Gone to the Dogs - 9th April - Limerick Independent News

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Gone to the Dogs - 9th April

Written by Cormac Liddy

Wednesday, 09 April 2008

Tom Ryan, winner of an All Ireland hurling medal in 1973 manager of Limerick's successes in the National League and Munster championship finals of 1994 and 1996, is the new chairman of the Limerick & Clare Owners & Breeders Association.

At a lively annual meeting held after racing last Thursday the recent decision to declare the Markets Field a very fast track was raised and gave cause to a lengthy discussion.

Two finals and semi-finals of two other sweeps provided an interesting card on Saturday. One of the sweeps was won in a very tight finish and a very good time, 28.88, in a novice 2.

It went to Tadgh Buckley’s, Velvet Swiv (Ninas Worldclass-Velvet Droopy). Breaking well from trap three he clipped twelve and a half lengths off his winning semi-final time when making all. But the Pat O’Connell trained and Joe Wheeler owned, Fuddy Duddy (2) was always in close contention and in a great finish Velvet Swiv scored by a head to land the €560 prize with Joe Brazill’s, Kilmallock, Scala Rebel (5) being third, eight lengths in arrears.

The A5 final had €570 for the winner and it went to the Pat O’Connor, Tarbert, trained and Kilkenny owned, Praematurus who made all from trap one when beating the always second placed, Suntini (3) owned by Mark Cussen.

The Mangan family from Crecora will be doubly represented in the final of the A1 sweep next Saturday. Probable favourite for the €700 will be Banbas Vieri (Droopys Vieri-Killington Run) who is owned by Miss Stephanie Goff and who returned the second fastest time of the night when winning his semi-final in 28.72. The Denis P O’Malley trained and Noel an Mike Nash, Ballyneety owned, Arch Swing (3) led at the first bend but had to be content with second place when beaten a length and half by Banbas Vieri.

Only two qualified from each of the three heats and Banbas Premier (Premier Fantasy-Banbas Concorde) won for Ashley Mangan after taking over from Mrs. Ailish Dilger’s, Ballyclough, Winfield Gale (3) from the second bend. Banbas Premier went on to score by a length in 29.11 from another locally owned runner, Glory Munster who was a reserve in trap one.

Tarbrook State (1), owned by Michael Purtill, Croom, was second, beaten a length by the 29.30 winner in a heat of a Novice 1 sweep.

Ballyhahill owner, Patrick Stanley, is enjoying a very successful time with his Seal And Deliver (Honcho Classic-Doonard Lower). Drawn in trap two in an A0 he carded the fastest time of the night when scoring impressively by three lengths in 28.54 and he is improving with every outing as he chalked up his fifth win in a row and his sixth in all from seventeen starts.

There was no sweepstake action on Thursday when the fastest locally owned winner was the Denis Hayes trained, Blackboy Poppy (Droopys Scholes-Dunelm poppy). In an A7 it was John Scully’s, Ballyfolion Pa (5) who led at the third bend. However Blackboy Poppy (4) came through in the home straight to win by a couple of lengths in 29.38 for Jerry Kirby from Cappamore.

In an A5 there was a decisive six lengths win by Dimmys Memory (Buster Douglas-Shanbara Again) who won for the first time since last August. Starting well from trap four he was always in front when winning in 29.46 for Ms Ide Reidy of Kilmallock from Christy Gleeson’s, Carrigview Jet (1).

But owner Gleeson was not without a winner as his Solly (Honcho Classic-Westmead Lily) got back to winning ways when making all for a two lengths win in 16.58 in an S2 over 300 yards for his sixth win in 30 starts.

Bulgaden Castle (Tucks Mein-Selinas Friend) made all for a three lengths win in 29.61 for William Hayes in an A4.

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