SPECIAL BOMBAY SETS THE CHRISTMAS CUP STANDARD AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the Munster Christmas Cup got underway at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Friday night, with all four heats producing impressive winners, led by the Graham Holland-trained Bombay Special.

Kindly sponsored by Village Kennels, this prestigious event has a habit of attracting top-class talent and the 2025 renewal appears no different. Graham Holland enjoyed a double on the night with Slippery Brian also obliging, while Elvis Bay and Jerrivee De Meg claimed their respective heats in fine style.

The feature performance came in the concluding heat as Bombay Special romped to a comprehensive success to complete a hat-trick of victories for Jack Ryan’s charge. Sent off the 4/6 favourite, ‘Bombay’ broke smartly from trap six but found Velvet Ring for company on the run-up, the latter showing sharp early pace to briefly join the favourite. However, after sweeping the opening bend in front, Bombay Special quickly opened up a three-length advantage. Although Velvet Ring held second, he had nothing left to offer after the leader posted a sensational 15.99 sectional to the third bend. The race was effectively over at that point as the son of Dromana Bucko – Tory Aria powered up the Clonmel hill to win by four and a half lengths in 28.32.

BRIAN AND MEG NEXT BEST

Next best on the clock were Slippery Brian and Jerrivee De Meg, who posted identical winning times of 28.54 in heats one and two.

In heat one, Slippery Brian got Graham Holland off to a blistering start as he bounced back from a second-place finish at Shelbourne Park last time out. Joint 5/4 favourite alongside the highly impressive This Approach, neither were fluent at traprise as Pretty Exile burst from six to lead early, with Cronody Bluey moving into contention. An upset looked possible entering the back straight, but Slippery Brian recovered well before producing a decisive move to split the leaders at the penultimate bend. From there, the son of Ballymac Cashout – Old Treasure, owned by Larry Dunne, stayed on strongly to score by two and a half lengths. Cronody Bluey took second, with Pretty Exile holding on for third ahead of the unlucky This Approach.

The clock was matched in heat two as Jerrivee De Meg made all for Brendan Cocoman, Ian Cunningham and trainer Paul Hennessy. Chasing a fourth win from just ten career starts, Jerrivee De Meg was sent off the 11/10 favourite and quickly justified that support with a sharp break from his middle berth in four. The brindle soon built a two-length advantage into the back as Gealltanas Grace moved into second with a smart burst of pace. Posting 16.16 to the third bend, the son of Dromana Bucko – Outdoor Annie kept extending thereafter, staying on powerfully to win by three lengths, again in 28.54.

ELVIS BACK TO WINNING WAYS

The remaining heat was landed by the Thomas O’Donovan-trained Elvis Bay, owned by the Golden Tipp Syndicate.

Just a February puppy, Elvis Bay had already impressed with a recent Cork victory in 28.70 and his 5/2 offering looked generous despite Singalong Curly heading the opposition. Drawn ideally in six as a wide runner, ‘Elvis’ broke smartly and showed strong early pace to avoid traffic at the opening bend. Setting a solid gallop from there, the son of King Elvis – Antigua Princess held on well to deny the fast-finishing Danish Biscuit, with the clock stopping at 28.92.