Derry Greyhounds: Meet More Often sprints to success at Brandywell

There was a seven race programme at Brandywell on Monday which featured the Follow @UKGREYSALES for UK Sales 500 which was kindly sponsored by Nathan Corden.

The opener over 300 yards went the way of Itsdowntoyou (Ballymac Best x Droopys Theme, Feb ’23) from trap 6 for Brendan Harkin.

Only moderately away from boxes, he made a decisive move, sweeping around the outside of his rivals, at the first bend. Golan Jacob took the shorter route around the inside and whilst it was nip and tuck to line between these two, Itsdowntoyou got the verdict by a short head in 17.35 to record his second career success.

Thats Mikeys (Bogger Hunter x Ladyswell, May ’24) went into a few notebooks after his debut victory in Race 2. Slow away from trap 3 this striking, easy striding, white and black 80 pound pup showed smart early pace to take command at the first turn. He navigated the bends comfortably and ran on well up the home straight to win by 2.75 lengths in 17.01 for the 300 yards. This lad has a lovely action and looks to have a bright future for owner Pat Barrett.

We switched to the 500 yard trip for our feature event, Race 3 the Follow @UKGREYSALES for UK Sales where Cyril O’Hagan’s Ghetto Horizon (Ballymac Cashout x Donna Rose, Aug ’23) came out on top. She was well away from trap 3 but had to contend with Edgarstown Boy on her inside at the first turn. Boy checked slightly which handed the advantage to Horizon who made the most of the opportunity to take up the lead and she ran out a comfortable 4 length winner in 28.58. This was her first success on only her fourth start.

Race 4 was a real thriller with early pacer Promises to Keep in trap 1 battling for the win against strong finisher, Sprintinthesky (Ballymac Inspeed x Our Ginger Rose, Mar ’23) in trap 2. As expected Promises to Keep led around the first turn but Gary Simpson’s Spritinthesky was in close pursuit. Spiritinthesky showed great track craft to unleash her challenge up the inside of her rival turning for home and got up by a neck on the line to claim victory in a decent time of 28.01 for the 500 yards.

Early pace was the key to Race 5 as Ballyquin Tilly (King Elvis x Townsend Beauty, Oct ’23) made all from trap 3 to gallop out a 1.75 length winner in 28.26 for the 500 yard trip. Few can leave the boxes as fast at Tilly and once again she timed her exit to perfection. She is always game up front and doesn’t relinquish her lead easily. This was one of her best efforts for Kirsty Harpur and she will always be a tough lady to get past when in her grade.

We reverted to sprint action for our last 2 races and it was the Patrick Gibson and Paul O’Neill owned Ballyskeagh Nova (Ballymac Vic x Avongate Nova, Jun ’23) that used trap 6 to full advantage in Race 6. Nova led from trap rise and ran out a comfortable 3.25 length winner in 17.05 for her third career success.

Brandywell, Race 7 was won by MEET MORE OFTEN in 16.76. Pictured with (from left) Thomas Curran Jnr, Eamon Curran & Thomas Curran Snr.

Another of the fastest trappers we have at Brandywell was in action in the finale. Eamonn Curran’s Meet More Often (Magical Bale x Maid Me Country, Aug ’22) employed her usual slick exit from trap 2 and never saw another challenger. She crossed the line in a swift 16.76 with 2.5 lengths to spare over Skywalker Voyage in second. This was an 11th career success for Meet More Often and a career best time for the 300 yards.

The Bear Run 74 was set up in memory of Bear Gamble’s father who passed away aged 74 after a battle with cancer. Bear organises charitable events which have been incredibly successful raising over 200,000 euro for charitable causes so far. After the incredible success of their first motor show in 2022, the Bear Run 74 Team were back at Lifford at the weekend and filled the whole venue with their supercars and trucks.

Hundreds of people attended and it was a terrific day out for all who visited. After the show, the greyhounds were in action with a night of top class racing which formed part of the overall fundraising activity for the charitable causes.

Fastest of the sprinters on Saturday at Lifford was Paul Whyte’s Fridays Nigeria (Ballymac Cashout x Corner Daisy, Nov ’22). She recorded a career best performance when winning Race 8 from trap 4 in a sizzling 17.58. Paul had a double on the night when Fridays Ariana (Burgess Bucks x Fridays Macushla, Oct ’23) won Race 2 in 18.06 which was also a career best time.

Brandywell, Race 5, was won by BALLYQUIN TILLY in 28.26. Pictured with Stuart Harpur & his daughter Kirsty Harpur.

Drveen Lass (Burgess Bucks x Moss Avenue, Sep ’23) was back on familiar turf after a spell away at Shelbourne where she contested the Irish Derby. There is no place like Lifford for Jim Joe McGrath’s Lass and she relished every moment of her victory in the finale against a classy line up. Fast away from trap 3, she won unchallenged by 4 lengths in 28.90 which was the fastest time of the night over the 525 yards.

Sunday was a night to remember for the Berry brothers. Trainer William Berry notched up a fantastic treble and took home 1,500 euro’s on what was a night of boosted prizemoney. Owned by the Cheap As Chips Syndicate, they won Race 6 with Puckane Novel (Ballymac Cashout x Aayamza Royale, Aug ’23) in 29.95 at 3/1 and Race 7 with Blue Jig Meg (Broadstrand Bono x Minnies Yulia, Nov ’22) in 29.54 at 5/2. The icing on the cake came in Race 9 when Lightfoot Pebble (Ice On Fire x Lightfoot Marie, Feb ’23) won in 29.67 at 3/1.

Fastest over the 4 bends on Sunday was the Ben McQuaid owned and Eddie Hurson trained Divil The Hayte (Ballymac Best x Got The Charm, Jul ’23) who came with a wet sail at the third bend to run out a 5.75 length winner in 29.20. It topped off a great weekend for Eddie as he also trained his wife’s Saorlaith (King Sheeran x Cielo, Jan ’24) to win the SS Builders/DTSC Ulster Puppy Cup Final in Drumbo on Saturday in a fast 17.87 for the 335 yards.

Thanks to all the Team that made it such a great weekend at LIfford. Charitable fundraising was in full swing, memories were made and a great time was had by all. Over 15,000 euros was raised by The Bear Run 74 at this single event on Saturday which (according to their social media post) will be shared between Donegal Hospice and the Kevin Bell Trust. Congratulations to all involved.