Treaty puts Shelbourne theory to bed with Easter Cup success
A monthly video record of the major SIS UK and Irish races run during 2024 with accompanying reporting.
06/04 - Shelbourne Park: BresBet Easter Cup - Clonbrien Treaty
CLONBRIEN TREATY was not thought to be at his best around Shelbourne Park but put the lie to that theory with a superb display to land the €25,000 BresBet Easter Cup final over 550 yards.
There was little between the field early with the front four of Droopys Fidget, Undulation, Glengar Martha and Clonbrien Treaty clocking identical 3.54sec sectionals but Graham Holland's star then turned on the afterburners.
Ahead into the turn, he saw his advantage extended by some crowding in behind and his owners Jim and Muireann Murphy could enjoy him powering to the line as he beat kennelmate and market leader Clona Duke by two lengths in 29.77sec adding the Easter Cup to his 2023 Kirby Memorial and Irish St Leger victories.
12/04 - Oxford: bet365 Hunt Cup - Havana Top Note
HAVANA TOP NOTE, trained by Liz McNair for the KSS Syndicate, went two better than 12 months earlier with victory in the £10,000 bet365 Hunt Cup final over 650m at Oxford.
Third behind kennelmates Havana Lover and King Ezra in the 2023 decider, he had gone on to land the Challenge Cup over the course and distance in December and began his Hunt Cup campaign with an excellent second to Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue in the opening round.
The pair clashed again in the semis with Havana Top Note making all whereas Droopys Clue was a shock elimination after suffering serious early trouble and, in his absence, the McNair dog was sent off evens favourite for the final.
His supporters were always on good terms with themselves after he made a fast start, quickly taking charge and going on to beat Tuona Bella by almost three lengths in 39.83sec (-60) with last year's runner-up King Ezra almost eight lengths back in third.
14/04 - Towcester: Time Nutrition Juvenile - Faypoint Harvey
FAYPOINT HARVEY became just the second Irish-based winner of the famous invitation race when powering to victory in the £3,000 Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile over 500m at Towcester.
Trained by Graham Holland for Patricia Flanagan, he had earned his place in the invitation event with victory in last year's Munster Juvenile Cup at Clonmel and then found his task made easier following a couple of high-profile withdrawals.
First Newinn Syd was taken out by connections over concerns about the railer's draw in five then ante-post favourite King Memphis was scratched following a disagreement over kenneling times.
Left with three rivals to beat, 11-8 favourite Faypoint Harvey did just that by making all to see off Northern Puppy Derby champion Clona Curly by almost three lengths in 29.21sec (normal), thus emulating Owen McKenna's Express Ego, the only previous Irish winner in 2007 when the race was held at Wimbledon.
20/04 - Limerick: Con & Annie Kirby Memorial - Knockeen Dazzler
KNOCKEEN DAZZLER, owned and trained by 17-year-old Daniel O'Rahilly, landed a fairytale success in the €80,000 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial over 525 yards at Limerick, the hugely valuable event once again sponsored by JP McManus and family.
His record was not stellar coming into the competition with two wins in six career starts including a heavy defeat in a trial stakes but an 18.52sec sprint trial at Limerick had shown his capabilities and his superb early pace proved decisive.
Having made all in the heats and second round, he was the narrowly beaten but rebounded with an all-the-way semi victory and peaked when it mattered most with a flying 28.10sec from-the-front success in the decider as he beat Merits Inclusion by four lengths.
27/04 - Waterford: Time Nutrition Select Stakes - Droopys Fidget
DROOPYS FIDGET, third behind Clonbrien Treaty in Shelbourne's Easter Cup earlier in the month, kept up her brilliant form with an unbeaten run through the Time Greyhound Nutrition Select Stakes over 525 yards at Kilcohan Park, Waterford.
Trained by Robert Gleeson for Paul Allen and John Gilson, she was soon right in the thick of the action and saw off multiple challenges before finally repelling strong-finishing A Lucky Julie by half a length in 28.41sec to claim the €10,000 first prize.
28/04 - Towcester: KAB Maiden Derby - Jaytee Etienne
JAYTEE ETIENNE ensured there was further Irish success at Towcester when proving the pick of trainer Paul Hennessy's trio of finalists to claim the £10,000 KAB Maiden Derby over 500m.
Not unsupported at 9-1, the John Turner and Lee Craze-owned winner found himself in the right place at the right time as he sidestepped first bend trouble which put paid to the chances of kennelmates Jaytee Craze and Barefoot Awesome.
Conversely, Jaytee Etienne pounced when early leader Glorious Tom was clipped from behind in the melee, quickly asserting from that rival and going on to beat him by three and a half lengths in 29.19sec (normal) with Miami Bullet some six and a half lengths away in third.