Hospital Sweepstake heats underway

THESE are heady days at Tralee Track.

Twenty-four hours after all the high excitement of the Race Of Champions final, more exhilarating fare was provided by first round heats of the Kerry Group A2 525 Hospital Sweepstake (winner, €4,000) at the Oakview venue on Saturday night and particular notice was taken of a number of greyhounds, particularly the Owen McKenna-trained Dumas, which clocked a quite brilliant 28.20 in heat 7.

Dumas, which is owned by Tralee accountant, Des Grace, was well fancied to win the GMHD juvenile classic at the Oakview venue earlier in the year before taking a terrible tumble at the first bend in a semi-final won by none other than outright winner, Paradise Marco. He had seen no competitive action since then, but a trial in 17.41 over 325yds at Tralee on June 2 clearly suggested that he was well ready for serious action again.

So, indeed, he was. Running from trap 4 and installed the 4/6 favourite, he had the early pace to lead around the opening bend from Greenfield Gate and Navajo Dan and he proceeded in quite magnificent fashion to open up a gap, which amounted to eight and a half lengths at the line over Greenfield Gate, with three and-a-half lengths back to Navajo Dan.

A time of 28.20 was quite an announcement by him after what happened to him on February 24 and, for sure, he is going to command a lot of attention in the second round this Friday night. He runs from trap 3 in heat 2.

There were other terrific runs in the first round, with Pennylane Lucky clocking 28.49 in heat 8 and Typical Ash going around in 28.55 in heat 3, and these two, and Dumas, have avoided each other in the second round, the draw for which worked out as follows (trap order):

Heat 1: Send It Treron, Breton Charlie, Pennylane Lucky, Confident Cato, Rathass Ward (W), Newinn Tesse (W). Heat 2: Knockbawn Jasper, Bowline Arrow, Dumas, Mohane Sparky, Boreen Gabriel (W), Misty Supreme (W). Heat 3: Navajo Dan, Premier Frankel, Fire Height Dora, Send It Ducula, Greenfield Gate, Tims Pearl. Heat 4: Ballymac Meena, Ballyera Conor, Millridge Grant, College Belle, Oak Spice, Typical Ash (W).

The other heat winners on Saturday night were: Send It Treron, 28.86; Bowline Arrow, 28.77; Mohane Sparky, 28.90; Newinn Tesse, 28.96; Boreen Gabriel, 29.20. Winners on the supporting card: Cashcube Lady, 17.85; Kielduff Manor, 29.25; Pennylane Masara, 17.74; Cape Shadow, 17.99.

Winning owner Brendan O`Mahony (Scartaglen) accepts the winning trophy from Christy O’Connell (Chairman of the Organisg Committee) after Scart Macgyver won the BOD Construction Ltd Stakes Final at the Kerry G.A.A. Race of Champions Finals Night at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Friday night. Also included from left, Miky Boyle, Patsy O’Connor, Donnchadh Walsh, Jack Barry, Kieran Donaghy, Padraig Boyle, John Joe Carroll (Sec of Org Committee) and Philip Lucid

Sponsor Donald Lynch (K.P.H.) presents the winning trophy to Paddy Collins after Melodys Mastro won the KPH Construction Stakes Final All part of the Kerry G.A.A. Race of Champions Finals Night at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Friday night. Included in photo from left, Ivan McCarthy (K.P.H.), Eimear O`Shea, Abbvie Collins, Michael O`Shea (K.P.H.), Moss Leen, Donie Mulvihill, Maurice O`Connor (Trainer), Luke Salmon, Molly Mahony, Lorraine Salmon, Garry Bolyle, Moss & Millie Hughes and Frank Salmon

From left to right Kerry fans Jonathon Galvin, John Henderson, Ogie O`leary Griffin, Sineád Galvin, Ruben O`Leary Griffin, Bryan O`leary, and Jaden Foley having a great night attending the Kerry GAA Race of Champions Finals Night at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Friday nightPhotos by deniswalshphotography.com

A delighted Luke O’Sullivan poses for a photo with Kerry player Brendan Kealy during the the Kerry GAA Race of Champions Finals Night at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Friday night