SPIDER LANDS SCULLY DECIDER, ROCKO BOOKS DERBY TICKET

Peter Farrell

The €1,800-to-the-winner Sean Scully Memorial 525 headlined an eight-race card at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it was Alison Coxon who landed the valuable prize as Hollywell Spider powered to a third career success.

A strong-running type, Hollywell Spider went to traps as a 4/1 chance but took full advantage of traffic problems in the contest to seize control at the second bend. From there, the son of Grangeview Ten - Grangeview Nifty, just an October pup, went about his business in impressive fashion as he powered to a four lengths success over his half-brother, Hollywell Raptop. It was another notable success for the Coxon kennel, with the winning time returning at 29.48 on a track rated 20 slow.

ROCKO BOOKS DERBY TICKET

Elsewhere on the card, there was a coveted golden ticket on offer as the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby Trial Stake A1 550 went down for decision.

In what was an open betting affair, Magical Grayson was installed as the 5/4 favourite, but it was Island Bobby who flew from trap two to make the early running. Quickly tracking the leader was Grangeview Rocko (3/1), and Michael Hogan's charge was on the shoulder of his rival entering the back straight before striking the front passing the sprint box. Once in command, the son of Grangeview Ten - Grangeview Nifty quickly asserted to draw right away from his rivals, eventually recording a commanding nine-length success over Magical Grayson. The winning time was 30.23 on a track rated 20 slow.

Incidentally, Hogan also landed race six, an A2/A3 525, courtesy of Grangeview Ike. A litter brother to Rocko, he too displayed fine pace and power to cross the line four lengths clear of Westwood Jenson. The time was 29.19 on a track rated 20 slow.

SANDWITCHES LANDS NOVICE STAKE

The second final on the card went the way of No Sandwiches, who opened his account for James Rourke and John O'Connor.

Just a December whelp and a half-brother to Derby champion Cheap Sandwiches, No Sandwiches lined out in the black jacket for the Novice decider but had to play second fiddle in the early exchanges as Zoomwood flashed from trap one to lead. However, No Sandwiches negotiated the opening bend far more effectively to hit the front and, after a thrilling duel up the home straight, the son of Droopys Got It just held on to prevail by a head. The winning time was a smart 19.13 on a track rated 5 slow for the sprint.