HOT WOOD ARRIVES ON ‘TIME’
Peter Farrell
The final of the €5,000 to the winner TIME Greyhound Nutrition A3/A4 525 took centre stage at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and Hot Wood picked the perfect night to grab his first win in the stake as he dominated from the front in the decider.
Kindly sponsored by TIME Greyhound Nutrition, who are emptying their pockets into Irish Greyhound racing at present, this valable stake has produced top-class performance at Galway over the coming weeks and it was Townspark Benjy that went off the favourite after a series of impressive victories. However, a slow start put him on the back-foot straight from traprise and in contrast, Hot Wood, who had been well-supported throughout the stake without reward, took a flier on the night that mattered to land the spoils for Pat Carey and Gerry Holian.
An impressive sprint winner prior to this stake when posting a rapid 17.74 for the 325-yards, Hot Wood still retained interest on the night despite a couple of defeats and was a strong second favourite at odds of 2/1. Running from trap five, the son of Airmount Nando and Burgess Millie dispute briefly with May On Fire but quickly outpaced his rival early on to assert. Holding a two length lead entering the back, that lead soon doubled at the midway point and although Townspark Benjy improved into second, there was never any doubt regarding the outcome. Drawing clear around the bottom two bends, Holian’s brindle maintained a superb gallop all the way to the winning line and he crossed over four and a half lengths better off than Townspark Benjy in second. A brilliant final performance which was fitting of a generously sponsored stake, the time was a scorching 28.63.
PARADISE DOUBLE
The night got off to a flier in the opening race on the card as Sean Meade sent out Paradise Scott to win in style; the first of two winner’s on the card for the kennel.
Only a September puppy, the brindle son of Dromano Bucko and Paradise Asia was having just his third career start but was chasing a first victory and in truth, he made very light work of his rivals. Running from six, the 5/4 jolly didn’t come away too fluently, however, displayed big speed around the outside to take control at the opener. From here, it was all one-way traffic as the brindle drew clear to win by an impressive ten and three parts of a length. The time was a fast 28.95.
The double was completed in race eight, which was the semi final of WGOBA Easter Dual Distance A5/A6 as Paradise Sky also enjoyed a maiden win.
A full sister of Paradise Scott, Paradise Sky went off as the 6/4 second favourite but was cut adrift early on after a poor start from trap two. However, she made rapid inroads at the midway point to bridge the gap on the leaders and she stuck tight to the rails to fly up the inside and snatch victory. Two lengths clear of French Fearless, the time was 29.38.
IN OTHER RACES
The two semi finals of the WGOBA Easter Weekend A7/A8 525 were also on offer and the fastest of the semis was Bumblebee Granny for Paddy and Paul Burke. The even money favourite, the daughter of Gaytime Hawk and Gaytime Luna broke reasonably well from six and improved into second at the midway point. Outpacing her rivals at this point, ‘Granny’ went into overdrive at the three-quarter mark as she outlined her stamina superiority to cross the line seven lengths clear of Kates Princess in second. The time was 29.45. The other semis were won by Rathkerry Anne for Rachel Hehir, in 30.22, while Fast Fit Rex grabbed another win for John Quinn as he won in 29.72.
Anyone familiar with Lifford will endorse how much Harrowgatetownbaz has been crying out for a step-up the marathon trip and he won the TIME Greyhound Nutrition 810 last night at massive odds of 5/1. Jointly owned by Mike and Deborah Carrick, the son of Slippery Robert and Clodaghs Legend may have been aided by trouble on the inside late on, however, he flew home over the extreme distance to win by one and a half lengths in 46.81.
In the final race of the night, Hanover Sky (Slippery Robert - Be Slow Dor) got back to winning ways for Leeanne Fleming as he landed an A1 contest in brilliant fashion. 6/4 at the off, ‘Sky’ tracker Grangeview Lolo for the majority of the contest, however, showed immense pace and power on the run for home as he coursed around the longtime leader to storm to victory. While his brother will be running in the first round of the Kirby tonight, ‘Sky’ obviously is a proper greyhound as well and he clocked an impressive 28.96.