Greyhound Racing: Spirits run high for new season at Thurles

One of the most consistent performers around Thurles Greyhound Stadium throughout the 2022 season, the Jack Russell Syndicate’s Killenaulespirit (Ballymac Best-Milestone Pearl) commenced the new year on his home circuit with the fastest performance on the first night of action in a fresh new season of racing in the Premier.

Last successful in A3 back in November, the David Flanagan trained June 2020 whelp appreciated an ease in grade for the concluding A2 525 this time and once finding his best break from trap 3, was always going to prove difficult to contain in search of an eighth career win. Tackling the opening bends with a length in hand over Kilvil Robert, the strong running winner readily extended to the backstraight.

Never seriously threatened thereafter, Killenaulespirit saw out the trip stoutly for a three-length verdict over the fast-finishing Borna Flame in 29.15 (-20), with Kilvil Robert just a head back in third.

Shackleton extends Feelgood factor
A set of connections who have been revelling within an extended purple patch at Thurles in recent times, the Feelgood Racing Syndicate commenced the 2023 season just as they had exited the last and a wonderful run of form saw Shackleton (Budgie Marbh-Trying Times) complete another Saturday double under the guiding hands of John McKenna & Shirley Ruth.

Scoring A4 victory following a short layoff last time out, a small rise for his A3 525 contest proved well within the progressive profile of the lightly raced September 2020 whelp as a smart break from trap 2 ensured command of the rails throughout. Repelling Swift Fellowship for a first bend lead, that rival would prove a persistent threat to halfway but stronger thereafter, Shackleton ran out a ready three length winner over that same rival while finding further improvement in 29.17 (-20).

Next best on Saturday while sparking a double for the same connections, Gealltanas (Good News-Turree Kate) stepped up on the form of her two previous career outings as the April 2021 pup claimed her first career win at the third time of asking in the first of Saturday’s A4 525 events.

An improved break from trap 3 saw her immediately take command on the run to the first bend and displaying slick early dash, she had extended to a strong five length advantage at halfway. Pursued by Double Blow throughout, that rival would reduce the winning margin to just a length at the line in an eye-catching effort but not to be denied, Gealtanas shed the maiden tag in 29.34 (-20).

Baby the first winner of 2023
The honour of returning the first winner in the new season was claimed by Claire McKenna’s Mayahs Baby (Droopys Sydney-Myahs Friend) as the June 2021 pup made a smart debut in the opening A5 525 on Saturday.

Breaking on level terms from trap 5, she was much the quickest to reach full stride and defending a one-length lead to the first bend, completed victory with the minimum of fuss thereafter. Reaching her five-length winning margin before the closing bends, Mayahs Baby held five lengths over the strong running Bogger Shannon at the line in 29.38 (-20).

Never far from the winner’s circle at Thurles, 2022 top owner Paddy Scally got on the scoresheet early for the new season when his Cabra Cleo (Pat C Sabbath-Cabra Laura) returned the next best effort on Saturday, securing the twelfth win of her highly competitive career.

Housed in trap 3 for the RCÉTS A3 525, the May 2019 whelp broke just behind the pace and tracking the leaders around the opening bends, had four lengths to recover on Montore Phil and Murlens Mustang on the run to halfway. The latter advanced to lead at the closing bends with Cabra Cleo still fourth before sneaking a path on the rails to lie second at the final turn.

Always strong at the standard trip, the Scally darling set sights on Murlens Mustang along the home stretch and staying best, forged a thrilling half length winning margin in an entertaining 29.60 (-20).

Daz dictates in Byrne brace
The leading private trainer at Thurles for the fourth year in succession, John Byrne also claimed the national private trainer award for 2022 and signalling his intents for the season ahead, began this new campaign with a double on the Saturday card.

Sparking the brace, Terence Delaney’s Dazzes Beauts (Grangeview Ten-Ballybrack Lexi) stepped up on her three previous efforts as the August 2021 pup shed her maiden tag at the fourth time of asking. Well housed in trap 1 for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust A5 525, the Byrne charge was again slow to reach full stride before tracking the pacesetters to the opening bend.

However, sneaking a path to a three length second at the top of the backstraight, Dazzes Beauts impressed while striking the front on the inside of Cabra Kobe at the third bend and defending a one-length lead thereafter, repelled the running-on Miss Celebrity in 29.63 (-20).

The second leg of the Byrne double came from a familiar source and having been top dog for the 2021 season, Stephanie Ryan’s Knockalton Conor (Silverhill Shay-Kitmins Denise) again shares that award for 2022 and remaining admirably consistent, quickly chalked a first mark in the 2023 win-column when bravely prevailing in a bumpy A4 525 on Saturday. Fully seizing the lead at the third bend having been front rank throughout, the Byrne stalwart posted 30.03 (-20) in a three-length defeat of Montore Brian.

A further maiden victory on Saturday saw Christopher Delaney’s Roscrea Tiana (Slippy Cian-Roscrea Lilly) deliver on her early paced promise when leading throughout the Split The Pot A7 525 following a slick start from trap 1. Always in command, the February 2021 whelp claimed her first win at the fourth attempt with three and a half lengths to spare over Montore Bell in 30.00 (-20).

The remaining A5 525 on Saturday again saw early pace prevail when Suzanne O’Neill’s Heavens Dollar (Droopys Cain-Heavens Lilly) secured the sixth win of his career, using his rails pitch to good effect at the opening bends before running out a cosy one and a half-length winner over the staying-on On Stage Poppy in 29.97 (-20).