BOGGER DOUBLES UP IN MICKEY O’SULLIVAN OPENER AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the Mickey O’Sullivan Memorial A2 525 took centre stage at Thurles Greyhound Stadium last night and not for the first time, Liam Peacock stole the show as he notched two of the three heats on offer.

While both Bogger Cooper and Bogger Ace landed their respective contests, the fastest heat winner was Rathfalla Hero, who justified his short price of 1/2. Trained by David Flanagan for Thomas Whelan and Denis Hughes, ‘Hero’ hadn’t raced since October but he showed no signs of any race rust as he came from off-the-pace to score brilliantly. A son of Grangeview Ten and Ballybrack Lexi, Rathfalla Hero broke well from four but was headed comfortably by Nothing On You in the opening yards. However, despite having some four lengths to make up down the back, he quickly made his move and proved much too strong for his rivals on the run home. Finishing superbly, ‘Hero’ emerged a four length winner over Ballybawn Belle in second, in a time of 29.12 .20s.

In the second heat, Bogger Cooper followed up on his huge win in the Deadly Kennels A2 at Kilkenny with another polished performance. Owned by Liam Peacock, he went to traps as the worthy 5/4 favourite and, like last week, he broke brilliantly from two to assert in the opening yards. Joined on the back straight by the eye-catching Bull Run Buggy, the son of Pestana and Bogger Bonnie showed great determination to wrestle back control and emerge a three length winner from the staying-on Goutouttathat in second. The time was 29.22 .20s.

In the final heat, litter brother Bogger Ace brought his career tally to three wins with another determined display. Again installed as the 5/4 jolly, he broke well from four but was joined by Tarsna Fern and this was the common theme of the contest. Nip and tuck between the duo throughout, ‘Ace’ just got the better of ‘Fern’ in the closing stages as he emerged a half length winner, in a time of 29.28 .20s.