Healy owned Salve has over 13 lengths to spare over rivals

AN impressive debut by the Oliver Healy owned Salve (Doopys Jet/ Pinerra Ranger) was the highlight of a nine-race card at the Kingdom greyhound stadium last Saturday.

The January ’17 whelp showed good pace from trap rise in the white jacket, but he did move wide on the run down. The 1/3 favourite still had enough in hand to lead at the first and he left his rivals in his wake down the back straight, opening up an unassailable lead. Tracking well through the closing bends, Salve showed no signs of relenting off the last and flashed past the line in a smart 29.03. The winning distance was a whopping 13 ½ lengths back to Millridge Dixie in second.

Steeple Rd Ali (Scolari Me Daddy/ Steeple Rd Linda) broke his maiden’s tag in Race 6 for Tarbert owners Dan and Michael Wren in this A7 contest. The wide seed was quick to find his feet from trap 5 and showed good early pace to round the opening bends independent of his rivals. He put the race beyond doubt down the back straight when extending his advantage to over six lengths. The evens favourite staying on gamely up the home straight and passed the line seven lengths clear of Kates Diary in 29.05. The reserve, Labana Gooch, completed the trio a further four lengths back.

There were three sprints on the card and Race 7 provided an eye catching performance from the lightly raced Fivestar Topper (Scolari Me Daddy/ Some Tears) from the kennels of Tadgh Long. Drawn in the black jacket for the S2 event, the 3/1 shot made a sluggish start, however once he found his feet he swiftly made his way through the field. He challenged the early leader Ballads For Life at the first and powered off the closing bends. He extended his advantage passing the stand and flashed past the line 4 lengths clear of Knockunder Brody. The lightly raced winner is owned by John Rohan.

A powerful kick from halfway proved the catalyst to Discretley’s success in the final race of the evening which was for grade A3. Breaking moderately from trap 2, the eventual winner surrendered early ground to Oak Trend showed good early dash to lead from trap 3. The latter appeared to have the race firmly in his grasp when opening a six-length advantage racing down the back straight. There was crowding amongst the rest of the field at the second bend, however the blue jacket of Discretely emerged as the main rival to the early leader when reducing the deficit significantly approaching the third bend. The 3/1 shot swept to the front off the last and stayed on gamely to stop the clock in 29.08. The early leader faded badly close home and surrendered second position to the odds on favourite Baldoin who finished two lengths off the winner. The winner is trained by Padraig Regan for Lixnaw’s Helen Heaphy.

Also winning on the night were Ballygarronshade 18.16, Tobarmartin Blue 17.79, Oak Lemon 29.32, Fancy Way 29.94 and Enjoy The Moment 29.16