Tipperary GAA Supporters Club host successful benefit night at the dogs

It was a huge night at Thurles Greyhound Stadium as the Tipperary GAA Supporters Club held their annual benefit night, drawing a tremendous crowd despite the persistent rain.

The atmosphere never dipped, and supporters were rewarded with a fantastic night’s racing from start to finish.

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The fastest winner of the night was Boozed Akela, clocking a sparkling 29.28, but the loudest cheer was reserved for Race 3, where Prove Em Wrong handed Emily Cahill her first ever winner as a trainer.

The daughter of Tipperary senior hurling manager Liam Cahill, Emily’s breakthrough success was a hugely popular moment, and the performance itself was one to seriously mark up — given the deep conditions, the way the winner powered through the final third suggested a faster run was coming.

A proud milestone for father and daughter, and one of the standout highlights of a pulsating night’s action.

The opening contest was taken in fine style by Comawn Patrick (Ballymac Cashout–Railteen Dara) for owners Patrick Kelly and Michael Skehan.

Breaking away, it was Pixie Sunset (1) who showed fast early to lead from boxes, but Patrick soon joined and headed the field going down the back straight.

Showing his love for the venue, he kicked on and went clear with each stride.

Eventual runner-up Chiltern Cutie (6) tried to challenge and looked a danger into the final two bends, but the winner was not for stopping and ran out a dominant three-and-a-half-length winner in 29.60.

Boozed Akela (Ballymac Bolger–Road Queen) got up late in race two for owners The New Ballyboy Syndicate.

Breaking away, it was runner-up Bull Run Beast (3) who rocketed from traps to lead into the opening two bends.

Once hitting the back straight, Beast kicked four lengths clear and looked home and hosed.

Always in the slipstream, Akela faced a mountain to climb, but heading into the final two bends she began to close rapidly.

Rounding the outside off the home turn, it became a ding-dong battle up the straight, with Akela getting up by half a length in a fast 29.28 — the quickest of the night.

Prove Em Wrong (Dromana Bucko–Coronation) did just that on only her second start, providing Emily Cahill with her first winner as a trainer.

Breaking away, it was Cabra Flash (1) who led into the opening two bends for trainer Paddy Scally.

Down the back, Flash held a three-length advantage and looked the one to beat, but always in the leader’s sights, Prove Em Wrong came fast and hard into the final two bends.

This daughter of Dromana Bucko hit the front and was most impressive off the home turn, putting seven lengths between herself and seasoned winner Lanespark Girl (3).

The winning time was 29.97, but the performance can be marked up significantly given how strong she was in the final third.

Race four was taken by the David Flanagan-trained, Gabriel Horan-owned Crescent Emily (Good News–Killenaulerocket), who got back to winning ways for the first time since November.

Unlucky on recent starts, she had to do it the hard way here — sitting fifth for much of the contest.

Emily showed bravery and her enthusiasm for racing to peg back early leader and runner-up Gortkelly John (2), who had looked to have won number fourteen in sight.

But Emily found a dream run up the inside off the final two bends and powered up the home straight to win by three lengths in 29.39.

The fifth race of the night was taken late on by the Andrew Murray-trained Gortkelly Pixie (Priceless Jet–Gortkelly Sorcha).

Breaking away, it was the eventual third Lattin Boy (1) who showed good early pace to lead down the back, going three lengths clear at one point.

He was going to take pegging back, but challengers were coming fast off the final two bends.

Mo The Red (4) looked most menacing and briefly hit the front, only for Pixie — who was fifth entering the final two bends — to split rivals and surge late, getting up on the line to win by a head in 30.00.

Race six saw five unraced prospects make their debut, but it was the Ned Fogarty-trained Memories Future (Tommy Shelby–Magnetism) who stayed on best to score late.

Breaking away, it was runner-up Private Lola (5) who showed fast early pace from the outside to clear rivals and lead into the opening two bends.

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Down the back, Lola held a two-length advantage over the eventual winner, who always had the leader in sight.

Turning for home, both settled for a duel up the straight, but Memories Future battled on strongly to win by a length in 29.76. Eye-catcher Grouchos Sally (1) finished fast to grab third and is one for the notebook.

Listen Jessie (Priceless Jet–Listen Ava Lou) got off the mark at the second attempt for trainer Paddy Maher.

Breaking away, it was Master Of War (6) who showed early pace to lead into the opening two bends, but down the back Jessie swept through to take over.

The runner-up battled back strongly, but Jessie kept finding in front and only in the final third of the race did she pull clear, showing a nice attitude to put four lengths between herself and Master Of War at the line in 29.86.

Amberway (King Sheeran–Tory Jasmine) made it lucky start number seven for trainer Gordon Rotheram and owner Dave Ambler.

Breaking from traps, it was runner-up Nothing Flashy (5) who set the early fractions, leading down the back and kicking three lengths clear.

Eventual third Knockroe Lucy (1) tried to challenge but couldn’t bridge the gap.

Sitting in third with more than five lengths to make up, Amberway looked to have a mountain to climb as Flashy led off the home turn — but coming with a late rattle, Amberway got up to win by a length in 30.03.

The Roger Quinlan-trained Princess Molly (Glengar Bale–Bogger Ophelia) got back to winning ways for the first time since November.

As traps rose, it was runner-up Jackals Bolt (2) who broke sharply to lead into the opening two bends, taking a two-length advantage down the back.

Bolt was showing them a merry way, and Molly — poised to challenge — looked menacing but met traffic as she tried to join on multiple occasions.

Bolt led off the final two bends and up the straight looked to have his first victory within reach, only for Molly to launch one last challenge down the outside, swooping late to win by half a length in 29.91.

Paddy Scally’s Cabra Keiser (Cabra Firmino–Cabra Blitz) made it three wins in a row in the finale.

Exploding from trap five, he cleared his rivals to lead into the opening two bends.

Down the back, Keiser showed a devastating turn of foot to go six lengths clear. Turning for home he still held a sizable lead, but the unbeaten Grantstown Vic (6) — after a slow start — began to power home.

They flashed past together, but Keiser held on by half a length in 29.41.

The runner-up is definitely one for the notebook.