BOYLESPORTS BLUE THE STANDOUT IN TIPP CUP OPENER
Peter Farrell
The opening round heats of the Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup got underway at a sunny Thurles on Saturday night and the Paul Hennessy-trained Boylesports Blue set an extremely high bar with a blistering display in heat three.
Owned by John Boyle, Boylesports Blue had been campaigning over the marathon trips in recent weeks and this was clear to see as he blew his rivals away from the halfway mark to win for a fifth career time. Drawn in a far from ideal trap five, the even money favourite broke well but was unable to get across his rivals early on as Cabra Keiser shot up the inside to lead into the back. However, the writing looked very much on the wall at the halfway mark as ‘Blue’ loomed large behind the leader and he flew into the lead entering the penultimate bend. In doing so, Hennessy’s charge quickly showed his class as he blitzed his rivals in the closing stages to cross the line a huge nine and a half lengths clear of Cabra Keiser in second. A sensational performance from this greyhound, he stopped the clock in a fantastic 28.51.
HEAT WATCH
In heat one, Moorstown Brett was sent off as the 2/1 joint favourite for Joseph O’Flaherty and he built beautifully on his recent trial effort to prevail. Housed in four, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Moorstown Venus showed the best of the early speed to fly up the middle of his rivals and lead early on, before showing fine determination to hold off Cabra Chief down the back. Timmys Buck was the latest to stake a claim in the closing yards, however, ‘Brett’ again showed his gameness to see off his rival by one length, in a fine 28.99.
Bogger Fionn was facing his toughest test to date in heat two but he came through with flying colours for Liam Peacock. A 2/1 chance, the son of Glengar Bale and Bogger Ophelia was drawn in four and he showed a lovely turn of early pace to leave his rivals in his wake on the run-up. Holding a three length advantage over Produce Stakes Consolation winner, Sawdust Chaps, ‘Fionn’ was showing no signs of any let up in the closing stages and he stayed on stoutly to cross the line two lengths clear of Sawdust Chaps in second. A likeable performance from this improving tracker, the time was 29.04.
Geoff Parnaby’s Tarsna Maasai (Droopys Sydney - Tarsna Rose) would have featured heavily at the top of the outright market prior to the kick-off of this event and he did his claims no harm whatsoever with an exhibition of front running. Fast away from six, the 4/6 jolly showcased all of his explosive early speed to develop a five length lead into the back. Barefoot On Fire set off in chase of the leader and while he closed the gap with each and every stride in the closing stages, ‘Maasai’ stuck to his task well to cross the line with a half-length to spare. The time was 28.93. After being off-track for some eight weeks, one suspects there will be plenty more to come from this hugely fast individual in the rounds ahead.
Next best in terms of the clock on the night was Dashing Toro for the Twice-A-Day-Everyday-Syndicate. A brilliant greyhound on his day, the even money favourite made no mistakes as he justified his even money favouritism from trap six. Borna Tyme built up ahead of steam early on and ‘Toro’ looked to have plenty on his plate as he sat some six lengths adrift entering the back straight. However, the son of Droopys Sydney went into overdrive passing the 330-yard box and he powered past the longtime leader in the closing yards to claim a one and a half length victory. The time was 28.75.
BEAST ROARS TO WILLIE MAHER SUCCESS
The final of the Willie Maher Memorial A6/A7 525 served as the supporting act on the night and the €1,700 to the winner event went the way of Theresa Quinlan’s Bull Run Beast.
Installed as a 3/1 chance prior to the off, Bull Run Beast was well drawn in trap one and this proved the key to the race as he enjoyed the freedom of Tipperary in the early yards to storm up the inside and assert. In doing so, he burned off Ballysloe Archie down the back straight, before showing excellent courage and determination to see off the fast-finishing Much Better Boy in second. Just a half-length between the pair crossing the line, the time was 29.40 and many thanks are extended to the sponsors of this fine event.