POPPY & HAMMOND DOMINATE AS IRISH CAMBRIDGESHIRE HOTS UP

Peter Farrell

The 2022 Irish Cambridgeshire reached its semi final stages at Limerick Greyhound Stadium last night and the big two in the market, Hello Hammond and Magical Poppy, both stepped up to the plate to deliver two terrific performances.

Hello Hammond made his six-bend debut last weekend when holding off Pearl Express to win by a neck and he continued his unbeaten run in the stake with a more convincing performance this time around as he ran out a wide-margin winner. However, it was marathon sensation Magical Poppy who took home the plaudits in terms of fastest of the night as she too dominated from the outset to storm into the decider in six days time.

The first semi final was red-hot on paper with Hello Hammond expected to be asked plenty of questions with the likes of Ardfert Josie, Pearl Express, Toolmaker Beach and Own Spice all involved. However, it proved to be all one-way traffic from the outset as Gerry and Miriam Meaney’s charge, a 4/6 market chance, stepped up brilliantly on his opening round victory to score in style. Trained by Paul Hennessy, Hello Hammond once again flashed from trap six to lead both Own Spice and Gortkelly Mona around the opening two corners. Already in possession of a four length advantage on Own Spice, Hello Hammond continued to excel down the back and he doubled his advantage approaching the fifth bend as his rivals failed to land a glove on the powerful black. Showing no stamina issues whatsoever, the son of Jaytee Jet and Jaytee Pearly relished every inch of the 750-yard trip to storm home almost nine lengths clear of Gortkelly Mona in second, with Pearl Express staying on well to take third. The time was a brilliant 41.79.

POPPY SHINES

Despite the fine display by Hello Hammond in the opening semi final, Magical Poppy wasn’t to be outdone and Donal Guilfoyle’s bitch bounced back from her opening round defeat to win at odds of 4/6.

Magical Poppy was surprisingly overturned in the opening round but that was clearly a case of a bitch who needed the race as she bounced back in emphatic fashion last night to outline her credentials as the one to beat heading into the decider next weekend. Trained by Pat Guilfoyle, Magical Poppy was much sharper at traprise last night and she outpaced Hazelhill Hazard early on to lead around the opening two turns. A three length leader at this point over Hazelhill Hazard, Tinnock Solis was a close enough if good enough third heading into the back straight and she began to rev her engine as she powered into second midway down the back. Magical Poppy, however, wasn’t for catching and after posting a rapid 13.02 sectional, the daughter of Confident Rankin and Cabra Twister powered home to record a four and a half length victory over Tinnock Solis in second. A very impressive performance from Magical Poppy as Hazelhill Hazard sealed the final qualification spot back in third. The time was 41.65.

The draw for the final of the 2022 Irish Cambridgeshire is as follows :

T1 - PEARL EXPRESS

T2 - HAZELHILL HAZARD

T3 - GORTKELLY MONA (m)

T4 - HELLO HAMMOND (m)

T5 - MAGICAL POPPY (m)

T6 - TINNOCK SOLIS (m)

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LIONMAN ROARS IN LIMERICK & CLARE STAKE

Elsewhere on the card, the opening round heats of the Limerick & Clare GOBA A4 525 got underway and of the three heats, it was Vedfield Lionman who went by far quickest as he set out his stall as the one to beat going forward.

A 2/1 chance at the off, Vedfield Lionman is only a January 21’ whelp but he was impressive in landing a sprint contest at the beginning of last month. Put away since that outing, he returned last night to win in emphatic fashion for joint owners Julie O’Sullivan and Fiadh Murphy. Running from trap four, Vedfield Lionman came away well but was led early on by both Portdrine Magic and New Normal. However, cutting through runners like a knife through butter at the midway point was Vedfield Lionman and from here, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Clear Mountain drew clear of his rivals to win impressively. Storming to a six and a half length win, Excess Hope also caught the eye as he came from last to claim second, as the winner recorded a time of 28.83.

DOUBLES FOR GUILFOYLE, ROCHE AND CAMPION

There were also three kennel doubles recorded last night and after Magical Poppy landed her semi final of the Cambridgeshire, Magical Benji also scored in an A1 550 earlier on the card to give Pat Guilfoyle a double on the night. A red-hot 4/5 chance in the market, Alice and Pat Guilfoyle’ heavyweight charge made every inch of the running as he broke smartly from two to make-all. Storys Ring certainly kept the leader honest throughout, however, the son of Confident Rankin and Magical Zeta crossed the line with a half length to spare over his rival. The time was 30.08 for the 550-yards.

In the opening race of the night, Ballymartin Gary got Sean Roche off the mark as he too made every post a winner to win his heat of the Limerick & Clare GOBA stake. Jointly owned along with Jack Roche, Ballymartin Gary was a 4/1 chance in the market but no-one told him as he came away best of all from trap one to dictate the early running. Never under any threat of being reeled in thereafter, the son of Premier Fantasy and Martinstown Diva galloped to a convincing three length victory over Mongys Puma in second. The time was 29.41. In race ten, Ballymartin Rory, a litter brother to Gary, dominated his A3 525 to win at odds of 5/4. Like his kennel companion, Ballymartin Rory came away racing from the red jacket and he was in charge throughout as he came home seven lengths clear of Bad Hombre in second. The time was 29.14.

Rattlefence was the fastest to score in an A1 525 contest as Paraic Campion also enjoyed a double on the card. Owned by the Few-Sons syndicate, this greyhound was a massive 5/1 chance in the betting but he clearly didn’t read the script as he was the first to show from trap three. Showing his customary early dash, the son of Droopys Jet and Paper Doll set a brilliant gallop down the back and he wasn’t to be deterred on this occasion as he came home two and a half lengths clear of Ceide Prince in second. The time was 29.03. Prior to that performance, Chestnut King landed heat two of the Limerick & Clare GOBA to get the ball rolling for the Campion kennel. Jointly owned by Tony and Raymond Bennett, this performance was all about power for Chestnut King as he sliced through the field to deliver a late surge. Slowly into stride from trap three, the son of Good News and Redzer Ruby sat in midfield early as Montore Phill led early. However, making his move between the bottom two bends was Chestnut King and he rallied up the middle of both Montore Phill and Tinahue Wildcat to score by half a length. The time was 29.38.