Derry Greyhounds: Marty was eager to succeed in Dan McCann heats

The three first round heats of the Dan McCann Ulster 500 A4/A5 competition were the highlights of Monday’s 7 race programme at Brandywell.

Racing got underway with a couple of sprint events and experience was the key to Race 1 as Brendan Harkin’s Itsdowntoyou (Ballymac Best x Droopys Theme, Feb ’23) got the better of his less experienced rivals to win by 2.5 lengths in 17.34. He got a flying start from trap 6 and was clear of his rivals at the first turn. With some crowding in behind him, Itsdowntoyou turned into the home straight with an unassailable lead and despite running a wide course he made it his third win from 17 starts.

In Race 2, the early paced Ballyskeagh Nova from trap 6 looked to have stolen the race with a swift exit from boxes but Jonathon Patton’s Bonnet Lily (Ballymac Cashout x Clondoty Amy, Jun ’23) was making steady headway in behind him from trap 1. She tracked the bends tight and took over the lead midway between the first and second turns. She maintained her advantage crossing the line 1.25 lengths ahead of Nova in 17.03.

The Dan McCann Ulster 500 has been a regular event at the Brandywell over the decades and it promises to be a thrilling competition with just a length separating the times of the three heat winners. It was Damien McConville’s Eager Marty (Our Surprise x Eager Ember, Jan ’24) that boasted the fastest clock after winning Heat 1 in 28.28. Evenly away from trap 4, Marty was edging towards the rail and rode a bump from Portrush Tootsie on his inside.

Despite this, Marty had enough early pace to lead at the first turn and he had extended that lead by the third bend with his impressive back straight pace. On the run for home, Marty held off the fast finishing Scally Annie by 0.5 lengths. Meet More Often and Portrush Tootsie also qualified from this heat.

Brandywell; Race 4, the Dan McCann Ulster 500, Round 1, Heat 2 was won by INNISKEEN MANDY from Trap 3 in 28.35. Pictured with Mairead Millar.

Track specialist Inniskeen Mandy (Superior Panama x Slaneyside Kerri, Sep ’21) was once again back on the winners’ podium after a gutsy performance in Heat 2 of the Dan McCann Ulster 500. Now in the veteran stage of her career, she showed that she’s retained plenty of ability with an impressive performance coming from off the pace.

Evenly away from trap 3, Mandy had to settle in behind the early leaders Lye In Wait and Josies Tenner as they turned the first bend. Mandy was on the leaders heels entering the back straight and her pace took her into the lead at the third bend. She held off the fast finishing Lye In Wait by 1.5 lengths as she crossed the line in 28.35. Josies Tenner and Caislean Champ also qualified from this heat.

Shesafunnylady (Good News x Imfine Imgrand, Jul ’23) landed the remaining first round heat of the Dan McCann Ulster 500 in 28.31 for Gary Simpson. Well away from trap 2, Lady had enough early pace to lead at the first bend. She was challenged throughout by Creevy Pet but it was Galliagh Monko that got closest at the finish, just 1.75 lengths behind the winner, with Creevy Pet holding onto third place and Up From Eskragh taking the final qualifying spot for the semi-finals.

1st Semi-Final draw; T1 Scally Annie, T2 Lye In Wait, T3 Inniskeen Mandy, T4 Shesafunnylady, T5 Eager Marty, T6 Creevy Pet

2nd Semi-Final draw; T1 Meet More Often, T2 Portrush Tootsie, T3 Caislean Champ, T4 Josies Tenner, T5 Up From Eskragh, T6 Galliagh Monko

Brandywell; Race 2, 300 yards, was won by BONNET LILY from Trap 1 in 17.03. Pictured with Richie Graham (left) and winning owner Jonathon Patton.

Races 6 and 7 were also over the 500 yard trip and Porthall Finn (Ballymac Bolger x Porthall Maria, Oct ’23) made it third time lucky when coming from off the pace to win his first race.

He stumbled slightly when leaving trap 2 and turned the first bend at the rear of the field but tracked the bends well to enter the back straight in third place. He showed good back straight pace and took up the lead entering the home straight. He ran on strongly to win by 4.5 lengths in 28.61 from the early leader Miss Manage in second.

The finale went to the Damien Patterson owned and Roy Ruddy trained Rein Back (Rileys Hill x Over Easy, May ’23) in 28.55. Only moderately away from trap 2, Rein Back surged up the inside of his rivals at the first turn to take up the lead. Any doubts about his stamina were dispelled as he galloped right to the line to hold off the late challenge of Control Tower by 2.25 lengths. This was his fourth win from 11 starts.

The opening round heats of the BOYLE Sports Lifford Oaks drew the biggest crowd of the year to Lifford on Saturday night, and those in attendance were treated to a thrilling evening of top-class action. With favourites faltering and new names emerging, it was a night of surprises that set the tone for a fascinating competition ahead.

Singalong Polly was the star of the show, producing a performance of real maturity to lower the colours of Irish Derby finalist Magical Mag. Trained by Pat Buckley for Gilbert Anderson, the lightly raced daughter of Grangeview Ten and Mystical Luna overcame a sluggish start to storm home and claim victory by a short head in a brilliant 28.56, the fastest time of the round.

Breaking last from the traps, ‘Polly’ showed superb track craft to rail tightly and move into contention down the back straight. As Magical Mag looked to have the race sewn up around the final bend, Singalong Polly found another gear to snatch victory on the line.

The night began with an upset as Innfield Riddle ran out an impressive winner of the opening heat, denying hot favourite Magical Sapphire. Trained by Barry Clancy, the Ballymac Best daughter broke well from trap five and quickly took control, stretching clear to win by over two lengths in 28.77. Magical Sapphire stayed on strongly to finish second after early traffic, while Blue Belle claimed the final qualifying spot.

The second heat went the way of the well-fancied Hackney Tango, who justified her short odds to record a determined success for Michael Taggart and the Hackney-Boys-Syndicate. The Dundalk track record holder made full use of her inside draw, recovering quickly after being headed early on by Fridays April to regain command down the back. Despite late pressure from Fridays April, Tango held firm to win by a length in 28.63, with Daleroad Mya finishing close behind in third. 

Race 7 - The BOYLE Sports Lifford Oaks 2025 Round 1 Heat 3 was won by ASHMAR UNA in 28.72. Pictured with Ciaran O’Reilly (left) & his brother Ronan O’Reilly.

Heat three produced another sparkling performance, this time from Ashmar Una, who came from off the pace to land the spoils for Ciaran O’Reilly. With Imokilly Roxanne and Westway Rossa battling up front, space was tight entering the penultimate bend, but Una swept around the outside to take command and pull clear. She crossed the line five lengths in front in 28.72, with Magical Poppet finishing well for second and the luckless Westway Rossa taking third after a troublesome passage.

There was no shortage of excitement on the supporting card, where Avenue Queen turned heads in the opening round of the NWGOBA A5/A6 525. A June ’24 pup, she broke her maiden in style for Brian Robinson, showing fine early pace to lead and holding on gamely to win in 28.85, an excellent run for such a young greyhound.

Meanwhile, in the Northwest Greyhound Supplies A3/A4 525, Ballybun Ranger set the pace for trainer Alan Byrne and owner Adrian McGlinchey. Quick from the traps, the Ballymac Bolger son made every yard of the running to clock 29.01, with kennel companion Ballymac Jedgar finishing strongly in second, establishing himself as one to note going forward.