Bexhill bonanza
BEXHILL BRIAN has proved himself to be the outstanding all-age dog of the season by landing a rare double victory of Irish Cup and Champion Stakes.
It was Brendan Matthews’ first success at Limerick racecourse and Bexhill Brian showed tremendous heart to win the final after trailing his opponent, Kerry Call, in the early stages of the final by over two lengths.
His owners, John Barrett and Conor Sheehan, are staunch members of Glin Coursing Club and they have achieved an unbelievable strike rate of classic success from a very small kennel.
They recorded a previous win in the Irish Cup back in 1993 when Bexhill Drive, also trained by Matthews, won at Clounanna.
Faultless Fatboyz gets nod
FATBOYZ NODROG can come through a stern test in the second round of the Tote Gold Cup over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
Pat Gordon’s Champion Stakes winner locks horns with Derby runner-up Oran Classic and Derby Plate winner Thurlesbeg Joker, who was fastest in last week’s opening round, but he’s fancied to come out on top.
The son of Crash produced a faultless performance last week when leading all the way to score in 28.47.
He tends to break best from the middle and he is fancied to get the first run on his main rivals.
Dog Breeding Bill could bring industry under serious threat
THE proposed Dog Breeding Establishments Bill, currently at the committee stage in the Seanad, will introduce over-regulation and bureaucracy and “will bring the viability of the valuable Irish greyhound industry under serious threat at the fundamental levels of breeding, rearing and training at dog establishments,” the Seanad heard last week.
Skater's Golden triumph draws 'Cheltenham' cheer
PAUL HENNESSY paid tribute to breeder Joe and Mary Kenny after Group Skater had given Ireland its first success in the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket at Crayford on Saturday morning.
He said: “Father Greene bought Group Skater off Joe just after Christmas and the greyhound is a credit to him.
“All we have done is fed and watered the runner. He is a wonderful dog and has now also shown himself to be a great tracker.”
Bexhill proves popular winner with Boylesports
BEXHILL BRIAN’s success in the JP McManus Irish Cup over the weekend was a near skinner for Boylesports.
Last year, the bookmakers were in trouble all the way to the decider with heavily backed Johnny Casanova their big ante-post headache.
In the end, they got out of it when Sandy Sea came to the layers’ rescue.
A spokesman for Boylesports told the Sporting Press: “We escaped again this year and had a brilliant ante-post book. ”
Linehan's lively Lad has Produce Stakes in sights
BROADSTRAND LAD, brilliant winner of the IGB Unraced Stake at Clonmel during National Meeting week, has his eyes firmly on the Produce Stakes there next month.
John Linehan’s April ‘08 Hallucinate dog flew home in early paced style in 28.49 in the Davis Road feature.
Linehan said: “We’ve had him resting for the past month, but he did have an unofficial spin at Clonmel last week.
“We will give the dog a couple more trials there to sharpen him up before the Produce.”
Sandy Sea now permanently at stud
SANDY SEA, rated by many as the best coursing dog since Hilltown, has been retired to stud.
Now in his third season, Sandy started hot favourite for the Champion Stakes (withdrawn with virus) and long-odds favourite for the Irish Cup. Sandy Sea failed by a just-up decision when making his exit from the Irish Cup
Bookies and greyhound industry back RISE!
LEADING participants in greyhound racing, together with major bookmakers, have signalled their support for the RISE! Rural Ireland Says Enough! Campaign.
From this week, almost 200 bookie shops throughout the country will display posters supporting the RISE! Campaign and will stock supplies of petition sheets to allow customers to signal their support. The bookies’ chains supporting the campaign are: Boylesports, with 120 shops nationwide; Bruce Betting, with 60 shops in Dublin; and Stan James, with 10 shops in Cork.
€10,000 donation to RISE!
COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE IRELAND (CAI) have shown their support for RISE! and have donated €10,000 to the campaign fund.
As a firm advocate that ‘Unity is Vital for Country Sports’, working alongside like-minded organisations, CAI were delighted at their recent Board Meeting in Dundalk, to present a cheque to Oliver Russell, Chairman of the Ward Union Hunt Club and a member of RISE!
Kilkenny keep coursing flag flying
THE popular Erinstone Coursing-Bred Unraced Stake at Kilkenny is back to its traditional March date and indeed the action will get underway next Wednesday, March 10.
