Double delight for trainer Butler as action intensifies

THE WEATHER has been very cold of late as we all know, but with the Future Champions Unraced Stake starting on Monday, things got hotter on the track in Enniscorthy anyway.

Last Thursday was a good night for Wexford trainer Anton Butler as he recorded a nice double.

He got off the mark in race six when Luna Ava dug deep to get the verdict. After being led down to the third bend, she joined with the front-running Lough Mistoki who had the inside line and was not giving up the lead lightly.

And as they raced for the judge, they were wide apart, with Luna coming wide and getting up near the line to score by a head in a good 29.07 -0.20 slow.

In race nine his Narabane Tony also had to dig very deep as the field was tightly packed into the opening corner, with the two leading lights making their moves down the back straight.

Trap six runner Alien Queenie got the better exit at the third bend, going around the outside to lead as Narabane was held up, but came through in hot pursuit on the rail.

And with Alien running wide off the last bend, it was nip and took all the way to the line. As it turned out, they could not be separated and a dead heat was called in a time of 29.70 -0.20 slow.

Michael Lacey, the owner of Alien Queenie, was happy enough as it looked like she had blown her chance of winning by running so wide off the last bend.

Race one got things off to a fast start as Hello Lisa put in fine performance when tracking from the outside to go in pursuit of early pace-setter Hello Leah down the back.

Cutting to the inside by the third bend proved the winning move as Leah moved off a bit and Lisa took the invitation to come through and win going away by three and a half lengths from the running-on Glideaway Spiral who got up for second in a fast 28.98 -0.20 slow. I’m sure owner Willie Doyle enjoyed this run.

Race nine saw a fine front-running display from Hatfield Penny when showing far too much early gears for the field and opening up a big lead before running out a snug two-length winner in a time of 29.33 -0.20 slow for trainer Cora Doyle.

Another to catch the eye was in race seven as Hilark Cha Cha tracked leader Tomahurra Pixie before taking the lead by the third bend and simply racing clear to score by five lengths for trainer Davy Morris in a time of 29.33 -0.20 slow.

RESULTS

Race one, Welcome to Enniscorthy Greyhound Stadium, A2, 525: 1, Hello Lisa (owner, Willie Doyle, Gorey), 28.78; 2, Glideaway Spiral, 29.02; 3, Hello Leah, 29.03.

Race two, All trials must be booked through the office, A6/7, 525: 1, Kereight Shark (owner, Aidan Denton, Enniscorthy), 29.26; 2, Mouse Amore, 29.75; 3, Terrific Tonic, 29.76.

Race three, #This Runs Deep, A7/10, 525: 1, Ashfield Dawn (owner, Raymond O’Sullivan, Carrigbyrne), 30.08; 2, Carrigoe Roxi, 30.53; 3, Taylorstown Ang, 30.64.

Race four, #Celebrating 90 years of greyhound racing, A6, 525: 1, Alien Drifter (owner, Johnny Fortune, Enniscorthy), 29.45; 2, Woolies Angel, 29.48; 3, Chanceme Loads, 29.55.

Race five, Book your fundraiser at the dogs, A5, 525: 1, Hi Land Miss (owner, Kirstin Sullivan; trainer, Mark Sullivan, Waterford), 29.04; 2, Altesse Ebony, 29.46; 3, Edermine Satin, 29.81.

Race six, The Search for the Future Champion starts on Monday 13th March, A0/1, 525: 1, Luna Ava (owners, Shane Duddan and Mihai Raicu; trainer, Anton Butler, Rathaspeck), 28.87; 2, Lough Mistoki, 28.88; 3, Mikeys Lady, 28.98.

Race seven, Unofficial trials Wed. and Sat., all trials must be booked, A3, 525: 1, Hilark Cha Cha (owner, Eugene Hiney; trainer, Davy Morris, Enniscorthy), 29.13; 2, Tomahurra Pixie, 29.48; 3, Piercestown Date, 29.50.

Race eight, Official trials before racing 5.30 until 6.00 must be booked, A3, 525: 1, Narabane Tony (owner, Anton Butler, Rathaspeck), 29.50, and Alien Queenie, 29.50; 3, Tagalong Sparta, 29.55.

Race nine, #Making Memories, A4. 525: 1, Hatfield Penny (owner, Neil Fraser, England; trainer, Cora Doyle, Forth Mountain), 29.13; 2, Dashgrove Street, 29.27; 3, Boderan Dawn, 29.69.

Race ten, Our next race meeting is on Monday 13th March 2023, A4, 525: 1, Lord On Time (owner, Tommy Woods, Enniscorthy), 29.45; 2, Alien Hope, 29.50; 3, Woolies Yankee, 29.51.