Derry Greyhounds: Dellser Bolger, fastest in Johnny McLoughlin Memorial semi-finals

The semi-finals of the Johnny McLoughlin Memorial Sprint and the Daniel Canning Memorial 500 were the feature races on Brandywell’s seven race programme on Monday.

Racing got underway with a sprint event and it went the way of the strikingly handsome Million Bells (Boylesportsmagic x Drumcrow Carline, Apr ’23). This 85 pound white and fawn lad was evenly away from trap 5 and used his early pace to pull ahead of his rivals as the first bend approached. From there he ran on well to win by 4.5 lengths in 16.92. An encouraging first victory for Bells who was having only his third race for owners Patrick and John Daly and trainer Roy Ruddy.

Races 2 and 3 decided the finalists for the Johnny McLaughlin Memorial Sprint. The Richard Graham and Patrick Edgar owned Dellser Bolger (Ballymac Bolger x Fair Act, Jul ’23) was the first to secure his place with an impressive 5 length win in 16.83. Drawn in trap 4, Bolger battled for the early lead with Skywalker Tina on his inside and his early pace took him to the front at the first turn.

He ran strong bends and, once in front, he was not going to be caught. Skywalker Tina held on for second place with Stoke Trump just a neck away in third. Trump was slow away from trap 1 and was powering into the first bend when he got checked up. Plenty more to come from him once he gets a clear run.

One of the most determined runs of the night came in Race 3 when Danny McCormack’s Cee Or Seven (Ballymac Cashout x Kilbriken Grace, Aug ’23) weaved his way through the field to win by 2.75 lengths in 17.16. Only moderately away from trap 3, Cee was almost invisible amongst his rivals who all arrived at the first bend in a closely packed group.

Brandywell Race 3, The Johnny Mc Laughlin Memorial Sprint 300 Yds. 2nd Semi-Final was won by CEE OR SEVEN in 17.16. Pictured with Danny McCormack & Riley McCormack.

Shanmoyle Amy and Aventus both shot a length clear turning the bend but moved wide. Cee was hot on their heels and tracked an inside course which saved him valuable ground and he emerged into the home straight in front. He ran on strongly up the straight with Meet More Often taking the runner up spot. Sniper Orla Wray was a further head back in third.

Trap draw for the Johnny McLaughlin Memorial Sprint Final: T1 Skywalker Tina, T2 Sniper Orla Wray, T3 Cee Or Seven, T4 Stoke Trump, T5 Meet More Often, T6 Dellser Bolger.

Races 4 and 5 decided the finalists for the Daniel Canning Memorial Sprint. The evergreen Starcash Barry (Droopys Noah x Lightfoot Marie, Aug ’21) has just entered the veteran era of his career but he showed he is still a force to be reckoned with. He recorded his 16th career success when he lead up from trap 2 and held his inside pitch at the first bend despite pressure from Droopys Chatter on his outside.

He entered the back straight in front and went on to win unchallenged by 5.5 lengths in 28.09 for owner Dean Toland. Droopys Chatter took the runner up spot despite taking a bump wide at the first bend. Country Curly also qualified from this heat.

The Michael Corr trained Meenagh Manila (Broadstrand Bono x Meenagh Milan, Jun ’23) made the most of her trap 1 draw in the second semi-final for her owners, A Few Chancers Syndicate. She led from trap rise but Reneas Boy in trap 2 and Catunda Quinn in 4 were making a race of it.

Reneas Boy was forced to take the wider route and was making a bold bid at the third bend to take the lead when he was checked back. This took the wind out of his sails and he did well to recover his momentum to qualify for the final in third place.

Meanwhile Catunda Quinn was running on strong for second place and had reduced Manila’s lead to 3.5 lengths at the line. Manila’s time was 28.13 but connections of Reneas Boy will be hopeful that a better trap draw and a clear run in the final might allow him to turn the tables on the winner.

Trap draw for the Daniel Canning Memorial 500 Final: T1 Reneas Boy, T2 Starcash Barry, T3, Meenagh Milan, T4, Droopys Chatter, T5 Catunda Quinn, T6 Country Curly.

Patrick Gibson (left) was presented with the Good Luck Trophy sponsored by Damien Cullen after Ballyskeagh Nova was voted our favourite performer at last week’s meeting. Trophy presented by Patsy Doyle from the Brandywell Greyhound Supporters Group.

Race 6 turned into a procession for the Denis Murphy owned Use The Clock (Callaway Pro Am x Callaway Jose, Oct ’23). Drawn in trap 1, Use The Clock moved middle on the run to the first bend. He had enough pace to lead at the turn and pulled clear for an impressive 7 length victory on what was only his third career start. He clocked the fastest time of the night over the 500 yards; 28.01. Still more to come from this lad with a middle trap draw.

The finale went to Dermot Coney’s Shrewd Stories (Dorotas Wildcat x Shrewd Clover, Sep ’21) who has only been out of the frame once in his last 7 races at Brandywell. Housed in his favoured trap 6 box, Stories was granted a clear run as his competitors moved to rails. After a tardy start, he flew up the outside and ran a terrific first bend to shoot into the lead. From there he opened up a 4.25 length lead to win in 16.90. Eire Queenie ran a creditable race from trap 1 to claim second place. This was a 12th career win for Shrewd Stories who will turn 4 years old next month.

Saturday’s race meeting at Lifford was a fundraiser for Baby Acroia and there was a part sponsored 10 race programme to mark the occasion, which included two Finals.

George Cregan’s Margan Jet (Pestana x Dunquin Ida, Nov ’23) was a hot favourite to win the Fitzwilliam ON2/ON3 325 Sweepstake Final over the 325 yards. Jet lived up to her billing and after taking up the lead at the first bend, went on to win in 17.98.

The Trackside Restaurant A5/A6 525 Final also went to a fancied runner, the joint favourite, Jim Hughes Kimcat (Ballymac Cashout x Mydras Kim (Oct ’23). He was fast away from traps and led to the line, clocking 29.43. His litter brother Kimbat wasn’t to be outdone and he won Race 7 at Sunday’s Lifford meeting in 29.76.

Brandywell Race 7 was won by SHREWD STORIES in 16.90. Pictured with Ella Coney.

There was also a fantastic treble for Paul Whyte’s littermates from Ballymac Anton x Tyrur Lucille, (Feb ’23) at the weekend. On Saturday, Fridays Angie won Race 1 in 29.68 for the 525 yards. Fridays Anton won Race 6 in 17.85 for the 325 yards and on Sunday Fridays Arminta won the finale in 29.89 for the 525 yards.

David Park also scored a treble when he produced 3 winners at the Sunday meeting. Lotus Jackson (Jaytee Jerry x Golan Hunter, Sep ’22) won Race 2 in 29.74, Kenyan Spark (Jackslittlething x Wee Tee, Oct ’22) won Race 5 in 29.63 but it was Matts Mission (Droopys Sydney x Matts Marine, Sep ’21) that really impressed when winning Race 6 in 29.38.

IN PICTURES: St. Mary's GAC Banagher Summer Camp

For consistency, there was only one obvious winner over the weekend and that was Janeke De-Baat’s homebred Aghaderry Odhran (Out Of Range ASB x Lowgate Belatrix, Jun ’22). He won Race 4 by a short head in 29.65, getting up right on the line. His relentless and competitive racing attitude is the reason that this win was his fourth in a row. A fantastic feat for any greyhound.