Quality runs and a couple of upsets in Dowling heats

THERE was plenty to whet the appetite at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium last Friday night with the second round heats of the John and Mary Kileacle Dowling Memorial Stake, while three top class open races took place in the O’Neill Dog Food sponsored mini-open.

Killeacle Wayne got back to winning ways for Ballymac handler Lam Dowling when posting the fastest time of the night, 28.46, in heat 2 of the Open Stake. The Son of Burnpark Champ and Bearhaven Ekki broke well in the striped jacket and led trap 4 Lassa Excitment by a length at the opening bend. Even money favourite, Lone Bullet made a sluggish start from trap 1, and failed to make any impact throughout. Killeacle Wayne extended his advantage down the back straight and had the field well strung out as he rounded the closing bends. He stayed strongly up the home straight and passed the line a clear 4 ½ lengths clear of Lassa Excitment with Cahir Castle completed the trio a further length in arears. The winner returned at odds of 3/1.

The opening heat produced another trap to line victory when the James O’Reagan trained Breton Charlie showed a terrific turn to take up the running from trap rise. The 3/1 priced Richard Garnham owned runner held a two-length advantage at the opening bend which gave him extra breathing space as he straightened up off the second bend. The 6/4 favourite An Bhranrion Jane emerged as his main rival down the back , however the leader maintained his advantage approaching the third. While An Bhranion Jane did reduce the deficit on the run home, Breton Charlie was never troubled by his rival and crossed the line with a 2 ½ length cushion in 28.92. Hakamaraka finished best of all to take third, a half a length back from An Bhraion Jane.

Crossfield Kate made it 4 wins from 8 starts as she took the plaudits in the final heat for local handler Brendan O’Shea. The 6/4 joint favourite was smartly into her stride from trap 4 and stole a length on her nearest rival Skywalker Leaf on the run down to the opening bend. This was how it remained throughout the race as Crossfield Kate maintained a strong pace throughout to confirm her authority. While Skywalker Leaf was never challenged for second position she failed to make any impression on the leader. The winner stopped the clock in 28.70 with Skywalker Leaf two lengths back from the winner. It was 2 ½ lengths back to the third placed Amanita Chic.

Ranchers Wiston upset the odds in the opening heat of the Killeacle Dowling 570, as he finished with a flourish to land the spoils at 6/1. Ballymac Laughill was the 4/5 on favourite and while he didn’t trap as smartly as he did in the opening round a week previous, he had worked his way to the front off the second bend. The eventual winner sat in fourth at this stage, however he stayed in contention down the back and was very much in the mix off the closing bends.

The favourite got swallowed up by his rivals as they straightened up for home, however with a few dogs in contention for honours, the Kieran Fitzgearld owned Ranchers Wiston stayed the trip best of all to finish two lengths clear of Sellout Magic in a winning time of 31.19. A ½ length back in third was Morning Music.

Dowling was quickly back in the winners enclosure however as Brandyandbaileys dug deep to take the following heat in an impressive 31.20. Razldazl Beth made much of the running throughout the race, however the evens favourite through down the gauntlet between the closing bends to race clear of his rival and finished with a head of steam to open a 3 length cushion at the finish line. Razldazl Beth was 8 lengths clear of Millridge Jodie who completed the trio.

The fourth and final heat again went the way of the money as evens favourite Burgess Dubh just got up in the dying strides to claim the plaudits. He gave his backers some anxious moments early on as he completely missed the kick from trap 1 and found himself 5 lengths behind the early paced Ring a Friend down the back straight. However, he quickly ate into the leader’s advantage and the gap was down to 2 by the third bend. NewInn Tess was also very much in contention at this stage with Ring A Friend’s stride begining to shorten out in front. Burgess Dubh produced a big finishing kick up the line and pulled out half a length from Razldazl Beth in a time of 31.35.Ring A Friend was a length further back in third. The winner is jointly owned by Sheila Spillane and JJ Fennelly.

Other winners on the night were Athing Called 17.88, Millwood Ace, Ahavoher Vic 17.55, Forceful Oz 29.11 and Spirit Makruma 18.00.