Home Gemma remains unbeaten after latest win

Mullingar Greyhound Stadium Thursday nights, May 6th, meeting at Mullingar Greyhound Stadium featured the final of the Fionan O'Shea Memorial 525 Final which carried a winner prize of €1,060, kindly sponsored by Mullingar G.O.B.A.Having won all her heats Home Gemma which is owned by Joe Campbell (Laois) went to trap the odds-on favourite, and although led for most of the journey by Scartview Peps she found top gear at the turn for home to land the spoils by four and a quarter lengths in 30.34.The Donal O'Connell (Laois) owned and the Frank Seery trained Black Sasha proved best in the opening 600 where she hit the front rounding the final bend to win by three and three quarter lengths from Brave Ryan's Girl in 34.42.Laois owner Brian Murphy sent out Canal Becky to do the business in the second race. This unraced April '08 dominated the race from an early stage to win by two and a half lengths from Links Jet in 30.71.The third race saw the return of the old sprint distance and here the Gerard Dunne (owned) Pops Ciara made every yard of the running to win by three lengths from Killourney Kelly in 19.00 flat.In the fourth, where the lead up-front changed on a few occasions, saw the Mrs. Helen Whelan (Laois) owned Oscar Prairie finished best to win by one length from Home Orla in 30.95 over the 525 yards trip.Killerk Sprinter came into trap six in the fifth race from the reserve panel and he made all the running to win by a quarter of a length from Inch Marshal in 22.78. The winner is owned by David Coleman (Edenderry).Although not appearing to attract any serious attention in the betting in the sixth race Chris Gallagher's (Westmeath) Bridge Woman produced a successful front running display to land the spoils by four and a quarter lengths from the fast finishing Horseleap Honey in 30.15.Springwell Time owned by Denis Hannon (Athlone) always had the edge over the field in the seventh race over the 400 yards trip where he extended his early advantage on the way home by four lengths from Outintherain in 21.91.Flying By led for most of the journey in the ninth race, but he failed to sustain a spirited late effort by Mrs. Marie Garry's (Offaly) Kilcooney Billy which forced a head to win snugly by two and three quarter lengths in 30.13.The Kathleen Bloxham (Longford) owned and the Eddie Dunne trained Fearglass Nellie produced the best time of the meeting with an impressive 30.05 return in the tenth race, a 2/1 choice in the betting, he out paced the field when leading home by two lengths from Bridge Casino.In the eleventh race over the 525 yards course, Michael Hennigan's (Roscommon) Bornacurra Mia came from a long way off the pace to score by a closing length from Cailin Fionn in 30.68.Body Warmer best at Mullingar G.O.B.A. StakeThe welcome improvement in the weather attracted a fine turnout to Mullingar Greyhound Stadium on Saturday evening last, May 8th, when the Mullingar Equestrian International Hose Show promoted their fundraising race night.Apart from the eleventh sponsored races programme, the patrons were entertained with a fine display of talented young jockeys in the racing pony derby where Rebecca Yorke was declared the outright winner in the derby final with her pony Skylark.Also featured on the programme was the Four Second Round Heats of the Mullingar G.O.B.A. Buster A4 Stake and the final of the BBQ Package A3 Tri-Distance.Laois owner Joe Campbell continued his recent good strike rate when his Home Joy won final in 33.97 over the 600 yards trip, having been led for most of the journey by Shine With Us, Home Joy persisted in a close encounter to score by a short head.Earlier in the evening the Campbell Kennels recorded the first leg of the double in race seven when Home Simon which is owned by Marcella