SPOT SETS THE STANDARD IN RURAL KENNELS OPENER AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the much-anticipated 2026 Rural Kennels Unraced 525 got underway at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and the action lived up to expectations, with a series of hugely impressive performances across all five heats.

Unsurprisingly, Graham Holland wasted little time making his mark in the competition, registering two heat winners. Chief among them was Newinn Spot, who set the benchmark on the clock and emerged as one of the most promising types on show.

Just a June pup and owned by Kenny Glen, Newinn Spot was sent off the 5/4 favourite in the concluding heat and made an immediate impact from trap two. Breaking on terms, he showed a sharp burst of early pace to take control on the run-up and was soon in command, drawing clear of Vivaro Warrior entering the back straight. Posting a rapid 16.05 sectional, the son of Tommy Shelby – Newinn Mimi maintained a relentless gallop to the line, scoring by five and a half lengths in a smart 28.47.

HOLLAND DOUBLES UP

Earlier in heat two, Rallying Cash (Ballymac Cashout – Davids Emma) set the ball rolling for the Holland double as he justified his 1/2 favouritism in a five-dog contest. Owned by The Main-Incomer-Syndicate, the strong-running youngster had impressed in trials and showcased that pace at traprise, pinging from trap two to lead. Hugging the rails, kennelmate Annual Kaka gave chase, but Rallying Cash quickly opened daylight down the back, stopping the sectional clock in 16.18. Grouchos Cossie finished strongly to grab second, but the winner was always in control, crossing the line two lengths clear in 28.68.

DANNY NEXT BEST ON THE CLOCK

The opening heat saw Callaway Danny, owned by Denis Murphy, make all to land the spoils, holding off the late challenge of Jacktavern Bull. Trained by Owen McKenna, the 5/4 favourite broke smartly from trap five, flying to the bend to post a slick 2.80 sectional. A clear two-dog contest developed early, with Jacktavern Bull tracking well on the fence. Callaway Danny maintained a two-length advantage into the back and, despite being pressed hard late on, showed real determination to fend off his rival by a neck, recording 28.52 with a rapid 16.03 sectional. This greyhound is another offspring of Denis’s brilliant Callaway Pro Am, who continues to make a strong start to his stud career with yet another eye-catching winner.

COMFORTABLE FOR ALF

While The Pillar Syndicate had to settle for second in the opener, they were soon on the scoresheet in heat three as Jacktavern Alf justified his even-money support. Drawn in trap two, ‘Alf’ was only moderately away but quickly displayed electric early pace to assert. Benefiting from traffic in behind, the son of Pestana – Newinn Madam opened a commanding six-length lead down the back, posting the best third-bend sectional of the night in 16.02. Skywalker Bruno finished strongly to reduce the margin, but ‘Alf’ stayed on well to win by three lengths in 28.60.

STRONG KING

The remaining heat saw Oriental King continue his upward trajectory for the Organised Chaos Syndicate. Sent off the 1/2 favourite, he broke only moderately from trap six and was bumped on the run-up, finding himself second entering the back straight behind Mustang Fashion. However, the complexion of the race changed dramatically at halfway as Oriental King produced a devastating turn of pace to sweep past his rival and take control. Powering clear thereafter, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa – Newinn Willow crossed the line four and a half lengths clear in 28.65. While not the fastest of the night, the manner of his performance saw ‘King’ the pick of the crop on night one.

*****

JACKTAVERN DOUBLE IN JOHN WHITE MEMORIAL

Elsewhere on the card, the opening round heats of the John White Memorial Guys & Dolls 525 provided strong supporting fare and it was The Pillar Syndicate who again came to the fore, recording two heat winners to bring their tally to three winners on the night.

It was Jacktavern Beaut who set the standard on the clock in heat five, producing a smart off-the-pace success. Drawn in trap two, the David Byrne-trained daughter of Good Cody – Droopys Party broke well but was unable to match the early pace of Mustang Havoc, who flew up the rails to lead. Settled third early on, the 5/4 favourite began to close rapidly down the back, showing a sharp turn of speed to put herself firmly into contention. Hugging the rails around the final bends, Jacktavern Beaut asserted in the closing stages to score by two and a quarter lengths from Mustang Havoc in 28.66.

HEAT WATCH

Earlier on the card, Jacktavern Turbo (Droopys Sydney – Queen Lilly) also obliged for The Pillar Syndicate when landing heat three at short odds of 2/5. The striking blue brindle wasn’t paw-perfect at traprise, but made full use of his inside berth to drive up the rails, forcing his way into contention. Once in stride, the aptly named ‘Turbo’ powered clear down the back and was never threatened thereafter, crossing the line five lengths to the good in 28.68.

The opening heat of the night went to Mind Your Knee, who justified his short odds for Paraic Campion and Vincent O’Keeffe. Sent off at 1/2, the son of King Sheeran – Hollyhill Debbie pinged from his rails berth to establish a clear advantage early, opening up a four-length lead into the back straight. Although Cloughtaney Joy finished strongly, the winner was always holding sway and crossed the line three and three-quarter lengths clear in a brisk 28.82.

Having ended 2025 in winning form, Slanestownbailey continued his purple patch when making all in his heat at odds of 2/1. Trained by David Flanagan and owned by Connor O’Donnell, ‘Bailey’ broke well from trap three and showed superior early dash to take command. Taylors Tipple briefly threatened to close the gap approaching the penultimate bend, but ran off the corner, allowing Slanestownbailey to reassert. Staying on well, he crossed the line three-quarters of a length clear in 28.89.

Heat five produced a surprise as Highview Magical sprang a 5/1 shock for Pamela Holt and Maurice Organ. Drawn wide in trap six, the son of Ballymac Cashout – Highview Mission was only moderately away and was forced to race wide early, moving into second entering the back straight some four lengths behind Foxrock Laura. Showing a powerful surge approaching the final bends, Highview Magical closed rapidly and struck the front late on, prevailing by three-quarters of a length in 29.08.

The concluding heat went the way of Whitegate Pest, who got favourite-backers back on side at odds of 4/5. Owned by William Denn, the daughter of Pestana was bidding for back-to-back wins and showed real tenacity to do so. Away smartly from trap one, she led early before being headed by Burgess Bonnie entering the back. Regaining parity around the bottom bends, Whitegate Pest stayed on strongly to score by one and a quarter lengths in 28.94.