Derry Greyhounds: 'Meet More Often' lands Dan McCann Ulster 500 Final

PICTURED ABOVE: Dan McCann Ulster 500 Final winner MEET MORE OFTEN, pictured with (third from left) is Seamus McCloskey making the presentation to winning owner Eamonn Curran. From left we have Thomas Curran Jnr, Eva Doherty, Thomas Curran Snr., Cara Doherty and her Mum, Caroline Doherty on the extreme right side.

There was an eight race programme at Brandywell on Monday evening which featured the Final of the Dan McCann Ulster 500 which was sponsored by Seamus McCloskey and Track Lotto.

Racing got underway with 3 sprint races before the main event of the evening. Cyril O’Hagan’s See You Tuesday (Ballymac Bolger x Hattaway, Sep ’23) was the first to earn his place on the winners’ podium after making the most of his trap 1 pitch. Well away from boxes, he won by 8.75 lengths in a calculated 17.40 to notch up his first career success on his sixth attempt.

Bogside Liberty (Ballymac Cashout x Jumeriah Liberty, Feb ’24) landed the second race for Sean Canavan on her career debut. Fast away from trap 5, she won by 0.75 lengths in a calculated 17.24. A great effort for this young pup on the night.

Seamus McCloskey’s Mineolatazmanian (Magical Bale x Mineola Renegade, Jun ’23) in trap 5 won Race 3 in the same fashion as the winners of the first two races who led from trap rise. He won by 2.75 lengths in a calculated 17.28. This was only his second career success in 18 starts but there could be more to come from this strapping big lad now that he has found his trapping boots.

The Dan McCann Ulster 500 saw yet another polished performance from track specialist Meet More Often (Magical Bale x Maid Me County, Aug ’22). Racing from trap 4, Eamonn Curran’s hound had a real battle on her hands throughout. Eager Marty from trap 1 paced up her inside to hold that crucial rails pitch at the first bend but Meet More Often ran strong bends and had a narrow advantage entering the back straight.

Marty had drawn alongside her again at the third bend but Meet More Often’s strength on the bends was the deciding factor. She entered the home straight in front and won by 3 lengths in a calculated 28.17, notching up an impressive 13th career success.

Evergreen veteran, Shrewd Stories (Dorotas Wildcat x Shrewd Clover, Sep’ 21) was back on the winners’ podium in Race 5 over the 500 yards trip to celebrate his 15th career success. Racing from trap 5, Dermot Coney’s hound had it all to do when only lying in mid division at the first turn. He kept a wide berth, showed a lovely burst of pace at the sprint boxes to quickly take up the lead and had just enough stamina to hold off the fast finishing Laoises Pet by a short head in a calculated 28.37.

Meet More Often, was our favourite performer at last week’s race meeting. She won the £50 prize, kindly sponsored by Michael Young from the Brandywell Gold Cup Sponsors. Martin McLaughlin (right) presented Thomas Curran Jnr with the prize.

Race 6 saw Ciaran McLaughlin’s Galliagh Monko (Ballymac Bolger x Greenfield Lark, Dec ’23) back on the winners’ podium after a dry spell. Still only lightly raced, Monko was evenly away from trap 6 and had to turn the first bend on the outside of two rivals. His pace took him to the front in the back straight and from there he ran out a comfortable 4.75 length winners in a calculated 28.17 for the 500 yard trip.

Causeway Kate (Broadstrand Bono x Springhill Slick, Sep ’23) made her career debut in Race 7 for Helen Morrison. Racing from trap 3, she was evenly away from boxes and was gutsy at the first bend when driving ahead of Makoko who had paced up on her inside. Despite moving wide entering the home straight, Kate had enough stamina to hold off Makoko by 2.25 lengths in a calculated time of 17.04.

The final race on the night was over the 300 yards and Kevin O’Kane’s Sniper Orla Wray (Broadstrand Bono x Sniper Ria, Aug ’22) made it back to back wins over course and distance to notch up her 11th career success. The early pace was set by Rough Freedom in trap 2 but Orla Wray nipped up his inside at the first turn to lead. From there she ran out a 3.25 length winner in a calculated 17.01.

The final of the €10,000-to-the-winner BOYLE Sports Lifford Oaks drew a bumper crowd to Lifford Stadium on Saturday night, and the evening belonged to Magical Mag, who further cemented her status as a leading contender for the 2025 Bitch of the Year title.

A red-hot final saw Patrick Guilfoyle rewarded for clocking up the miles in recent weeks, with no fewer than three of his runners lining up in the decider. Despite his strong hand, Magical Mag was always the trump card, with the Irish Derby finalist bidding to right a couple of wrongs after being collared in the closing yards in both her earlier rounds.

