WICHITA GUNS DOWN RIVALS IN DAPPER FEATURE AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

The final of the Dapper Kennels A3/A4 525 was the main attraction to Thurles Greyhound Stadium last night and there was to be no surprises in the decider as Gunboat Wichita landed the €1,650 prize in supreme style.

After winning his opening round assignment in a smart 29.14 to set the standard, Gunboat Wichita was overturned in last week’s semi finals, however, he was still the hot favourite heading into the decider and as such, was installed the 4/6 jolly to land what was a very handsome first prize. Owned by Sean Kenny, the July 20’ whelp was to make no mistakes this time around and he pinged the lids from trap three to post a rapid 1.63 opening sectional. Taking a clear lead into the opener, the son of Droopys Sydney and Group Supergem soon developed a four length lead over Its My Mystery down the back and it was clear that, barring incident, Kenny’s charge would prevail with relative ease. Maintaining a powerful gallop around the bottom two bends, Cabra Hasty did make rapid progress in the closing stages to claim second, however, it was all about Gunboat Wichita who crossed the line with one length to spare over his rival. A fine performance by this talented brindle, the time was a super 29.05 .30s. Many thanks are extended to the ‘Dapper Kennels’ for their generous sponsorship of this event.

JESSIE QUICKEST IN FREEDOM SEMIS

Elsewhere on the card, the two semi finals of the Freedom Kennels A5/A6 525 were down for decision and it was Lacken Jessie who set the standard with a fine performance in the first semi.

Owned by Lilly Lennon, Lacken Jessie won her opening round assignment in 29.92 (30s) and she was installed as a 5/2 shot in her bid for back-to-back wins. Running from trap three, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Lacken Coco was quickest into stride but was outpaced into the opening corner by Coffee Dock in trap one. The order remained into the back straight as Coffee Dock maintained a strong gallop, however, the writing looked to be on the wall given the fast-finishing history of Lacken Jessie heading into the bottom two bends. Storming to the front late on, Lacken Jessie really pressed home her advantage in the closing stages as she crossed the line with two and a half lengths to spare over Coffee Dock in second. The time was 29.44 .30s.

KILVIL DOUBLE

There was also a nice double on the card for the Kilvil-Syndicate as litter brothers, Kilvil Arnold and Kilvil Robert both prevailed.

The first to pass the post in front was Kilvil Arnold in race eight as he came out the right side of a photo-finish to record a fifth career victory. Moderately into stride from trap three, Kilvil Arnold was forced to play second fiddle early on as Cabra Diamond set a good gallop to take a four length lead into the back straight. However, the son of Ballymac Best and In A Heartbeat stepped it up a notch at the penultimate turn and despite swinging wide off the final bend, he came through to beat Classy Diva, by a head, on the line. The time was 29.64 .30s.

Unbelievably, litter brother Kilvil Robert sealed the double in the concluding race on the card as he also prevailed via a judge’s call. A massive 85-pounder, Kilvil Robert showed brilliant courage early on to just about nip around in front from trap five and this enabled him to open a four length lead over his rivals down the back straight. However, emerging from the pack was the classy Breathtaking and the leader now looked like a sitting duck as she loomed alongside upon entrance to the home straight. KIlvil Robert once again displayed his determination however, and he pulled out all the stops to cross the line with a head in hand over Breathtaking in second. The time was 29.49 .30s.