Greyhound Racing: Lilly leads the way in maiden Thurles win

The four-race career start of the N-4-Ten Syndicate’s Lillys Pearl (Droopys Sydney-String Of Pearls) had not been without promise as the David Flanagan trained pup returned a brace of runner-up performances before finding smart improvement to claim her first race victory as the fastest winner on last Saturday’s fixture at Thurles Greyhound Stadium.

Bumpy outings the last twice saw the David Flanagan trained May 2021 whelp remain in A3 grade with a trap 6 draw for Saturday’s 525 event but ensuring safer passage with a level break, Lillys Pearl paced up well on the outside of the field before tackling the turns in company with Zoos John to her inside.

Edging to a narrow halfway lead over that rival, the Flanagan pup took a one-length lead to the closing bends before extending that advantage on the run to the home straight. Seeing out the trip stoutly, Lillys Pearl held three lengths in hand over the staying-on effort of Kind Soul back in second, posting 29.28 (-20) in an impressive maiden score.

Next best on the Saturday fixture, the first of two A4 525 events delivered a fourth career win for Tadgh Lonergan’s Suirside Flyer (Dorotas Wildcat-Droopys Frizz) while advancing to a new career best in a strong running performance.

Last successful in the same grade at the beginning of December, Saturday’s contest was just a third outing at Thurles for the August 2020 whelp, but he was immediately contesting the lead following a level break from trap 6. Tackling the opening bends on the shoulder of Oh My Sarah, the Lonergan winner edged to the front off the second turn before crucially turning the third bend in advance of that same rival.

In command to the home straight, a gallant runner-up would produce a rallying effort close home but full value for his one and a half-length winning verdict, Suirside Flyer posted 29.40 (-20) while containing Oh My Sarah in a thoroughly entertaining buckle.

Great Approach to Feel Good double
Almost reserved paragraphs in the weekly report over recent issues, the bang in-form Feelgood Racing Syndicate were at it again at Thurles on Saturday last and waiting until the final events on the programme, returned yet another brace of winners as Great Approach (Dks Prime Time-Cabra Roxy) ended proceedings with a third win from his latest five outings.

Ideally drawn on the fence, the September 2020 whelp tracked the early pace on the run to the bend before using his rails pitch to good effect when emerging in third place at the top of the backstraight. With three lengths to recover on pacesetting Cabra Sonic approaching halfway, the John McKenna charge greatly impressed when rushing up on the leader’s inside at the third bend, readily striking the front while turning. Powering clear in dismissive fashion thereafter, Great Approach extended to four and a half lengths at the line as Swift Fellowship ran on well for second.

Sparking the double for connections in the preceding Droopys Stud A3 525, Gealltanas (Good News-Turree Kate) quickly doubled her win tally following the previous week’s A4 victory and ably coping with her small rise, scored a thrilling second career win.

A ponderous start from trap 6 saw the April 2021 pup trail a leading quartet to the opening bends before eye-catchingly rushing up on the outside to fill second at the top of the backstraight with near five lengths to recover on the pacesetting Kilvil Arnold. Reducing that deficit to two lengths at the closing bends, a sustained effort saw Gealltanas gradually run down that gallant runner-up for a neck verdict in a thrilling 29.66 (-20) clash.

Saturday featured just a sole sprint contest but taking the opportunity to extend her smart strike-rate was Paddy Brennan’s Sarahs Rose (Pat C Sabbath-Borna Central) as she went two from two at the Premier since returning from the UK with a smart performance to land the RCÉTS S1 330.

Breaking on level terms from trap 6, the lightly raced November 2019 whelp displayed much the best early pace on the long run to the bend and turning with a two-length advantage over Micks Elite, contained that same rival to the line with two and a half lengths to spare in 18.10 (-10), her fifth win from eight race outings in total.

Back at the standard trip and the next best return arrived in the Split The Pot A5 525 where Michael Healy & Pat Leahy’s Stage Man (Pestana-Wanted Magic) shed his maiden tag at the seventh time of asking. Quickest to reach full stride following a smart break from trap 6, the March 2021 pup scampered his way to a two-length lead at the opening bends before repelling the persistent threat of Heavens Dollar for a three-quarter length verdict in 29.66 (-20).

Commencing the Saturday action, the night’s A7 525 also delivered a maiden victory when the JKA Syndicate’s Malouni Jet (Droopys Sydney-Skirk Grace) stepped up from a bumpy debut experience to lead throughout a two-length defeat of Rathfalla Lexi in 29.89 (-20) before Seamus O’Dwyer’s Tetra Trouble (Pestana-Stouke Bird) also claimed a first race win in the Tipperary Senior Footballers A5 525, building on his latest runner-up performance while five lengths in advance of Rahyvira Ivy in 29.89 (-20).

The remaining A4 525 on Saturday was a tight affair but prevailing in a sixth career win, Paddy Clancy’s Rosmult Blackeye (Ballymac Vic-Rosmult Martha) narrowly led throughout the early stages before bravely repelling the persistent attentions of Knockalton Conor by a half-length in 29.80 (-20).