ROVER DEFIES THE ODDS TO LAND GRI SPRING STAKE AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

The GRI Spring Stake A4 525 came to a conclusion at Limerick on Saturday night and the 2,650 first prize on offer went the way of the 10/1 outsider, Bettyville Rover.

Owned by John O’Shaughnessy, Bettyville Rover landed his opening round assignment in this stake in 29.18 but was second best to the impressive Portinard News last time out, resulting in the August whelp being widely available at double-figure odds prior to the off. However, this greyhound clearly never read the script as he powered to a really eye-catching victory, while recording a fourth career win in the process. Running from trap four, the son of Pestana and Bettyville Sally came away like the wind to clock a 1.27 early sectional but was outpaced to the opening turn by the likely leader, Foxrock Rory. It was three in a line down the back straight with Bettyville Rover sandwiched between Foxrock Rory and Portinard News and you could put a line through the remaining trio at the halfway mark. Edging closer approaching the penultimate turn, Bettyville Rover bided his time expertly before turning on the style between the bottom two bends to take control. Staying on stoutly thereafter, Bettyville Rover crossed the line with one and a half lengths in hand over Portinard News in second, reversing the form guide from one week prior. The time was a fast 28.77 and many congratulations are extended to winning connections.

ELSEWHERE

Elsewhere on the card, there were no shortage of fine performance and Magical Rubble got his career off to the perfect start in an ON1/ON2 525. Owned by Pat Guilfoyle, the fawn son of Good News and Burgess Sarah was made to work hard after meeting trouble at several spots early doors. However, showing big speed down the back, he turned on the style thereafter to hold Mystical Lexi by one length, in a time of 28.72.

Bambis Lady (Droopys Sydney – Ballybrack Gem) landed race six in make-all fashion at odds of 5/1. Owned by Gerard Brussels, this bitch is only a December 21’ whelp but she ran like a veteran, trapping front and remaining in the ascendancy from there on it. A brilliant all-the-winner, the time was 28.62.

Billy Guiney was back amongst the winners on Saturday night as Ballygibba Ruby came out the right side of a judge’s call. Running from trap one, the daughter of Sonic and Ballygibba Dawn was outpaced down the back by Courty Girl but she is a stout stayer and she came back for more late on to get the nod by a neck. The time was 28.51.

There was also a powerful display over the 550-yard trip in the very next race as Homestead Local recorded a fine win for Dan Lynch. Running from trap three, the strapping son of Ballymac Bolger and Ballymac Alannah was fast away on this occasion and in truth, once dictating early, her rivals knew their fate from an early stage. Setting a blistering gallop down the back, Homestead Local was six lengths too good for Gortkelly Nestor, in a time of 29.81.