QUALITY FARE AT THURLES PARK

Peter Farrell

Thurles hosted a ten-race card on Saturday night, and several greyhounds dipped under the 29-second barrier, the quickest of them being Charming Graham, who took off in the A5/A6 525.

A lightly raced May ’23 tracker, Shane McCormack has shown great patience with this youngster and it paid off handsomely with a convincing performance in race five. Sent to traps as the 5/4 favourite, the son of Priceless Jet and Makeit Inabottle was only moderately away from trap two, but displayed electric early pace to seize control entering the back straight. Opening up a seven-length lead approaching the penultimate bend, this was a classy display from McCormack’s charge as he maintained his gallop all the way to the line, scoring by seven and a half lengths in a sharp 28.85.

A BOGGER DOUBLE

Earlier on the card, Liam Peacock enjoyed a fine double, the first leg coming courtesy of Bogger Pro, who produced a strong display to secure his third career victory.

Returning from a recent stint over six bends at HQ, Pro was sent off the 2/1 joint favourite alongside Oriental Prince, and he made the most of a decent break from trap two to edge into an early lead. Holiday Beebee threatened briefly before being chopped off at the third bend, allowing Bogger Pro to again assert. Showing his superior stamina late on, the son of Callaway Pro Am and Bogger Megan powered around the final bends to win by three and a half lengths in 28.88.

The double was completed in race six, the Campion Pumps A2/A3 525, as Bogger Tommy justified his 1/2 billing.

After filling the runner-up spot in each of his last three starts, ‘Tommy’ was determined to go one better and did so in convincing style. Despite a slightly hesitant break, the son of Glengar Bale and Bogger Ophelia showed brilliant early pace to lead from trap two. Taking a three-length advantage into the back straight over Roscomroe Rusty, he stayed on strongly to prevail by two and a half lengths in 29.01.

BACK-TO-BACK FOR TOURNAREEKCUCKOO

The final race on the card saw Tournareekcuckoo also dip under 29 seconds with a commanding victory for the Back-In-An-Hour Syndicate.

A winner of her last start in 29.30, she was well-fancied to follow up and was sent off the 6/4 favourite to do just that. Quick away from trap one, the daughter of Signet Ace and Waitforthecuckoo flew up the rails to take a three-length lead into the back straight. From there, it was one-way traffic as she doubled her advantage before charging up the Thurles hill to win by seven and a half lengths in a brisk 28.87.