MAGICAL ON FIRE POWERS TO LAURELS SUCCESS FOR THE GUILFOYLE’S
Barry Drake
Magical On Fire the 2025 Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels Champion.
Following on from the success of Good Cody in 2022, Patrick Guilfoyle enjoyed Laurels glory once more as Magical On Fire (Ballymac Cashout-Burgess Sarah) (Pic right) Handler Jayden Loughnane with Eimear Guilfoyle along with Patrick Guilfoyle and Magical On Fire. ran out a brilliant winner of the €30,000 to the winner Bar One Racing in association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels at a packed Curraheen Park on Saturday night. In the process, she became the quickest winner ever of the event, clocking a top class 27.93 in the feature final.
As expected, it was Solo And Go from the inside of the track who showed up best early and he set a strong gallop up front, however, Magical On Fire produced one of her quickest starts to turn second and she was always going to take plenty of stopping. It was all about Solo And Go for most of the way, but Magical On Fire is a strong stayer and she was within about two and a half lengths at halfway, with Lemon Joey hot on her heels.
A length and a bit the difference on the turn for home, Magical On Fire was forced to dig deep and she pulled out all the stops to deny the front running Solo And Go, by a head. Lemon Joey ran another big race in third, a length and a half back. Trionas Tribe, Ballymac Setanta, Ballymac Brandan were never involved and they finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
It was one of those great Laurels finals with the classy winner rounding off a great couple of weeks for the Guilfoyle’s. Magical Mag was a recent winner of the Lifford Oaks and she’s another special lady. Last year, Crafty Shivoo became the first lady to win the Laurels in over 30 years and now it’s back to back wins for the ladies. Magical On Fire was a real star in the event and she ran out a most deserving winner. What a performance.
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LENNIES TANK ON TOP LATE ON
Lennies Tank, trained by Paul Hennessy for Lee Craze, impressed when winning the €10,000 to the winner Michael Bart Leahy Memorial A2 Stake Final, making it back-to-back wins in the event for the Hennessy team. The Other Aari slipped around in front, but the eye was always drawn to the winner, and when he turned second, he was always going to be hard to hold. Lennies Tank came home best of all, and he beat The Other Aari, by two and a half lengths, in 28.15.
HUGE FINISHING SPEED
Da Tapper Flynn was a popular local winner of the €5,000 to the winner Bar One Racing Irish Laurels Plate for trainer Pat Kiely. In the ownership of The Golden Spoon Syndicate, the 5-1 shot tracked well around the opening corners to turn third. Magical Keith looked on course for victory heading down the back straight, but the strong running winner hit top gear from halfway and he flew home to land the spoils. A length and a half the margin, in 28.21.
LOCAL SUCCESS
Mucky Trend, trained by James Kelleher for Don and Gerard Buckley, finished strongly to win the opener, the €2,000 to the winner Greyhound & Petworld A4 550.
The well-backed Wakaka Tree set the early fractions, and she looked on course for victory for most of the way; however, after moving second midway down the back, the 5-1 winner powered home to beat the running on Farnahoe Brandy, by a length and a half, in 30.25.
BIG WIN FOR YOUNG TRAINER COLM FITZGERALD
Young trainer Colm Fitzgerlad landed the second, the €2,000 to the winner Youghal Track Supporters Club Open 330, as the rapidly improving Tiermana Dream made it four wins from six career starts. Owned by the Zero Zero Syndicate, the 5-1 shot came away racing, and the impressive winner was soon in total control. A superb performance, clocking 17.51, two and a half lengths clear of Colour Matcher.
NICE PROSPECT FOR FRANCIS MURRAY
Clan Sapphire made full use of the inside line when winning the €2,000 to the winner Horgans Delicateseen Supplies, Michesltown Ltd, ON1 Unraced Stake. Trained by Francis Murray for owner Howard Wallace, the 13-2 shot procued a flying start to lead around the opening corners, and with plenty of trouble in behind, the exciting prospect quickly put the race to bed. That's now back-to-back winning performances, clocking 28.47, 10 and a half lengths clear of Slippery Brian.
MARTA IS ALL CLASS
Glengar Martha showed her class once more when bouncing out in front and making all the running in the €4,000 to the winner Knockeen Dazzler @ Stud Open Bitch 525 for trainer Pat Buckley and owner William Wood. Such a star over the last couple of years, the 6-4 favourite took a flyer to lead early, and from there, the outcome was never in any doubt. Showing plenty of speed up front, the classy performer came home three lengths clear of the fast finishing Desert Flower, in 28.09.
IN OTHER RACES
Bombay Pat, trained by Graham Holland for Eugene Buckley and Pat Muldoon, ran out a superb winner of the €2,000 to the winner Droopys Stud Open 575. The even-money showed nice pace on the run up, and once slipping around in front, it was always going to take something special to reel him in. Droopys Faithful was giving it a good go in second, however, the winner was always doing enough, and he scored by two lengths, in 30.92.
Boylesports Blue proved a class apart in the €2,000 to the winner Curraheen Park Bookmakers Open 750. Boylesports Blue was sent to traps as the 1-2 favourite, and the Paul Hennessy-trained runner was in front early doors. The John Boyle-owned runner kicked for home down the back straight, and he pulled right away to win in style. A 41.49 winning run, six and a half lengths clear of the staying on Valhalla Vision.
Blastoff Heffo put on one of his usual strong finishes to win the €2,000 to the winner Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels Consolation Final for Philip Buckley. Hot favourite was in prime position in front heading down the back, but when he went wrong, it opened the door for the rest of the field. Faypoint Harvey and Prince Naseem did each other no favours up front, and it was Blastoff Heffo who took full advantage. The 11-2 shot stopped the clock, in 28.69, three-quarters of a length clear of Faypoint Harvey.
Shanahee Boomer, trained by Kieran Lynch for owners the Bate The Ditch Syndicate, kept on well to win the €2,000 to the winner Clona Greyhounds Open 525. In mid division early on, the 5-2 winner never gave up, and he ran down Imokilly Roxanne late on. Half a length the margin, in 29.10.
Highview Ben pulled out all the stops to win the closing race, the €2,000 to the winner Irish Retired Greyhound Trust 525. Ardrath Ali led early, but the 4-1 winner took up the running before the third corner and held the Ardrath runner, by a length, in 28.58. A lovely winning run from the Paraic Campion-trained runner, who was winning for owners the V H R Syndicate.