2021 Ladbrokes Easter Cup Final Virtual Race Programme

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CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME...

A Chairde, I would like to extend a warm welcome to everybody on this, the final night of the Ladbrokes Easter Cup. Thank you in particular to our sponsors Ladbrokes, who even during these difficult times are supporting the 93rd running of this classic event. Many of you will be engaging on-line or watching the action through RPGTV who, we are delighted, continue to provide excellent coverage of Irish Greyhound Racing.

As we all are aware, Covid-19 continues to have a significant impact on all sporting activities. We have worked hard to ensure that greyhound racing, in accordance with government directives and guidance, is permitted to continue at all levels under the government’s Resilience and Recovery Plan.

I wish to acknowledge and thank all trainers, owners and staff who have co-operated fully and helped to ensure that we continue to race, albeit behind closed doors.

Tonight is about focusing on action on the track! Let us enjoy some fantastic action with some of the best talent in the sport on display. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the finalists the very best of luck.

Le gach dea ghuí

Frank Nyhan

Chairman, Rásaíocht Con Éireann

THIS RUNS

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SHELBOURNE SATURDAY 13TH MARCH

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easter cup history

The Oldest Feature Event In Irish Greyhound Racing Kindly supplied by Ian Fortune

GREYHOUND RACING was only a matter of months introduced to these shores when the inaugural Easter Cup was run in 1928. It was actually the first open event ever run in Ireland and has been one of the great competitions in the sport ever since.

That first year the Easter Cup was run at Shelbourne Park and it was to set the trend for what was to come. The competition has remained ever-present in the Irish calendar since, with the solitary exceptions of 1953 and 2017 during the Dublin closure.

Odd Blade was the first name to enter the Easter Cup Roll of Honour when he clocked 30.64 in beating Debonair. A year later, on April 15th, 1929 he completed a famous Easter Cup double seeing off some big names including the odds-on favourite Captured Half and a certain Mick The Miller.

Odd Blake posted 30.71 as he hit the line in front, with Mick The Miller second. They would meet again in the National Cup where the placings were reversed. Mick The Miller would go onto far bigger things as he captured the 1929 English Derby before successfully defending his title in 1930.

Mick The Miller remains one of the most famous greyhounds to ever race and it’s all started in the Easter Cup. When Odd Blade won that 1929 Easter Cup, he earned his owner Agnes O’Brien a sum of £60.

In the early years, Luke Maher’s great bitch Monologue won the Coursing Oaks at Powerstown before capturing the 1932 Easter Cup. She also went on to win the second Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park in 1933.

BATTLESHIP’S BRACE

There is no bigger name in Irish Greyhound racing than Spanish Battleship and he won the Easter Cup in 1954 and ’55 before going on to secure legendary status by recording an Irish Derby hat trick with wins in 1953, ’54 & ’55.

The big-name winners came thick and fast in the subsequent decades. In the 1960s the winner’s list included dogs such as the The Grand Canal, who recorded the Easter Cup/ English Derby double in 1962 for Paddy Dunphy.

Later in the decade two legendary bitches won the competition, George Kidd’s Clomoney Grand

SPANISH BATTLESHIP Easter Cup winner in 1954 & 1955

in 1966 and Leslie McNair’s Itsamint in 1968.

The 1970s featured victories for two of Gay McKenna’s best greyhounds, the great Postal Vote and Catsrock Daisy in 1972. Postal Vote won it in 1971 before running up the Derby, while Catsrock went one spot better in the Derby to record the double.

The Johnny Hayes trained Indian Joe captured the 1980 Easter Cup and shortly afterwards raced to victory in the English Derby. Spartacus won the Easter Cup in 1984 and then sired the 1987 winner Spartafitz, with both trained by the legendary Matt O’Donnell.

O’Donnell also began the 1990s with a hat trick of wins in the classic. Lassana Champ was the 1990 champion and Farloe Melody gave Matt O’Donnell a fourth and fifth wins in the competition, winning in 1991 and 1992. He went on to record an English Derby victory in 1992.

Nobody has won more Easter Cups than Paul Hennessy and he began his love affair with the competition in 1998 with Mr Pickwick.

A year later in 1999, Chart King laid claims to being

one of the best by winning the Easter Cup before following up by winning both the Scottish and English Derbys unbeaten for the Hewitt brothers.

Paul Hennessy was to dominate the competition for the years following the turn of the Millennium.

Mr Bozz was a good winner in 2000, while Late Late Show was sensational in both 2001 & ’02.

