Stripe wins in best time

IT WAS another bitter night for the start of the first unraced stake of the year at Enniscorthy Dog Track last week, with six first round heats.

It looks a very competitive stake, and with the heat times very similar it makes for a cracking second round this week.

Race three, heat one, saw Stripe Pal running from trap five impressively. He was led up to the bend but was soon in command and he just raced right away from the field to score by seven lengths in the quickest time of 29.20. There should be plenty of improvement to come from several of these pups in the coming rounds.

Newbridge on Friday saw the start of the Red Mills unraced bitch stake, with four Wexford challengers for the €5,000 first prize.

All four got through to the second round with Marians Dream winning her heat for Wexford owner Brendan Frayne when making good use of her inside draw to score in a good 28.97.

Kereight Star ran a good second in her heat, and the other two challengers, Suzies Daisy and Cosy Socks, got badly bumped and impeded but still ran on gamely to qualify for this week’s second round.

Enniscorthy owner John Doyle has to travel these days to get some staying races and his trip paid off on Friday when his Kiltrea Mike led and just did enough to hold on for victory in the novice 725.

Kiltrea was winning for the fourth time in his short career and there should be more to come from this fellow in the coming months.

The Irish Greyhound Board has refused consultation on the closure of Harold’s Cross, and the resolve of the D.G.O.B.A. has been intensified as there was no racing at all at Shelbourne Park last week, with Thursday night’s card seeing all owners withdraw their runners. This situation cannot go on.

February 27 results - race one, Welcome To Enniscorthy A7/A8 525: 1, Metric Brae (owner, Pauline Byrne, Marshalstown), 29.63; 2, Slaneyside Ultan, 29.70.

Race two, Unrecorded Trials Wednesday and Friday A4 Bitch 525: 1, Vinegarhill Side (owner, Pat Hyland, Enniscorthy), 29.06; 2, Willoughby Sue, 29.41.

Race three, The Spring Open Unraced 525 round one, heat one: 1, Stripe Pal (owner, Ned Freeman, Co. Kilkenny), 29.20; 2, Neamstown Beast, 29.69.

Race four, heat two: 1, Angry Man (owner, Liam Walsh, Waterford), 29.29; 2, Bugatti Petite, 29.53.

Angry had to overcome the tricky trap six draw, having to chase down leader Bugatti and going past after the third bend before going on to score well in the end.

Race five, heat three: 1, Angry Anne (owner, Liam Walsh, Waterford), 29.24; 2, Mikey Mary, 29.90.

Mikey made a real race of it when leading up in this four-runner field, but Angry had things under control by the third bend and raced away to score like an odds-on favourite should.

Race six, heat four: 1, Lacken Decco (owner, Thomas Lennon, Co. Laois), 29.25; 2, Piercestown Zara, 29.49.

Favourite backers had no worries here as Lacken was always in control and ran out a snug winner from the strong-finishing Piercestown runner.

Race seven, heat five: 1, Coco Blaze (owner, Mary Flynn, Gracedieu), 29.37; 2, Vinegarhill Moon, 29.93.

Coco was another to overcome a tricky trap draw in one as he just missed the kick but soon got into gear to get up the inside by the first bend. He led by the second corner and raced clear to score an easy win.

Race eight, heat six: 1, Kereight Sim (owner, Aidan Denton, Enniscorthy), 29.51; 2, Cosy Messi, 29.72.

Kereight got out well and opened up a big lead to go on to score nicely. The runner-up completely missed the break and was impeded at the first bend.

Race nine, March A5 525: 1, Ashwood Telly (owner, Helen Doyle, Enniscorthy), 29.70; 2, Dipton Spark, 29.94.

March 2 results - race one, Welcome To Enniscorthy S2/S3 350: 1, Telex Cracker (owners, Anton and Tony Butler, Coolballow), 19.21; 2, Rathsilla Messi, 19.59.

Race two, Intertrack Betting A6 525: 1, Metric Grace (owner, Pauline Byrne, Marshalstown), 29.71; 2, Likeable Act, 29.81.

Race three, www.igb.ie A5 525: 1, Same Act (owner, Francis Kent, Duncormick), 29.10; 2, Stripe Minnie, 29.69.

Race four, The Trackside Diner A4 525: 1, Solent Hope (owners, Darren and Norman James, Co. Waterford), 29.30; 2, Mahmorcot Flyer, 29.51.

Race five, The Showgrounds A4 575: 1, Elusive Star (owners, Phil Ryan and Eugene Gleeson, Monamolin), 31.84; 2, Archaton Fly, 32.05.

Race six, A3 525: 1, Bring Him Home (owners, Marie and Patrick Whelan, Enniscorthy), 29.22; 2, Rathbally Tank, 29.43.

Race seven, The Track Bar A2 525: 1, Slaneyside Sofia (owner, Derek Kehoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary), 29.02; 2, Battledown, 29.19.

Race eight, March A1 525: 1, Tagalong Hawkeye (owner, Dermot Flynn, Enniscorthy), 29.47; 2, Stripe Moon, 29.68.