Bumper crowd expected at greyhound gala night

THERE WILL be a huge crowd expected to attend Enniscorthy greyhound track this Thursday for the gala night in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.

There will be many attractions, with Disney characters, face painting etc. for the children, and a great family night out is in store, weather permitting.

The feature on track will be the Dinny Byrne Memorial A5/6 final with a very nice €2,000 first prize.

The semi-finals produced very competitive races, and it looks like there will be a close finish.

The first semi saw the Andrew Sinnott-owned and trained Nothingtosay get up well to the bend and run on well to hold off favourite Milford Train and Kingsmill Rio in the quicker of the two races in a time of 29.08.

The second semi saw Oxtail Oscar also go to the bend fast, leading all the way and holding the persistent challenge of Ontheverge and the running on Mangan Boy in 29.14.

Two 575-yard races finished up proceedings. In the first of them, the A3, the Seán Furlong-owned and trained Fox Cub made a fast start and led the field down the back, with Tomahurra Dash trying to close the gap by the third bend.

Fox Cub was in no mood for catching and scored snugly in the end in a time of 31.80.

The final race was an A2 575, and this time Toker Olivia, owned by Philip Lynch, came from behind to catch leader Flying Lola up the straight, with Mikeys Blue also finishing well to grab the runner-up spot. The winning time was 31.70.

The second round of the Farloe Tango Unraced Stake was completed on Monday night, and the star performance of the four heats came in heat two when beaten hot favourite of the first round, Boy Crystal, was most impressive.

He went up from his trap six box to lead and ran right away from the field, coming home ten lengths clear in a very good 28.70.

The semi-finals will be run this week and there are still some improvers to show what they can do if they can get a clear run and get their trapping right.

May 21 results - race one, The Welcome to Enniscorthy 525: 1, Ballinaboola Jet (owner, Niamh Murphy, Ballinaboola), 29.17; 2, Telex Brat, 29.31.

Race two, The Fawn Tango Unraced Sweepstake, round two, heat one: 1, Ulysses (owners, Robert Ayres and Leonard O’Hanlon), 29.03; 2, Hyperion, 29.31.

Race three, heat two: 1, Boy Crystal (owners, Joseph Kennedy and Ann Snowdon, New Ross), 28.70; 2, Mairéads Pearl, 29.40.

Race four, The Model County Sprint Stakes: 1, Cow Lane Lad (owners, Show committee syndicate, Enniscorthy), 18.93; 2, Skyview Flash, 19.21.

Race five, heat three: 1, Nans Padjoe (owner, Mary Whittle, Co. Waterford), 29.08; 2, Missions Boss, 29.46.

Race six, heat four: 1, Cill Dubh Chief (owner, Michael Bergin, Co. Kilkenny), 29.61; 2, Tiger Be Slick, 29.66.

Race seven, The Loch Garman A2 525 Stakes: 1, Piercestown Moll (owner, Seamus Whelan, Piercestown), 29.07; 2, Bugatti Petite, 29.17.

Race eight, The Slán Abhaile 575 Stakes: 1, Goquicksaysmick (owner, Joseph Walsh, Tomhaggard), 31.81; 2, Kingsmill Sprite, 31.95.

May 24 results - race one, The Gala Race Night Thursday 31st May Stakes: 1, Likeable Laz (owner, John Brady, Co. Wicklow; trainer, John A. Hand), 29.30; 2, Callums Girl Romeo, 29.47.

Race two, The Market Square Stakes: 1, Our Decision (owner, Francis Kent, Co. Wexford; trainer, John Codd, Enniscorthy), 28.75; 2, Rip Rock Paddy, 29.27.

Race three, The Show Grounds Sprint Stakes: 1, Jojo On Air (owner, George Roche, Barntown), 19.24; 2, Kilkenny Queen, 19.34.

Race four, The TrackSide Diner Specials Stakes: 1, Slaneyside Bart (owner, Derek Kehoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary), 28.91; 2, Im The Daddy, 29.43.

Race five, The Dinny Byrne Memorial A5/6 Sweepstake semi-final: 1, Nothingtosay (owner, Andrew Sinnott, Taghmon), 29.08; 2, Milford Train, 29.22.

Race six, The Dinny Byrne Memorial A5/6 Sweepstake semi-final: 1, Oxtail Oscar (owner, John Whelan, Co. Wicklow), 29.14; 2, Ontheverge, 29.35.

Race seven, The Loch Garman Stakes: 1, Slaneyside Roche (owner, Derek Kehoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary), 29.38; 2, Glenbrien Slave, 29.59.

Race eight, The Model County 575 Stakes: 1, Fox Cub (owner, Seán Furlong, Wexford town), 31.80; 2, Tomahurra Dash, 32.04.

Race nine, The Guys & Dolls 575 Stakes: 1, Toker Olivia (owner, Philip Lynch, New Ross), 31.70; 2, Mikey Blue, 31.75.