CHARLIE WINS AGAIN AS JACK BREAKS THE CLOCK AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

There was another top-class card on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as Tuono Charlie duly made it fifteen on the spin in the semi finals of the Roma Casino Irish Cambridgeshire, while Thats It Jack set new figures for the 575-yard clock in the O’Connor Julian Vets Tri-Distance.

Death, Taxes and Tuono Charlie winning is fast becoming the norm as the Sharon Hunt-trained superstar followed up on his record breaking display last weekend with another magnificent effort. Chasing an incredible fifteen straight victories, it was impossible to oppose Paul Dyer’s phenomenon and he made his intentions felt from the outset as he pinged the lids from trap four to immediately assert. Already in charge by four lengths passing the winning line for the first time, the son of Good News and Farronrory Bonny quickly doubled his advantage between the fourth and fifth bends and the 2/7 shot was ultra-professional in seeing off his familiar foe, Droopys Comrade, thereafter. Ten lengths separating the pair, the time was a terrific 40.79, which was just .6 outside of his own track record seven days ago. The final qualifying position was claimed by Rach Itup Reg.

In the first semi final, Kinturk Road was back to her best as Frank Thornton’s bitch comfortably saw off her rivals.

Trained by Liam Dowling, the former Corn Cuchulainn winner was sent to traps as the 4/6 favourite and she came out under the lids to dispute the early yards with Boss Go in four. Quickly asserting to go two lengths clear, Kinturk Road was in full control thereafter as she extended her lead to four between the fourth and fifth bends. At this point, Aherla Rocco improved into second to give chase, however, Kinturk Road was never under serious pressure as the daughter of Ballymac Arminta stayed on impressively to win by three and a half lengths. The time was a fine 41.37 as Boss Go claimed the final qualifying position in third.

The draw for the final of the 2024 Roma Casino Irish Cambridgeshire was made shortly after and it is as follows :

T1 - BOSS GO

T2 - TUONO CHARLIE

T3 - AHERLA ROCCO

T4 - DROOPYS COMRADE

T5 - KINTURK ROAD

T6 - RACH ITUP REG

*****

JACK SMASHES THE CLOCK IN O’CONNOR JULIAN VETS TRI-DISTANCE

There have been quite a few track-records in recent weeks and last night saw the turn of Thats It Jack as he set new figures for the 575-yard trip.

Running in the opening semi final of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-Distance, Thats It Jack was unbeaten in the stake heading into his assignment and was fresh from a rapid 30.98 clock last weekend. Understandably installed as the 1/2 favourite, Liam Cahill and Tom Lacey’s charge broke brilliantly from his favoured red jacket and duly paced up expertly to lead both Canya Mags and Way To Paradise. From there, the son of Malachi and Clongeel Mills set a blistering gallop down the back and one that his rivals simply had no answers to. Indeed, it was a case of all eyes on the clock as ‘Jack’ maintained a relentless gallop around the bottom two bends and he flew up the hill to win by an impressive three and a half lengths from Canya Mags in second. The time was an incredible 30.80, which is a huge sixteen spots inside of Riverside Mary’s previous track record, held since 2012.

ELLIE HITS THE RIGHT NOTE

In the second semi, Listen Ellie recorded her first win in the stake with a trap-to-line victory.

Owned by Patrick Maher, Listen Ellie was sent to boxes as a 4/1 chance but she put it all together at traprise with a slick exit from three. In doing so, the daughter of Skywalker Luke and Newlawn Tracker just nipped around clear of Timmys Bucks and the duo served up a thrilling battle thereafter. ‘Ellie’ was still in the ascendancy rounding the bottom two bends however, and despite being chased hard, she showed fine determination to pull out all the stops and win by three parts of a length from Timmys Bucks in second. The time was an excellent 31.37 and a top-class decider awaits next Saturday night.

The draw for the final of the 2024 Julian O’Connor Vets Cashel Tri-Distance was made shortly after and it is as follows :

T1 - CANYA MAGS

T2 - TIMMY'S BUCKS

T3 - LISTEN ELLIE

T4 - THAT’S IT JACK

T5 - KILCOLGANCATCHME

T6 - WAY TO PARADISE

*****

IN OTHER RACES

Aside from the feature races on the card, there were a number of brilliant performances on the card and the first of those came from Unanimous Tasha, who justified favouritism in the A2/A3 575. Trained by Pat Buckley for Ciaran O’Sullivan, ‘Tasha’ was incredible seeking a first victory and the even money shot was quickest into stride to lead from three. In full control thereafter, the daughter of Glengar Bale and Coolavanny Lilly emerged three and a half lengths clear of Ballymac Rolo, in a blistering time of 31.05.

In the very next race, Hopes Kitty sealed a double for Pat Buckley on the night as the 4/6 jolly came from off-the-pace in her A1 contest. Owned by Amanda Jeal, the daughter of Tullig Cyrname and Nice Mystery looked to have plenty on her plate early on as she sat seven lengths adrift in a midfield position, however, she manoeuvred brilliantly past her rivals to improve around the bottom two bends. From there, ‘Kitty’ still had work to do but she had the momentum and quickly upped the ante to cross the line with a half length to spare over Onthe Run Ollie. The time was 28.77.

Tally Ho Storm (6/4) has superb early speed and this was on full display in race four as the Wall-Of-Tally-Ho-Synd got back amongst the winners. Running from trap one, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Tally Ho Dawn paced up expertly on the run-up and in doing so, this allowed him to manufacture a healthy lead down the back. Staying on stoutly up the hill, the well-named ‘Storm’ powered home to win by three lengths from Kilcolgan Comet in second. The time was 28.62.

Clipper looked a real prospect on debut when posting 28.62 around Clonmel, however, things didn’t go quite to plan in subsequent starts. That said, all can be forgotten after a flawless performance from Kay and Eithne Murphy’s runner in race seven. A half-brother to the great Clonbrien Treaty, Clipper didn’t break too fluently from six and he was headed by both Portdrine Magic and Tarsna Fern early on. Running a terrific second bend however, Clipper improved with every stride down the back and the son of Droopys Sydney hit the front entering the penultimate turn. Pressing home his advantage thereafter, Holland’s charge emerged four and a half lengths clear of Portdrine Magic in second. The time for the 5/4 shot was 28.40.

The concluding race on the card saw the Geoff Parnaby-owned Tarsna Maasai build on his explosive 18.59 sprint trial last time out. 7/2 at the off, ‘Maasai’ broke well from trap six and outpaced his rivals on route to the opener to assert around the bend. From there, it was a case of catch-me-if-you-can for the son of Droopys Sydney and he proved too hot to handle in emerging two and a half lengths clear of Oscar The Grouch in second. The time was a red-hot 28.31.