Derry Greyhounds: Laoises Pet lands the Meenagh Marathon Final

Monday’s race programme at Brandywell featured the final of the Meenagh Kennels Marathon over 745 yards. It was kindly sponsored by Michael Corr in conjunction with the Brandywell Greyhound Supporters Group. The supporting programme included two first round semi-finals of the Brandywell Sprint.

The action got underway with a terrific quick fire double for Colm Sweeney in the first two races. It was his home bred Mexicano (Ballymac Cashout x Skirk Illusion, Oct ’23) that completed the first half of the double.

Well away from trap 4, he was lying in second place behind the early paced Ambys Princess. As the first bend approached Mexicano switched to her outside and immediately swept into the lead. He moved wide entering the home straight which allowed Townsend Margo into a challenging position, however, Mexicano had just enough stamina to claim the honours by 0.75 lengths in 17.29. It was his first success on his ninth start.

There was a return to action for Colm Sweeney’s veteran performer Beanos Snowflake (Dorotas Wildcat x Droopys Lagoon, Jun ’20). She has achieved much success in her career already and she showed that she still loves the thrill of the chase when completing the double for Colm in Race 2. A slick exit from trap 1 was enough to stretch her rivals and she won her 75th race by 1.5 lengths in 17.21.

Odhran McBirney’s Mertle (Our Surprise x Seeyouindevys, Aug ’22) is in a rich vein of form at the moment and followed up on her Drumbo victory a month ago with a fine win in Race 3 over the 500 yards. Her early pace from trap 4 was enough to secure the lead and she held off the fast finishing Dreenan Bella by 0.75 lengths in 27.73. This was a 7th career success from 28 starts.

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The Meenagh Kennels Marathon Final went to the early paced Laoises Pet (Malachi x Princess Pizza, Nov ’22). Fast away from trap 6, she was never in any danger of being caught. She had virtually a solo run up front for the two circuits and won by 6.75 lengths with her nearest challenger being Rian Talbot’s Train Blossom in second place. Her time was 42.39 and she adds this prestigious event to her career tally of 3 wins from 28 starts.

Race 5 went to the Ciaran McLaughlin owned Galliagh Voice (Ballymac Bolger x Greenfield Lark, Dec ’23). Evenly away from trap 6, Voice tucked into second place as the field turned the first bend. She had 4 lengths to make up on the early leader Stouke Taylor, but kept on gamely up the home straight and won by 1.75 lengths in 28.21. Maggies Return ran on well to take second place with Stouke Taylor finishing third.

Brandywell; Race 8 was won by GENEROUS CASHOUT in 16.67. Pictured with Charlie Baxter & Caellach Talbot. 

The Brandywell Sprint semi-finals were decided in Races 6 and 7. A lovely burst of early pace from trap 5 saw Oliver Canavan’s Olwinn Bucko (Dromana Bucko x Olwinn Me, Aug ’24) emerge from the pack on the run to the first bend. It was an impressive performance from this pup yet again who now has 4 wins from only 7 starts. His time was 16.82. He ticks plenty of boxes and looks to have an exciting future.

In Race 7, which was the second Brandywell Sprint semi-final, Aidan Cullen’s Yahoo Puff (Coolavanny Hoffa x Yahoo Ava, Jul ’23) made all after a slick exit from trap 3. His time was 16.78 and he won by 1 length from the fast finishing Danubius. It was a third career success for Puff on his 22nd start.

The finale went to Charlie Baxter’s Generous Cashout (Ballymac Best x Generous Daisy, Sep ’22) who is always a tough cookie to beat over the Brandywell Sprint. Only evenly away from trap 1, he powered into the lead before the first bend and ran on well to win by 1 length in a fast 16.67. This was his 15th career success from 35 starts. It was also a second consecutive win for Cashout after winning his previous race at Drumbo.

The final of the €1,500-to-the-winner Magical Kennels ON2/ON3 325 served as the feature event on the card at Lifford Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night.

Reduced to a five-runner contest following the absence of Cash Your Chips in trap two, Bucko was always likely to prove difficult to beat, a sentiment echoed in the market as he was sent off at even money.

Brandywell; Race 2 was won by BEANOS SNOWFLAKE in 17.21. Pictured with (from left) Colm Sweeney & Lorcan Sweeney.

Even so, Brian Robinson’s September pup was forced to dig deep after a sluggish start from trap four. In contrast, the Jamie McGhee-trained pair, Gizmo Mystery and Gizmo Alpha, were quickly into stride from the outside and inside berths respectively, disputing the early lead from the book-end boxes.

Once finding his rhythm, however, the powerful 84-pound Bucko began to build momentum and charged into the opening bend, surging between the littermates to lay down his challenge. Thereafter, the son of Dromana Bucko and Ellie O recovered well from a bump, straightened up in determined fashion and powered past Gizmo Mystery in the closing yards. It was a different type of performance from the youngster, more grit than glamour, but no less impressive, as he stopped the clock in 18.10, a time that told its own story given the traffic he encountered.

The curtain-raiser produced a sparkling display from Willie Mullan’s recent sales recruit, Ropewalk Black. Drawn in six, the October daughter of Droopys Flytline displayed electric early pace on the outer, sweeping around the opening bend to seize a decisive advantage. From there, she simply powered away, emerging a class apart as she crossed the line nine and a half lengths clear of Snipersstillgame in a rapid 17.69.

An equally taking performance followed in race two, where Orchid Simone struck for Fiona Devlin and Shane Brennan. A modest €500 purchase at the sales, she already looks a shrewd investment. The daughter of Doolin Duke and Cicero asserted from the outset, showing sharp early dash from trap four before stretching clear to see off Sparta Rascal by two and a half lengths in a smart 17.81.

Race four saw the opening leg of a ‘Smurfing’ double courtesy of Smurfing Legacy. Owned by Eunan McBride, the strong-running tracker was always travelling with menace as he tracked Old Hubbard into the back straight. True to style, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Murlens Madison loomed large at the three-quarter mark and asserted late on, staying on powerfully to score by two lengths in 29.41.

Lifford; Race 2 - JD PRINT S7 & LOWER 325 was won by ORCHID SIMONE in 17.81. Pictured with (from left) Shane Brennan, Fiona Devlin and Danny and Riley Mc Cormack.

The double was completed in the marathon 820-yard contest as Smurfing Gamer made virtually every yard. In a distance event that drew plenty of attention, ‘Gamer’ was quickly into stride and dictated matters from the run to the opening bend. Setting a relentless gallop, she kept on strongly to hold the staying-on Text Roisin by two and three-quarter lengths, stopping the clock at 47.14.

Sniper Orla Wray returned to winning ways in the penultimate race, rediscovering something close to her best for Kevin and Keelin O’Kane. In truth, the race was settled at trap rise, as the daughter of Sniper Ria pinged from three to record a scorching 4.31 sectional. Never sighting another rival thereafter, she powered home two and a half lengths clear of Danubius in a fast 17.70.