In terms of incredible finishes, it was hard to top 2003 when Mobhi Gamble came from the clouds to collar Clover Hare. The noise when Larry Dunne’s popular Mobhi Gamble was called the winner was really something.

FANTASY WINS FROM GRAHAM

Seamus Graham was the man to follow in 2004 and 2005. The incredible Premier Fantasy was amongst the best greyhounds ever to race and he demolished his rivals in the ‘04 decider, posting a track record-breaking 28.08. A year later, Mineole Farloe completed the Graham double.

Paul Hennessy was back to winning ways in 2007 with Ardkill Jamie seeing off Razldazl Billy in one of the great contests of modern times. Hennessy claimed a fifth win of the decade with Tyrur Kenny in 2008.

Just a few months after winning the Puppy Derby, Droopys Noel provided the Mike McKenna/ Pat Buckley combination with a tremendous start to 2009. They were to win the Derby later that year with College Causeway.

greyhounds PREMIER FANTASY One of the best . ever to race. Easter Cup winner 2004

It was fitting that the 2010 Easter Cup was sponsored by Mike McKenna and was known as the College Causeway/ Killahan Phanter Easter Cup. Trainer Pat Buckley got Olympic Double to the decider but it was former UK racer Thurlesbeg Joker that gave Owen McKenna a second win in the competition after the 2006 victory of Ahane Lad. Of course, McKenna’s father Ger had also twice won the competition with Move Gas and Tantallons Flyer in 1969 and 1975.

The 2011 decider served up an epic with halfbrothers Makeshift and Razldazl George battling it out to the line. Makeshift was too strong and held off his kennel companion by the minimum margin in 29.59. It set up a massive year for Dolores Ruth, as the aforementioned Razldazl George went on to finish third in the English Derby before winning the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby that September.

BIG MIKE’S DESERVED SUCCESS

There was a fairytale in 2012 with the four-yearold Tyrur Big Mike finally gaining the big race his massive talent so richly deserved. PJ Fahy’s star didn’t make life easy for himself. Despite holding a clear lead into the turn, he steered a wide path to surrender his lead to Kingo.

Big Mike was back in front by halfway but again steered a wide path around the last two bends, allowing Razldazl George to challenge. Big Mike wasn’t going to be denied, however, and he dug deep to win by half a length in 29.73.

Only five went to traps in the 2013 decider where Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Vic was the odds-on favourite but the Niall Dunne trained North Bound that landed the prize.

The favourite carried no luck, losing his chance at traps. North Bound made no such mistake and challenged for the lead into the turn alongside Cabra Buck. Asserting at this point, North Bound hit the back straight with three lengths in hand.

Ballymac Vic ran a huge race in defeat as he came through for second but North Bound raced home a runaway six length winner in 29.46. The winner was owned by Florida based priest, Fr Dan Greene.

The Killenaule Kennels of Matt and Frances O’Donnell claimed a sixth Easter Cup title in 2014 with Skywalker Farloe coming home clear in 29.63.

The powerful tracker was one of the favourites alongside Tyrur Sugar Ray and the pair fought out the finish.

Skywalker Farloe got first run on his rival and this proved decisive. Tyrur Sugar Ray closed into the third turn but Skywalker Farloe stayed on to record a three parts of a length victory for owners Ray Patterson, Gavin Byrne and Tom O’Donnell.

In 2015, Slippery Fred and the Graham Holland trained Sidarian Blaze dominated the betting and the pair had a fine tussle. Slippery Fred hit the front

early but could never shake off Sidarian Blaze. The latter displayed a fine turn of pace down the back straight to move into a two length lead around the final bends.

Larry Dunne’s Slippery Fred cut for the inside and challenged again but Sidarian Blaze held his rival by a length in 29.52.

LADBROKES STEP IN

2016 marked the year when Ladbrokes stepped in to sponsor the early season classic. The magic sign were no strangers to sponsorship of Irish greyhound racing having previously had their name attached to both the Derby and Ladbrokes 600.

Their first Easter Cup was a huge success with some exceptional performances throughout and Paul Hennessy was again the man to follow as he expertly steered the John Turner owned Jaytee Jet to a superb success.

A 6-4 favourite, Jaytee Jet took charge down the back straight before running out a superb two and a half length winner over Skywalker Rory. It was a seventh Easter Cup win for Paul Hennessy. Not long after Jaytee Jet raced to glory in the last English Derby final run at Wimbledon.

The event was not run in 2017 due to the dispute which affected racing in Dublin. Ladbrokes were again at the helm 2018 and a famous family name was back on the podium as Colarhouse Gerry triumphed for owner Jason Whyte and trainer Owen McKenna.

