Reinstated Allowdale Shelly does the business in final

THE drama surrounding the 525yds sweepstake for unraced greyhounds (ON3 class) at Tralee Track, specifically in relation to the Banteer-owned Allowdale Shelly, invested last Friday night’s final with more than ordinary interest and, as it turned out, Allowdale Shelly emerged as a very worthy winner of the handsome purse of€2,200.

Following her semi-final victory, she was thrown out of the sweepstake because she had bettered her qualifying time by more than 1.2secs, but it was subsequently decided that there had been a misinterpretation of the relevant rule and she was reinstated – to the approval of just about everybody.

Mind you, all the hullabaloo meant extra pressure on her owner, Áine McCarthy-Roche, and it was interesting that Allowdale Shelly eased from 4/6 to 4/5 before the “off” with the two bookmakers framing the odds, Berkie Browne and Kieran Bourke.

However, both owner and greyhound proved well equal to that pressure, with Allowdale Shelly taking an early lead from trap 1 and building up a lead which could not be pulled back, though the runner-up, Brindle Beauty, a 5/1 shot in the betting, made the bravest of attempts to do so from the third bend home.

Just three-quarters of a length separated the pair at the line in 29.19 (.20 slow), with three and a half lengths back to Coolemore Lucie, which, like Brindle Beauty, was flying at the finish.

A very satisfying night for Áine McCarthy-Roche was beautifully sweetened by the victory of another of her greyhounds, Allowdale Sheba, in the concluding tenth race (A3 525).

Allowdale Sheba, like Allowdale Shelly, was wearing the red sheet and, with the word very strong about this lady beforehand, she was sent off the 5/4 favourite. She lived up to the high expectations by powerfully taking control and winning by five lengths from Steeple Rd Nemo in a time that was very much the fastest of the night – 28.68 (.20 slow).

Doubtless, looking down on it all with the deepest of pride was Áine McCarthy-Roche’s late father, Johnny, a high calibre classic-winning trainer in his time, and there to share in the two victories was Áine’s twin sister, Noelle, who is married to former Irish Coursing President, Brian Divilly, of Galway.

Friday night’s supporting programme was largely made up of sweepstake semi-finals and the most valuable of them, for unraced ON2 class greyhounds over 525yds and worth €1,000 to the winner, saw Steeple Rd Buddy clock the fastest time of 29.19 in the second semi-final when holding on by a neck from Lissycasey Roy.

The first semi-final was won in29.33 by the Pat McMahon-trained Send It Less, which coasted home five lengths ahead of Sporting Express in 29.33, and the draw for the final this Saturday night worked out as follows (trap order): Send It Less, Steeple Rd Buddy, Crossfield Clint, Sporting Express, Lissycasey Roy (W), Misty Macgyver (W).

The semi-finals of an A6 525 sweepstake (winner, €850) saw Dunkerron Paddy (29.68) and Lissycasey Harry (29.86) emerge as the winners, while the semi-final winners in an A4 570 sweepstake (winner, €900) were Helenas Cillian (32.39) and Brosna Beth (32.02).

The respective finals take place this Saturday night and the draws are: A6 525 final: Bambam Avion, Redzer Royal, Dunkerron Paddy, Garfiney Queen, Cashen Tatyana (W), Lissycasey Harry (W). A4 570 final: Slipalong Lee, Brosna Beth, Helenas Cillian, Thismagicmoment, Sleepy Doireann (W), Misty Handwell (W).

Other winners on Friday night were Getoutofjail, 30.19 (.20 slow), and Boher Daisey, 18.03 (.10 slow).

SUNDAY SIS SESSION: Local owner, Padhraic Fernane, pulled off a terrific 41/1 double with litter sister and brother, Eridani Delta (5/1) and Eridani Alpha (6/1), at Sunday evening’s SIS session at the Oakview venue. On going rated .20 slow, they clocked 29.63 and 29.25, respectively.

Fastest winner, on 28.89, was Hillview Paddy, while that remarkable local dog, Lassa Excitement, was running his 124th race and won it in 29.13.

Other winners: Airport Guest, 29.66; Itsall Luckpolly, 29.40; Droumeragh, 29.25; Abbey Paradise, 29.44.

• There was no racing at the Oakview venue on Saturday night.