The merest whiff of half decent prizemoney at Drumbo Park usually triggers a flood of entries from southern-based greyhounds writes Michael Watts.
This year’s renewal of the Tennents Gold Cup Open 525 was no exception, but the invaders looked pretty exposed in the first round where local hope Common Man was fastest in 28:83. The Margaret Campbell-trained black went on to score again at the semi-final stage in 28:56 and with the Newry maestro Brendan Matthew’s Shut the Backdoor winning his semi-final in 28:53 hopes were high for a northern win.
Sadly they flattered only to deceive and it was last year’s Puppy Derby winner Quietly, trained in Tara Co Meath by Ian Reilly for the Kent-based K-S-S Syndicate, who took the spoils last Saturday. Dogs who hit the lid and are out and gone often enjoy success at the Laganside venue and this proved to be the case for the October ’12 son of Tullymurry Act.
Nicely drawn in Trap 2, the 5/2 favourite was quickly into his stride, posting an impressive sectional time of 16:37, and ran on virtually unchallenged to take the £5,000 first prize in 28:61.
Another southern raider, Drumsna Castle, the outsider of the party at 7/1, crossed the line four and a half lengths behind him to claim second place for Longford’s Pauline Quinn. Shut the Backdoor finished third a further length behind him while Common Man struggled home out the back door in last place. Looks like it is back to porridge for the northern contingent!