Derby winner Good News was clear favourite with Droopys Noah his biggest rival in the ring but both greyhounds missed the kick. Instead, it was Colarhouse Gerry who flashed to the bend and beat Tom Buggy’s Kilgraney Master by four lengths in 29.56.

Graham Holland claimed his second victory in the early season classic as Clona Blaze made every inch

WOLFE Pictured racing to victory in the 2020

semi-finals

to hold off his kennel companion Clonbrien Prince in a thrilling finish in 2019.

A brilliant starter, Clona Blaze was the 5-2 favourite and he soon raced three lengths clear but needed every inch of it as Clonbrien Prince came with a withering run. Kevin O’Brien’s Clona Blaze dug deep to hold Clonbrien Prince by a neck in 29.37.

Graham Holland was again triumphant in 2020.

The final was run just days after greyhound racing went behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it was Wolfe that raced to a famous success to earie silence.

A star throughout his brilliant career, the brilliant tracker was the 6-4 favourite for the decider but was denied an early lead by his kennel companion Murts Boher. Wolfe did turn second, however, and made a decisive move into the third turn, edging his way to the front on the inside of Murts Boher before holding his great rival Ballymac Anton in a driving finish. Wolfe held on to win by a length and a half in 29.89.

!

LADBROKES - THE MAGIC SIGN at Shelbourne Park stepped in to sponsor the Easter Cup

2016 marked the year when Ladbrokes

Roll of easter cup Honour....

YEAR 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974

WINNER Odd Blade Odd Blade Hannahs Pup Lions Share Monologue Rustic Martin Brilliant Bob Khun Khan Mooncoin Captain Cardinal Puff Pagan Miller Abbeylara Shy Sandy Prince Norroy Wayside Clover Monarch of the Glen Empor Lassie Astra Astra Patsys Record Castlecoman Flashy Prince Sandown Champion Clogher McGrath Wee Chap Spanish Battleship Spanish Battleship Baytown Duel Doon Marshall Sharavogue War Dance Springvalley Grand Tinys Trousseau The Grand Canal General Courtnowski Ballet Dante The Grand Time Clomoney Grand Tinys Tidy Town It’s A Mint Move Gas Monalee Gambler Postal Vote Catsrock Daisy Newpark Arkle Aqueduct Rosie

TIME 30.64 30.71 30.59 30.71 30.78 30.59 30.29 30.54 30.54 30.50 30.27 30.27 30.34 30.32 30.39 30.43 30.35 29.86 30.40 30.15 29.90 29.85 29.85 30.03 30.12 30.17 29.72 29.67 30.41 29.96 29.76 29.92 29.66 29.93 29.98 30.27 29.50 29.50 29.59 29.63 30.29 29.52 29.36 29.01 29.40 29.52

YEAR 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2020

WINNER Tantallons Flyer Cindys Spec Weigh In First Rokeel Light Shady Bunch Indian Joe Murrays Mixture Speedy Wonder Wicklow Sands Spartacus Oran Express Baby Doll Spartafitz Joannes Nine Annagh Bar Lassana Champ Farloe Melody Farloe Melody Jacks Well Valais Express Lacken Prince Ballyduag Manx Park Jewel Mr Pickwick Chart King Mr Bozz Late Late Show Late Late Show Mobhi Gamble Premier Fantasy Mineola Farloe Ahane Lad Ardkill Jamie Tyrur Kenny Droopys Noel Thurlesbeg Joker Makeshift Tyrur Big Mike North Bound Skywalker Farloe Sidarian Blaze Jaytee Jet Colarhouse Gerry Clona Blaze Wolfe

TIME 29.60 29.20 29.58 29.50 29.42 29.16 29.15 29.40 29.64 29.22 29.67 29.37 29.36 29.65 29.61 29.34 29.53 28.93 29.54 29.13 29.38 29.23 29.27 28.91 28.40 28.94 28.60 28.74 28.47 28.08 28.39 28.21 28.30 29.91 29.91 29.55 29.59 29.73 29.46 29.63 29.52 29.45 29.56 29.37 29.89

SHELBOURNE SATURDAY 13TH MARCH

TOTE

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THE BULL RUN BOLT @STUD A0 525 FINAL

TRIO GUARANTEED TO A MINIMUM GROSS AMOUNT OF

400

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THE SHELBOURNE A1 575 FINAL

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300

€

ALL RACES MUST HAVE 6 RUNNERS

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RACE 2

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SHELBOURNE SATURDAY 13TH MARCH

PICK 6 JACKPOT RACES 3-8

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PICK 4 JACKPOT RACES 4-7

GUARANTEED TO A MINIMUM GROSS AMOUNT OF

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RACE 3

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RACE 4

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RACE 5

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RACE 6

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RACE 7

RACE 8

RACE 9

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RACE 10

easter cup final

1 2 3 4 5 6

Profiles courtesy of Ian Fortune Photos courtesy of Imelda Grauer

GREAT NAME THAT One of the fastest pups in Ireland in 2020, displaying real ability

in the Derby and Juvenile Derby although crashed out of the quarter final stages in both.

