HUGE LOCAL SUCCESS AS CARRIGMORE DANTE CLAIMS €20,000 TIME GREYHOUND NUTRITION CONFINED DERBY

Peter Farrell

It was another extremely busy Saturday night around the Country, however, there was massive interest in proceedings at Limerick Greyhound Stadium as the final of the €20,000 to the winner TIME Greyhound Nutrition Confined A4 Derby went down for decision.

Kindly sponsored by Willie Rigney and John Fox, the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Confined A4 Derby has proved a hugely popular initiative over the past five weeks and there has been a mixture of thrills and spills in regard to early 28.90 stipulation put in place for rounds one and two. That said, this all added to the excitement of the event with the final chapter producing an outstanding victory for Limerick stalwarts Patsy and Aoife Coffey as Carrigmore Dante arrived late to claim a very memorable victory.

WIDE OPEN BETTING MARKET

Outlining how open this event has been from start to finish, there were 5/2 joint favourites as the greyhounds went to traps as both Yotota Lad and Sunnybank Mia, who both landed their respective semi finals, headed the market.

Next best was the early frontrunner in the competition in Sir Rodger at 3/1 alongside Crokers Hugo, while Carrigmore Dante was chalked up at 7/2. The outsider in the pack was Glamorous Woohoo, who was the only tracker installed with double figures at 10/1.

HUGO SETS THE PACE

Having developed a reputation in the Derby for his early-pace exploits, Crokers Hugo was expected to dispute early on and he duly obliged from trap two.

The Vincent McKenna-trained tracker bolted from blue to hold a one length advantage in the opening yards. In behind at this point was Glamorous Woohoo in second, while Carrigmore Dante was on the receiving end of one of his better starts from a plumb draw in red. Meanwhile, the likes of Sir Rodger, who had been pinging out in earlier rounds, missed the kick from five, while the likes of Yotota Lad and Sunnybank Mia were also found wanting on the run-up.

DANTE MAKES HIS MOVE

Holding a two length lead into the back straight from Glamorous Woohoo in second, it was further one length back to Carrigmore Dante in third.

However, it was at the sprint boxes where Patsy and Aoife Coffey’s heavyweight really made his move. Quickly breezing past ‘Woohoo’ to move second, the son of Droopys Sydney and Carrigmore Daisy was mighty impressive as he proceeded to chase down Crokers Hugo and within the blink of an eye, he was now on the tail for the blistering pacesetter out in front.

DANTE DELIVERS

Given the speed in which Carrigmore Dante bridged the gap down the back straight, there was a certain inevitability surrounding the result as he went stride for stride with Crokers Hugo around the bottom two corners and it was here where ‘Dante’ was to turn the screw.

Quickly motoring up the inside entering the home straight, this terrific Derby was just a few strides away from being decided. Staying on with real gusto passing the 550-yard box, Carrigmore Dante flew past the gallant Crokers Hugo and he extended his lead to three parts of a length crossing the line. The final podium place was claimed by Sunnybank Mia and the time was a rapid 28.61.

A truly marvelous performance from the local runner, huge congratulations are extended to the Coffey Family on this achievement and many Thanks are also extended to TIME Greyhound Nutrition, who continue to dig deep for Irish Greyhound Racing.

TIME DERBY CONSOLATION

The feature Derby final may have been won from off-the-pace by Carrigmore Dante but the €2,000 to the winner consolation final proved an exhibition of front-running as the Kieran Lynch-trained Gaytime Elmo blitzed his rivals to win convincingly.

Owned by The-Length-And-A-Half-Synd, the son of Gaytime Hawk and Gaytime Luna was on it from the outset as he rocketed from traps to post a rapid 1.25 sectional. From here, the 8/11 jolly was always going to prove difficult to peg back as he set a scorching gallop to come home two lengths clear of the staying-on Goingthewrongway in second. The time was a blistering 28.45.

TIME GREYHOUND 28 A3 525

The first final down for decision on the night was the TIME 28 A3 525 and this was landed in swashbuckling fashion by Corona Ryan’s Beaming Opium (9/4).

Only a November, the of Droopys Sydney and Beaming Scarlet won her semi final in brilliant style but she went even quicker to land the €1000 final. Running from trap two, ‘Opium’ was headed in the early exchanges by Ballintoher Bud, however, this was to be short-lived as the classy black soon took charge to take a lead of one and a half lengths into the back straight. Setting a blistering gallop down the back, it was clear that Ryan’s charge was producing something special out in front and she duly stretched clear in the closing yards to cross the line two and a half lengths clear of Ballintoher Bud in second. The time was a sizzling 28.53.

TIME PUPPY & SAPLING A2 525

This contest looked a two-dog affair after the last weeks semi finals with both Drombeg Bear and Highview Bizarr producing fine performances for their respective connections.

The final however, proved anything but as traffic at multiple points of the contest put an end to the 6/4 favourite ‘Bear’ making it back-to-back wins in the stake. In contrast, it was Portdrine Magic that came away best of all from three and he dictated early on with Highview Bizarr not too far off the pace in third. The Paraic Campion-trained runner, owned by the VHR-Synd, improved down the back to go second and there was a certain inevitability surrounding the result as the daughter of Pat C Sabbath bridged the gap with every stride in the second half of the contest. Hitting the front late on, the 5/2 chance quickly excelled in the dying strides to go one length clear of Portdrine Magic, who just failed to hold on, in second. The time was 28.53.

TIME GARMIVITE A2 550

There was a shock on the cards in the concluding €1000 final of the night as 4/1 chance Cage Billy arrived late to make it back-to-back wins in the stake for Christopher Delaney.

A winner in 30.26 last time out, the strapping son of Pestana and Lilly Lula was sharper away on this occasion from six and he followed the early pacemaker Dazzes Beauts around the opening turn. Stalking his rival down the back, Delaney’s charge displayed the superior stamina in the closing stages of the contest to just get the better of his rival and win by three parts of a length. The time was 30.07.

LIMERICK & CLARE GOBA FINAL

Worth another €1,000 to the winner, the Limerick & Clare GOBA final proved another finale of huge quality as Gulleen Ina built on her semi final victory for owner Timothy Gilbourne.

7/2 at the off, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Gulleen Queen won in 28.87 last time out but she was to produce a career best when leaving her rivals for dust last night. Running from four, ‘Ina’ was quickest into stride from her middle berth and thereafter, she made every post a winner to cross the line two and a half lengths clear of Cul Na Braithe in second. A convincing performance, the time for this lady was a fast 28.50.