Derry Greyhounds: Spirtinthesky fans were in fine tune after her Brandywell victory

There was a seven race programme at Brandywell on Monday with a mix of two and four bend races.

The action kicked off with three races over the 300 yard sprint distance and the Valentine’s themed podium was visited first by Leslie Hunter’s Golan Zara (Ballyhimikin Jet x Golan Hunter, Aug ’24).

This homebred 18 month old lady, who was named after Leslie’s daughter, was having her third career start and she took full advantage of her trap 1 draw to notch up her first win. She was only moderately away from boxes but had moved into third place at the first turn. Zara held her inside pitch rounding the bends and despite swinging off wide as she entered the home straight, had pulled into the lead. Stacks Field ran on well in the later stages but Zara held off his challenge by a neck in 17.51.

Race 2 provided the stage for Kevin Canning’s Vegas Bimbo (Coolavanny Hoffa x Mrs Chatter, Mar ’24) to enter a few notebooks as she posted a 17.11 clock which was the fastest time of the night on what was her career debut. Evenly away from trap 4, Vegas had enough early pace to reach the first turn on the shoulder of the early leader Courtlough Tipp.

She tracked around his outside and emerged into the home straight in front, despite moving wide off the second bend. From there, Vegas ran on strongly and won by 1.5 lengths, pulling further ahead on the run to the escape. It was an effort that certainly bodes well for this lady’s future.

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You could set your clock by track specialist sprinter Ballyskeagh Nova (Ballymac Vic x Avongate Nova, Jun ’23) who made it 3 wins in a row over course and distance at Brandywell. Nova was back on the podium in Race 3 after getting the better of a terrific battle against Freyas Robin. Racing from trap 6, Nova’s blistering early pace was matched by Robin on her inside.

The pair were neck and neck throughout but Nova got the nod on the line by half a length in 17.24. It was a time that was just 0.02 faster than her last victory clock. That brings Nova to a tally of eight wins for her owners’ Patrick Gibson and Paul O’Neill.

Brandywell Race 3 was won by BALLYSKEAGH NOVA in 17.24. Pictured with (from left) Leigh Thompson & Patrick Gibson.

We switched up to 500 yard action for the next 3 races and the writing was on the wall in Race 4 when Gary Simpson’s Spiritinthesky (Ballymac Inspeed x Our Ginger Rose, Mar ’23) trapped out in front from the 1 box. Known more for her strong finishes, it was a matter of how far she would win by as she stretched her lead to 5.25 lengths when crossing the line in 28.38. This was a well-deserved sixth victory for Sky who has finished in the frame 27 times out of her 42 races.

Out and gone tactics sealed victory for Cyril O’Hagan’s Ghetto Horizon (Ballymac Cashout x Donna Rose, Aug ’23) in Race 5. She lead up from trap 2 and won by 5.5 lengths in 28.82 which was a third career success for this lightly raced lady. Hopefully more to come with racing experience.

Race 6 was a competitive battle between Rastafari Riley and Ace Princess (Signet Ace x Young Princess, Apr ’24) but it was the Richard Graham owned Princess that dug deep to claim victory. Well away from trap 4, Princess held the inside pitch at the first turn with Riley on her outside. The pair were inseparable on the back straight and it was only between the third and fourth bends that Princess started to pull ahead. She ran on well to win by 2.25 lengths in 28.72. Whilst this was only Princess’s first success on her ninth start, her determination will be an asset going forward.

Reverting back to the 300 yards for the finale, John McQuillan’s Roving Jet (Ballyhimikin Jet x Rusty Rosie, Jul ’23) turned the race into a procession. After a moderate start from trap 2, he took up the lead at the first turn and ran out a facile 6.5 length winner in 17.12. This was his 4th success from only 13 races.

Saturday night’s meeting at Lifford Stadium was dominated by the Magical Kennels ON2/3 325, and across the five opening-round heats it was Deelish Lenny who set the early standard.

Brandywell Race 2 was won by VEGAS BIMBO in 17.11. Pictured with (from left) Brandon McLaughlin, Steven Lynch & Kevin Canning.

Owned by Raymond Hamilton Snr, the June ’24 fawn proved much too sharp on debut. Briefly headed by Fantastic Dale at traprise, the trap four runner quickly spearheaded proceedings approaching the bend and soon put several lengths between the pair. In doing so, the well-bred son of Koblenz – Ballymac Aurora powered up the testing hill to score by an extending five lengths in a rapid 17.65.

The opening heat of the night saw Bucko continue a recent purple patch for Co. Tyrone owner Brian Robinson. A fast 17.02 trial around the Brandywell had already highlighted the ability of this September pup, and he duly justified that promise with a very accomplished performance. Drawn in five, the heavyweight tracker broke best of all and held off the persistent Dilly Mac Best to the bend. Thereafter, the son of Dromana Bucko – Ellie O only grew stronger, galloping clear to record a brilliant six-length victory in 17.73.

Lifford Saturday; Race 2 - MAGICAL KENNELS ON2/ON3 325 Round 1 Heat 2 was won by GIZMO ALPHA in 17.78. Pictured with Bailey McGee.

Heat three marked a winning return to the Northwest venue for Jamie McGee as Gizmo Alpha made a blistering start to his career. A son of Lifford track record holder Gizmo Cash, ‘Alpha’ wore the striped jacket and, although fast away, faced a strong early challenge from Reenaderry Bucko in four. However, the outside line proved decisive as Gizmo Alpha coursed around runners to stay on stoutly, scoring by two lengths from the fast-finishing Unbearable in 17.78.

Swift Kit was next to prevail, emerging as the latest talent from the Shea Campbell kennel. Some modest trials had failed to catch the eye in what appeared a red-hot novice contest, but he showed real determination to account for the strongly supported favourite Titanic Mason. Swift Kit pinged out from three, only to be quickly joined by the improving ‘Mason’. While the favourite looked set to prevail after taking command around the bottom bends, Swift Kit rallied gamely up the hill to regain the advantage, prevailing by three parts of a length in 17.80.

Lifford Saturday Race 4 - MAGICAL KENNELS ON2/ON3 325 Round 1 Heat 4 was won by SWIFT KIT in 17.80. Pictured with Shea Campbell & his son Stefan Campbell.

The final heat saw Cash Your Chips seal victory for Newry owner-trainer Brendan Matthews. From a prolific kennel, ‘Chips’ was drawn in trap two and showed a smart turn of early speed to sail past Oisins Star. The son of Dromana Bucko – Unbeatable clearly relished the demanding Lifford hill, pulling three and a quarter lengths clear at the line in 17.83.

Away from the sweepstake action, the concluding race produced a polished display from the ever-improving El Mayo. Jointly owned by Anna Breen-Hamilton and Peter Gallagher, the July puppy had impressed previously when scoring in 29.10 and was equally convincing here. Drawn in four, ‘Mayo’ was not the sharpest from traps and settled third early behind Gortin Chip.

The Santas Jet £50 Award was sponsored by Michael Young. It was presented by Lee Glenn to Carter & Torinn after ROANNA CHANCE was voted our favourite performer at our last race meeting. Shane Crossan on right of photo.

However, the son of Ballymac Cashout – Droopys Nextone blew holes in his rivals down the back to take up the running approaching the three-quarter mark. From there it was all one-way traffic, El Mayo crossing the line just shy of five lengths clear in 29.20.