Campbell (Laois) made every yard of the running to win by three and a half lengths from Tennyson in 33.58.Although well off the pace at the half way stage in the opening 525 race Tommy Tunney's (Mullingar) Gibbstown Lad which was easy to back at 5/2 produced a lively late rally to win by a neck from long time leader Tamna Pride in 30.01.Killurin Billy tried to make all the running in the second race over the 525 yard course, but failing to stay the distance in top flight. He was passed on the home straight by Frank O'Hara's (Westmeath) Knockra Duke which finished full of vigour to win by two lengths in 29.92.Noel O'Meara's (Offaly) Aranock Blaise was the odds on favourite to take round two heat one of the Mullingar G.O.B.A. Buster A4 and although held briefly by Clown Law, she motored clear on the home straight to win by four lengths from fast finisher Coolemount Charm in 29.99Corporate Freeze owned by Paul Hogan (Tipperary) took over from Tahina Lauren at the half-way mark in heat two race four to win by a length and a half from Monagea Torres in 30.14.The Fag Free Syndicate owned Mileheight Mac always had the edge over the opposition in the fifth over the 400 yard course to win by two and a quarter lengths from Penthouse Gold in a fast 21.71 return.The sixth race which was heat three resulted in a local victory as Mrs. Marie Moran's (Westmeath) Chapelane Clare lead home by three parts of a length from Liberty's Pet in 30.14.Dysart owned Joan Byrne took the fourth heat with her Body Warmer, this big 88lbs three year old dog went to the front at the half way mark and he increased this advantage all the way to score by four lengths from Knocktoosh Bill in a best 29.67 clock.Cranley Bound produced the early pace to lead rounding the first bend and he struck to his task courageously to win the tenth race over the 525 yards trip by three and three quarter lengths from Bunlahy Brett in 29.53. The winner which is proving a top money spinner is owned by Sean O'Reilly (Mostrim).Dartrey Spring which is owned by A.J. McPhilips (Monaghan) and trained by Vera Croarkin, completed the nights action when he made all the running to win the eleventh race by six lengths from Fahy Lass in 33.73 over the 600 yards trip.ResultsThursday, May 6th600: 1st Black Sasha, 2/1, Donal O'Connell, Co. Laois, 34.42.525: 1st Canal Becky, 5/4, Brian Murphy, Co. Laois, 30.71.330: 1st Pops Ciara, 5/2, Gerard Dunne, Threecastles, Co. Kilkenny, 19.00.525: 1st Oscar Prairie, 6/4, Helen Whelan, Co. Laois, 30.95.400: 1st Lillerk Sprinter, 6/4, David Coleman, Edenderry, Co. Offaly, 22.78.525: 1st Bridge Woman, 2/1, Chris Gallagher, c/o P. Coleman, Rochfortbridge, 30.15.400: 1st Springwell Time, 6/4, Denis Hannon, Athlone, 21.91.525: 1st Home Gemma, 4/5, Joe Campbell, Mountmellick, Co. Laois, 30.34.525: 1st Kilcooney Billy, 3/1, Mrs. Marie Gary, Geashill, Co. Offaly, 30.13.525: 1st Fearglass Nellie, 2/1, Mrs. Kathleen Bloxham, Longford, 30.05.525: 1st Bornacurra Mia, 2/1, Michael Hennigan, Roscommon, 30.68.Saturday,May 8th525: 1st Gibstown Lad, 5/2, Thomas Tuney, Mullingar, 30.01.525: 1st Knockra Duke, 4/1, Frank O'Hara, Coralstown, Mullingar, 29.92.525: 1st Aranock Blaise, 4/6, Noel O'Meara, Ballinagar, Tullamore, 29.99.525: 1st Corporate Freeze, 2/1, Paul Hogan, Co. Tipperary, 30.14.400: 1st Milehigh Mac, 2/1, the Fag-Free Syndicate, c/o J. O'Grady, 21.71.525: 1st Chapelane Clare, 3/1, Mrs. Marie Moran, Streamstown, Mullingar, 30.14.600: 1st Home Simon, 4/1, Joe Campbell, Mountmellick, Co. Laois, 33.58.600: 1st Home Joy, 3/1, Joe Campbell, Mountmellick, Co. Laois, 33.97.525: 1st Body Warmer, 3/1, Miss Joan Byrne, Mullingar, 29.67.525: 1st Cranley Bound, 2/1, Sean O'Reilly, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, 29.53.600: 1st Dartrey Spring, 4/6, A. J. McPhillips, Co. Monaghan, 33.73.