UNA SETS THE STANDARD IN ST. LEGER OPENER AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

Saturday night saw thirteen top-class opening round heats of the Willwego.com Irish St. Leger at Limerick Greyhound Stadium and it produced some thrilling action with both Pat Buckley and Graham Holland recording trebles on the night.

Bobsleigh Dream landed the 2022 running of the Classic and she made a successful start to her defense in heat ten, while the likes of reigning Kirby champ, Clonbrien Treaty, Another Holiday, Clonroosk Sydney, Ballinabola Una and Disco Pants were just some of the standout performers who also recorded victories on the night.

BALLINABOLA NARROWLY QUICKEST

The ‘Ballinabola’ prefix has landed the headlines on numerous occasions with the exploits of ‘Ed’, however, it was the turn of ‘Una’ last night as she put it all together in the opener of the 2023 Classic. Jointly owned by Brendan Murphy and Aoibheann  O’Leary and trained by Pat Buckley, who was to account for a treble on the night, Ballinabola Una (Burgess Bucks-Dolls Lady) is known for her strong running attributes but she in fact broke in front from trap three this time around. As a result, the 4/1 shot was always in control and she was to draw clear of her rivals in the second half of the contest to account for a seven length victory over Glorious Best in second. The time was a brilliant 29.50.

TREATY LANDS HEAT OF DEATH

The heat of death was without doubt heat eight as Clonbrien Treaty, Bens Teddy and Swords Rex all locked horns and it was the reigning Kirby champ who built on his brilliant display last weekend with another paw-perfect performance. Showing that he is cherry-ripe for his Leger tilt, the son of Pestana, owned by James and Muireann Murphy was much sharper at traprise as he posted a 2.85 sectional and he powered into the opening corner in total control. In contrast, both Swords Rex and Bens Teddy ran into traffic problems after missing the kick and, as a result, this one looked all over at an early stage. Setting a wonderful gallop down the back, the striking blue is a thing of beauty when in full throttle and he maintained that relentless gallop to come home a facile, nine length winner over Ballyelan Sonic in second. The time was 29.51.

LEGER OFF TO A FLIER AS DISCO FLIES

One of the most popular trackers in training is the brilliant Disco Pants and the Michael Daly-trained star recorded his fourteenth career win in real style. Jointly owned by Conor Healy and John Breen, the son of Kinloch Brae and Bling Bling Lola is just as effective over the sprint trip as the standard and he pinged from three to lead early on. Chased by the fancied Romeo Hanzo in second, the 3/1 chance held his own with no issues as he stayed on stoutly to see off ‘Hanzo’ by one and a half lengths, in a rapid 29.59.

ANOTHER HOLIDAY BACK TO HIS BEST

It wouldn’t be a proper Classic without a Michael O’Donovan tracker starring and Another Holiday showed his class in running out a fine winner of heat six. A 6/4 chance at the off, he had the likes of Irish Derby finalist Music Glideaway amongst his opposition but he got off to one of his fliers to leave his rivals eating dust early on. From here, Jack Roche’s charge maintained an incredible pace and he was too hot to handle for the likes of Pennys Lynx and Music Glideaway in crossing over two lengths clear. The time for the son of Dorotas Wildcat was 29.59.

CLONROOSK IS A POWERHOUSE

Clonroosk Sydney established himself as a real powerhouse during the Derby but few could have expected him to hand defeat to Bockos Crystal in heat nine. In fact, the latter actually briefly led from trap one and given her record over extended trips, you would have been forgiven for thinking that it was a foregone conclusion thereafter. However, the 4/6 chance was overturned as Clonroosk Sydney, trained by Matthew Harte, displayed phenomenal back straight pace to take charge and he finished with his usual wet sail to power to a three length victory. A really likeable display from Ollie Dunne and Raymond Conroy’s runner, the time was a fast 29.56.

