Greyhound Racing: Galliagh Voice wins Gold Cup Final
The annual Keepherlight Gala night of racing took place last Monday night at Brandywell and there was a large attendance for a top class night of entertainment.
The feature race on the card was the Brandywell Gold Cup 500 kindly sponsored by Michael Young and Martin Hagan and following the semi-finals, the final looked a competitive race on form.
At traprise Rovers Hoffa from trap one broke quickly and led up around the opening bends and into the back straight. About three lengths behind the early pacesetter was Galliagh Voice from trap six.
Going into the final bends Galliagh Voice started to close on the early pacesetter but Rovers Hoffa still led into the home straight. However, on the run to the line Galliagh Voice gained the upper hand and went on to win in a time of 28.01 for local owner Ciaran McLaughlin who received his trophy and the winners’ prize of £600 pounds from the sponsors in the presentation after the race.
The other main race on the card was the DI McLaughlin Memorial 500 and there was a good quality field in the line-up. And what a race it turned out to be!
After traprise it was Pharis Peak in the red sheet and Champagne Jet in the black cover that led around the opening bends and until the final bends.
That’s when Pharis Peak went a length clear but Meenagh Manila in the striped cover started to close from well back. A photo finish was required and after a delay the judge called it a dead heat. Both sets of winning connections, John McQuillian (Pharis Peak) and Antony/Chloe Taggart (Meenagh Manila) were delighted as after the winning prizemoney of first and second was added each owner received £500.
Race seven on the card was the Keepherlight Brandywell 500, kindly sponsored by Kevin Perisi and it looked a well graded race on form. At traprise BaddabBong in the red sheet led up to the first bend but then Olwinn Maniac from trap six swept around the early pacesetter and then went a few lengths clear. She maintained the gallop from that point and went on to win in a time of 28.68 for her Tyrone based owner Oliver Canavan.
After the fantastic night of racing on Monday night, I would like to, on behalf of all the Greyhound community, thank all the sponsors of all the races and the Brandywell staff for ensuring the track was in top class order for the racing.
So, as normal, racing on Monday night at the track will start at 8pm.
€15,000 winners’ prize in Oaks Final at Lifford
The semi-finals of the Boylesports sponsored Lifford Oaks took place last Saturday night at Lifford and it was fantastic to see the biggest crowd of the year at the track for the semi-finals of the competition.
In the first semi-final Droopy’s Crispy was heavily supported from 6/4 into 8/11 to win with good support also for Gealltanas Grace from trap six at 15/8.
Droopy’s Crispy, who looked unlucky in the first round heats when she fell from traps, was expected to improve her trapping in this race but once again she fell from traps and her chance was gone. Drveen Lass from trap four showed very good early pace to lead by a few lengths going up around the opening bends and into the back straight. However, going into the third bend Ballymac Jetaway from trap one then went past the early pacesetter and looked set for an easy win.
Coming into the home straight Gealltanas Grace from trap six started to close and looked a major danger at that point. The line came just in time for Ballymac Jetaway who held on to win by a neck in a time of 28.84 at odds of 10/1 for local owner Rebecca Porter and trainer Alan Byrne.
Gelltanas Grace was second and Drveen Lass back in third to progress to tomorrow night’s final.
In the second semi-final Magical Fiona from trap one was the 15/8 favourite to win but she also lost her chance of winning by starting slowly. It was her kennel comrade Magical Be Nifty that led up and into the back straight and looked the likely winner at that point. Berry On Faya from trap four was in second a few lengths behind coming into the home straight but it still looked as if Magical Be Nifty was going to hold on and win. However, in the last few yards Berry On Faya made one last drive and she just got up to win by a half a length in a time of 28.65 at odds of 3/1 for owners Peter and Cian Mulrooney and trainer Murt Leahy.
Magical Be Nifty finished second with Magical Fiona back in third getting the last spots for tomorrow night’s final.
Looking at the final, it has to be one of the most open on form in a long time. Selecting the winner is not easy but the early pacesetters should be kennel comrades, Magical Be Nifty from trap three and Magical Fiona from trap four representing owner/trainer Patrick Guilfoyle. However, they both are not strong stayers and the demanding uphill finish at Lifford has not suited them in this competition.
Gelltanas Grace from trap six showed exceptional early pace when winning her first round heat in a time of 28.35 but then after missing the break in last week's semi-final she ran a great race to only be beaten a Neck by Ballymac Jetaway who runs from trap two in the final.
The strong finisher in the final is Berry on Faya from trap one but that looks a tricky trap draw. So I'll select the well drawn Gealltanas Grace to land the €15,000 pot for the Feel Good syndicate. First race with the Oaks final is the feature race. The meeting starts at 7.45pm. Racing on Sunday starts at 2.26pm. Free Admission.
Boylesports Lifford Oaks Final (In Trap order): Boylesports Betting) Berry on Faya 3/1; Ballymac Jetaway 6/1; Magical Be Nifty 15/8; magical Fiona 2/1; Drveen Lass 33/1; Gealltanas Grace 4/1.