Lifford on Saturday; Race 4 - NWGOBA A5/A6 525 Final was won by AVENUE QUEEN in 29.08. Pictured with (from left) Fiachra Carney, Blathnaid Robinson, Paidi Carney & Cuisle Robinson.

Facing top-class opposition that included Dundalk track record holder Hackney Tango and the powerful Westway Rossa, Mag produced another electric display to add a second major title to her 2025 haul, having already captured the Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby at Galway earlier in the year.

Sent to traps as the 7/4 favourite, Magical Mag was expected to set a blistering gallop early, and she didn’t disappoint. Exploding from trap two, she clocked a sizzling 2.58 sectional to seize a narrow advantage into the opening bend, closely pursued by kennel companion Daleroad Mya in second. Further back, Westway Rossa occupied a threatening position from trap five, and given the pair’s finishing power, the leader looked vulnerable even at this early stage.

The complexion of the race changed dramatically passing the sprint boxes as Daleroad Mya drifted wide, in turn costing the luckless Westway Rossa vital ground. That manoeuvre ended the hopes of both bitches, but it handed an opening to the Michael Taggart-trained Hackney Tango, who advanced stylishly into second and began to reduce the four-length gap to the leader. Out in splendid isolation, however, Magical Mag continued to dictate proceedings.

With Hackney Tango closing rapidly approaching the penultimate bend, the stamina question once again loomed large for Magical Mag. Having been caught late by Singalong Polly and Westway Rossa in recent outings, there would be no repeat this time. Finding an extra gear up the demanding Lifford hill, Mag dug deep to repel the late charge of ‘Tango’ and score by half a length, with Daleroad Mya a length and a half further back in third.

The winning time was a sharp 28.69, capping a superb few weeks of top-class racing at Lifford and underlining the track’s resurgence as one of Ireland’s finest venues.

Lifford on Saturday Race 6 - The NORTHWEST GREYHOUND SUPPLIES A3/A4 525 Final was won by BALLYMAC JEDGAR in 28.90.  In centre with dog is Becca Porter and she is surrounded by members of The-Ballymac-Syndicate-Ballybofey. Also, from right, Mairead Miller, Spencer Saberton, JP Briggs & Alan Byrne. William Rigney, from TIME Nutrition is on left of photo.

The NWGOBA A5/A6 525, the opening final on the card, set the tone for the evening as Brian Robinson’s exciting young prospect, Avenue Queen, ran out a comprehensive and deserving winner of the €2,000 prize. Just a June whelp, Avenue Queen showcased her class and determination from the outset, producing a powerful display to score an emphatic success for her Co. Tyrone connections.

Early on, Kimcat and Allegra Zaur set the tempo, but Avenue Queen showed exceptional pace from trap four, driving a superb first bend to assert between runners. From there, the daughter of King Elvis and Avenue Ana quickly opened up a four-length advantage down the back, extending her lead relentlessly to five and a quarter lengths at the line with the clock stopping at a smart 29.08.

The final of the Northwest Greyhound Supplies A3/A4 525 also carried a €2,000 first prize, and it produced another hugely promising winner as Ballymac Jedgar prevailed in style. Before the off, Alan Byrne and Rebecca Porter held a strong hand in the decider, represented by the two market leaders, Ballybun Ranger and Ballymac Jedgar.

Things went perfectly to script early on as Ballybun Ranger quickly shrugged off his rivals to display his trademark early dash from trap three.

He was followed into the back straight by Meenagh Manila and Ballymac Jedgar, and with the leader’s stamina limitations in mind, patrons were set for a thrilling finish approaching halfway. As Ballybun Ranger continued to repel the advancing Meenagh Manila at the penultimate bend, ‘Jedgar’ was going about his business with the composure of a veteran. Making rapid progress, he swept past Meenagh Manila before drawing level with his kennel companion approaching the hill.

Lifford on Saturday; Race 8 - The BOYLE Sports Lifford Oaks 2025 Final was won by MAGICAL MAG in 28.69. Pictured with Patrick Guilfoyle (right) & Tom O’Keefe.

From there, the result looked inevitable, with Ballymac Jedgar powering up the straight to cross the line two lengths to the good. Owned by the Ballycrana Syndicate, the May ’24 whelp looks another excellent prospect, and the kennel can be well pleased with the outcome as Ballybun Ranger also secured a podium finish, just a half-length behind Meenagh Manila in third. The winning time was a smart 28.90.