O’MUIRCHEARTAIGH A NAME TO REMEMBER
Ian Fortune
When a greyhound is named after a legend, it certainly needs to back it up with displays on the track.
That won’t be a problem for Omuircheartaigh, who debuted in stunning fashion at Shelbourne Park on Friday evening.
On a day when the track staff produced nothing short of a miracle to have the surface raceable, the hugely promising son of Broadstrand Bono and Lemon Ariana raced through the worst of the conditions but still somehow managed to break the 29 second barrier in the opening heat of the Talking Dogs ON1 525.
Trained by Eamon Reynolds for the prolific Pillar Syndicate, the beautifully balanced black never saw a rival after a fast start. Chased into the turn by Good Hope, Omuircheartaigh made light work of his task. Over three lengths to the good as they hit the back straight, he was relentless in the wet, sloppy conditions.
By the line he had six lengths in hand on Good Hope in an incredible 28.85. The track was later rated .40 slow but that was a more than conservative estimate. Have no doubt, this was closer to a 28.00 run that it was to a 28.40 run. The track did speed up through the night as the water drained away but, at this early stage, it was very slow. The winner could be anything and is certainly one to follow in the coming weeks and months.
GORDON COULD BE SUPERFAST
To highlight the slow conditions, Superfast Gordon had posted 28.44 and 28.63 in trials around Shelbourne Park but could only post 29.22 (.40 slow) in the last of the three heats despite leading rom the early yards.
The Pat Buckley trained son of Broadstrand Bono and former Oaks winner Jaytee Jordon didn’t fly from traps and may have edged slightly right rom trap one but he struck the front before the turn and never looked in danger thereafter.
Owned jointly by Eamonn Doyle and Mark Hatton, the December ’21 whelp went on to see off the eye-catching Stefans Thunder by three lengths.
ALIEN ON FIRE
The second heat went the way of Kieran Knowles’ Alien Wildfire.
Never far off the pace from a wide draw in the stripes, the Fraser Black trained son of Broadstrand Bono and Ignite joined and headed Carlow Town between the last two bends before easing on to score by three lengths from the early pace-setter in 29.35.
TESS PRIMED FOR ACTION IN BITCH FINAL
The sole final up or decision was that of the A3 Bitch 525 and Ballycairn Tess did what was needed, showing her rivals a clean pair of heels in the early yards to dictate throughout for Evan Henrick.
The daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Newinn Tess may have been 4-1 but she was primed for action and posted a fast 2.10 sectional to lead early. Debidee Regina stayed on well to briefly challenge off the final urn but the pace-setter kicked again to cross the line a deserving length and a half scorer in 29.24.