DEFENDING CHAMP OFF TO DREAM START

Bobsleigh Dream (Droopys Sydney - Bobsleigh Jet) produced one of the most memorable performances in a Leger final when coming from the clouds to deny Mustang Jet and she got her bid for back-to-back titles off to a flier in heat ten. Running from trap two, Pat Buckley’s bitch was the 4/6 favourite at the off but she completely fluffed her lines to trail the field on the run-up. In contrast, Da Bold Freddie bolted from traps and the recent Cambridgeshire finalist led the way early on. However, we all know how strong Willie Joe Murphy’s charge is and she picked her way through the field before storming to the front in the closing yards to score. An incredible performance from a bitch who clearly relishes Limerick, she claimed a one length victory over Da Bold Freddie, in a time of 29.76.

ROUNDING UP THE HEATS

HEAT 3 - Kilcolgan Zeus (Pat C Sabbath - Razldazl Valerie) went off as a 5/1 chance with Deadly Style installed as the 4/6 favourite but the Neilus O’Connell-trained tracker caused an upset to land his sixth career win. Running from trap five, Karen Geoghegan’s charge trapped best of all to turn narrowly in front and he made every yard to see off the fast finishing Boylesports Gift by three parts of a length. The time was 29.88.

HEAT 4 - Mr Chelm went off as the 5/4 favourite, however, it was the Liam Dowling-owned Ballymac Run (Bull Run Bolt - Jaytee Pearl) that wore down her rivals to bring up a dozen career wins. Drawn in four, Mr Chelm led early on but could not withstand the strong running challengers in behind and could manage only fourth in the end as Ballymac Run finished at speed to see off Sogne In Grande by a neck, with Hukum a further neck back in third. The time was 29.86.

HEAT 5 - The second of the Pat Buckley-trained winners was Bobsleigh Syd (Droopys Sydney - Bobsleigh Jet) and he showed fine courage to see off the challenge of Clonbrien Ollie. Running from trap one, the 9/2 chance, owned by the Off-The-Radar-Syndicate, took a ping start from red and after manufacturing a healthy lead, held on by three parts of a length from Clonbrien Ollie in second. The time was 29.74.

HEAT 7 - This was one of the most eagerly anticipated heats of the night with the likes of Sober Glory, Ryhope Beach and Ballymac Finn all involved, however, there was to be a huge upset on the cards as 20/1 chance, Miss Mini Holly, prevailed for Thomas O’Donovan. Running from trap three, the daughter of Broadstrand Bono did her job in breaking in front and that was all she wrote in terms of landing victory as trouble in behind saw numerous greyhounds baulked. Setting a solid gallop to come home four and a half lengths clear of Sober Glory, ‘Holly’ stopped the clock in a smart 29.80.

HEAT 11 - Gaytime Hugo was one of the standout greyhounds of this year’s Con & Annie Kirby Memorial and the Graham Holland-trained star justified his standing as one of the shortest priced winners on the night at 1/3. Owned by Stephanie O’Connell, ‘Hugo’ didn’t come away too fluently from two and had plenty of work to do as he sat fourth early on. However, showing all of his incredible pace, the son of Gaytime Hawk picked his way through runners, and indeed the wet soaked sand, before reeling in Droopys De Luxe to win by one length, in 30.16.

HEAT 12 - Droopys Bro was installed as the 2/5 favourite in heat 12 and he made no mistakes for Murt Leahy and the Sweeney-Todd-Syndicate as he raced to a comfortable victory. Breaking well from trap two, the son of Malachi and Droopys Cake was always in control as he galloped to a four and a half length victory over Churchtown Syd in 29.78.

HEAT 13 - Nomadic Nova completed a treble on the night for Graham Holland in the concluding heat as he justified strong outright support to win at odds of even money. Owned by Graham Ashe, in truth ‘Nova’ made light work of this contest from the halfway mark as he built on an incredible 28.22 trial with a polished performance from six. Taking off at the penultimate turn, the son of Broadstrand Bono showed brilliant stamina as he crossed the line with five lengths in hand over Sunshine Dream in second. The time was 29.75.