepped out lively from four, before totally outpacing his rivals on the run to the opening bend.

Lifford on Sunday Race 12 - GOODNIGHT AND SAFE HOME A8 525 was won by CROKERS NICOLA in 30.38. Pictured with (from left) Shane Crossan with OLLYS TEN who won race 5 in 29.62, beside him is his sister Emma & brother Connor Crossan. Then Finn Mc Colgan with CROKERS NICOLA and Kyle Maxwell with WRONG PRICE who won Race 9 in 29.91.

The son of Ballymac Cooper has a big reputation and he certainly lived up to the hype as he stormed clear thereafter to cross the line two and a quarter lengths better off. The time was a scorching 17.59. The highlight contest of the night was the final of the Fitzwilliam A3/A4 525 and this was landed by Willie Mullan’s Ballintoher Bud as he made it back-to-back wins in the stake.

In charge early from his trap five berth, the son of Premier Fantasy and Sidarian Fern set a blistering gallop throughout before staying on stoutly to see off Deadly Thunder and claim the €600 first prize on offer. The time was a rapid 29.18.