GIZMO SETS ISLANDBRIDGE PACE
Ian Fortune
Gizmo Cash was named Sprinter of the Year last Friday night at the National greyhound Awards and he has since claimed two mighty impressive victories to confirm his selection, the latest of which came in the opening round of the Islandbridge Open Sprint at Shelbourne Park on Friday.
All three heats were won in fine style but none went as fast as Gizmo Cash, as he flashed from trap three to make every inch to justify odds of 4-7. Jamie McGee’s brilliant son of Droopys Jet and Down The Green actually smashed the 350yd track record on this weekend in 2022 but there was no record breaking run on this occasion. Instead, the Keeley McGee trained star just produced a thoroughly professional display to lead home the eye-catching Gallant Knight by three lengths in 18.59.
WILLOW FLASHES HOME
Flashing Willow (Laughil Blake/ Cabbage) took the second heat in fine style despite giving Cappuccino a head start at traps.
A red-hot favourite, Flashing Willow began to move through the gears into the turn to take over on the outside of Cappuccino but was kept honest by Corbrack prince who shot up the inside of the early pace-setter.
Flashing Willow, trained by Pat Buckley for Kenny Glen, swung a little wide off the final turn but was never going to be stopped as he stayed on strongly to repel the persistent challenge of Corbrack Prince by two lengths in 18.65.
ZULU TAKES ADVANTAGE
The opening heat was Basil and Bernadette Holian’s Echo Zulu make the most of an inside draw to win a muddling affair.
Ardfert Markie flashed from traps four but cut for the fence. He was denied the inside run at the turn by Echo Zulu, who shot up the fence to challenge.
Bogger Hunter, after being cut off at boxes from tap three, rushed into the bend to challenge the bumping front pair but he, in turn, found traffic. The Michael O’Donovan trained Echo Zulu (Laughil Blake/ Murlens Maura) drove through on the rail to move to the front before staying on to see off Radical Hero by two lengths in 18.75.
STUNNING 575YD RUN BY PHANTOM
There were some fine runs on the undercard also with that of Cathy Hynes’ Hanover Phantom (Slippery Robert/ Be Slow Dor) in the semi-finals of the RCETS A1/A2 575 standing out as he recorded a sensational 30.91.
The Declan McDonagh trained powerhouse was at his best, taking over from Leahs Turn on the opening bend before easing on to win with plenty in hand.
The Galway 550yd track record holder maintained a relentless gallop all the way to the finish to see off Leahs Turn by four and a half lengths.
HEWICK ALSO GOES FAST
The second heat was also won in superb style by Tommys Hewick.
Trained by Michael Donnelly for the wonderfully named The-Horse-That-Bought-The-Dog-Syndicate, He flew into the turn to assume control early before racing right away to win by eight lengths from Jirano Supreme in a fast 31.10.
AILSA TOO SHARP IN A1 DECIDER
The final of the €1,750 to the winner This Runs Deep A1 525 saw the progressive Droopys Ailsa make every inch to justify favouritism for Paul Allen and trainer Robert Gleeson.
Never headed, the daughter of Loughteen Blanco and Droopys Berry saw off the always second Bluejig Baron by two and a half lengths in 28.61.
FIRE WINS WELL AS BRO CATCHES EYE
Urban Fire came in as a reserve into the A2 third race and duly led early to emerge a good winner but the runner-up Droopys Bro entered the note-book showing big pace to come from well off the pace.
Reggie Roberts’ Urban Fire came home three and a half lengths to the good in a fast 28.42 but, have no doubt, Droopys Bro is one to keep an eye on.