Noel O’Leary claims remarkable treble for litter debutants

LIAM Dowling and Chris Houlihan scored doubles before a sizeable bank holiday crowd on Saturday night, but the big story revolved around a quite remarkable treble in three consecutive races, all semi-finals of an 18-greyhound Lee Strand-sponsored A9 525 sweepstake, by Noel O’Leary, a long-time supporter of the Oakview venue who can be found every night in the Moss O’Donnell Corner on the ground floor.

Noel had won on Friday night with Loher Storm, a November ’16 daughter of Laughil Blake and

Loher Baby, which clocked 29.04 on her competitive bow, and three of the very same litter gave him his remarkable Saturday night treble, all winning first time out as well in really good times. How do you top something like that?

The first of Noel’s winners on Saturday night was Loher Honey (even-money joint-favourite), which ran from trap 2 and which overpowered the opposition to the extent that she had nine lengths to spare at the line from Knocknaboul May in 28.92.

Loher Girl followed up by also

winning the second semi-final in impressive fashion. Housed in trap 5 and installed the 4/5 favourite, this lady joined the fast-starting Post Penny rounding the first bend and, although the Maurice O’Connor-trained Post Penny was a strong 5/4 second favourite, Loher Girl was always in control against her from the second bend onwards and she finished three lengths ahead of her in 28.97.

Everybody wondered if Noel O’Leary could win the third semi-final with Loher Black, which ran from trap 4 and was even-money

favourite. The answer was very quickly forthcoming, with Loher Black flying to the front from trap 4 and hitting the line five lengths ahead of Eminent in 29.01.

It really would be something if Noel’s charges managed to fill the first three places when the final takes place as part of the supporting programme for the Lee Strand A3 550 final and, on the compelling evidence of last Saturday night, it is a very distinct possibility.

Liam Dowling achieved his double in an A5 525 sweepstake with Akelawre (29.08) and Ballymac

Efirgie (29.31), though the latter, unfortunately, came off injured, while Chris Houlihan’s double was achieved in two different sweepstake (A7 and A5) by Cashen Nankunda (29.06) and Cashen Bugatti (29.30). All novices here too, let it be added.

Over 325yds, there was a brilliant run of 17.68 by yet another novice, Farran Lime, owned and trained by Jeremiah Hanafin, of Ardfert, while the other winners were: Domain Lord, 18.13; Peters Queen, 29.20, and Renasup Sky, 18.15.