‘Galliagh Black’ stars at Brandywell Stadium

And there were several notable performances from young pups in their races on the night. In fact, in the first race on the card over the sprint distance, ‘Galliagh Black’, who was having his first ever race, was really impressive. The black dog, who is a June ’21 pup, had two moderate grading trials on his card but the big 78lb dog showed big improvement in his race.

He broke in second place from trap six but then joined the early pacesetter, ‘Riada Ice’ coming into the home straight. From there he ran on strongly to win by two lengths in a time of 16.90 for local owner, Johnny McLaughlin. Indeed ‘Galliagh Black’ looked as if he will be even better when he steps up in distance.

In the second race, also over the sprint distance, ‘Greener Pastures’, who looked unlucky in his last race at the track, was the 6/4 favourite to win and the black dog did not disappoint. Well away from trap three he made every post a winning one in a time of 17.14 for Co. Antrim based owner, Sammy Walker.

The third race was also a sprint and ‘Ats Incredible’, who won her last race at the track, was the well supported evens favourite to win but she did not break well and her chance was gone. Instead, ‘Alakazam’, a 5/2 shot running from trap one, showed big early pace and was well clear going around the opening ends. However, in the home straight, ‘Anna's Emma’ in the orange jacket was flying home but the line came just in time for ‘Alakazam’ who held on to win by just under a length in a time of 17.06 for Letterkenny based owner, Robert Montgomery.

In the fourth race over 500 yards, ‘Wheelman’, who had been running at Dundalk recently, showed a return to Brandywell was just what was needed. Starting at 7/4 in the betting, ‘Wheelman’ mad a mockery of the odds. The blue dog raced clear going into the final bends and came home an easy winner by over five lengths in a time of 27.89 for Strabane based owner, Sean White.

In the fifth race, it was the veteran ‘Greenfield Lark’ who put in a good performance. At just over five years old, she showed her much younger rivals a clean pair of heels when she stayed on strongly to win by over two lengths in a time of 28.23 for local owner, Ciaran McLaughlin, making it a double on the card for the McLaughlin family.

In the sixth race, over 500 yards, ‘Tip Away Summer’ from trap one went clear around the opening bends but along the back straight the field closed up and ‘Curlew Bubble’ in the orange jacket took the lead. However, in the home straight ‘Mineola Freddie’, who was having only his second race, came with a big finish and went on to win by over two lengths in a time of 28.53 for Limavady based owner, Seamus McCloskey.

In the last race on the card over the sprint distance, ‘Porthall Sarah’, who had two impressive trials on her card, was 5/4 favourite to win but it was ‘Riada Jean’, who won her first race at the track a few weeks ago, that showed she is improving. Fast well away from trap three she made every post a winning one in a time of 16.76 for Antrim based owner, Gemma Carmichael.

Racing as normal on Monday night first race 8pm.