One of a select group to break 28 seconds at Shelbourne Park for 525yds, he ended the year in fine style, winning at the RCÉ Winter Racing Festival and finishing runner up to Knocknaboul Syd in the Kingdom Derby. Ideally housed in red and certainly fast enough to mount a bold bid.

PROBABLE S.P: 9/4

GOLDEN TIGER Progressive tracker with superb pace to the third turn. Reached the

semi-finals of the Munster Juvenile last November, impressing in the second round when posting a fast 28.50. Has really come into himself in recent weeks with the longer run to the corner over 550yds really playing to his strengths. An impressive second round winner in 29.67, he has the pace to figure early and could potentially set the pace into the back straight.

PROBABLE S.P: 7/1

BILLYS DIVA

A rare talent and one of the very fastest in training. The most inexperienced runner in the line-up but remains unbeaten in the competition. She debuted in an incredible 28.09 at Shelbourne Park last August and has been competing against the best ever since. She ended 2020 by reaching the semi finals of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks and finishing runner up in the National Puppy Stake. Has been in sparkling form and a worthy favourite.

PROBABLE S.P: 7/4

BOYLESPORTSBINGO The eldest finalist but has been in exceptional form in recent

months. A talented puppy, he was runner-up in the 2019 Juvenile Derby. He returned to that level of form late last year and has maintained it ever since, finishing a close third in the Best Car Parks Gold Cup last month. Yet to win a round of the competition but has been showing plenty of pace. Bidding to give his handler Paul Hennessy an eighth Easter Cup success.

PROBABLE S.P: 16/1

BEACH AVENUE

This strong runner is clearly one of the most versatile trackers in training with winning form over all distances from 525yrds to 750yds. He made an unlucky exit at the semi final stages in the Irish laurels at Cork last October but gained compensation at the same venue earlier this year, winning the valuable Curraheen Park Open 575. A real powerhouse, none will be finishing faster and he is certainly capable of making the frame.

PROBABLE S.P: 20/1

KNOCKNABOUL SYD A top-class tracker with a real professional. Came to

prominence in the early rounds of the English Derby last year, making an unlucky exit in the semi-finals. He then went on to win the Kingdom Derby at Tralee, beating Great Name That in the final. The beaten favourite in the final of the Gold Cup last month when finding early traffic. Blessed with superb early speed he is now firmly established as one of Ireland’s best.

PROBABLE S.P: 9/4

Result Dist.

MANY THANKS TO LADBROKES FOR THEIR GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP

1st

____

2nd

3rd

____

4th ____

5th ____

6th ____

Time

FORMGUIDE: Win/Place: 3 Reverse Forecast: 3-6 Trio All Ways: 3-6-1

RACE 11

Meeting Date: Saturday 13th March 2021

Meeting No: 27

Declaration of a ‘NO RACE’

The Stewards may declare a ‘NO RACE’ only in the following circumstances: • Where there is mechanical or other defect of the hare equipment or starting box or any

outside interference with the race.

• If any of the dogs fight, and as a consequence, all fail to pursue the hare • If for any other reason, all dogs fail to pursue the hare Note: A greyhound turning back in a race does not constitute outside interference If through any cause the race has to be abandoned before the start of the fourth Race, pass out tickets will be issued, but, under no circumstances, will admission money be refunded.

Greyhound Turning in Traps

(A) If a greyhound turns before the hare is put in motion, that greyhound will be taken out and righted.

If, however, he turns again, no further attention will be given to him.

(B) If a greyhound turns while the hare is in motion, the hare should not be stopped and the traps should be released.

(C) If the hare passes the traps and for any reason the traps do not operate, then all the dogs should be taken out and re-examined before they are put into traps again.

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RACE 12

Reserves

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TRACK RECORDS

Distance Greyhound

Date Time

350

Ardnasool Jet

24/05/2019

18.33

525

Paradise Madison

08/12/2012

27.67

550

Pestana

22/08/2020 28.99

575

Milldean Puma

30/04/2016

30.65

600

Laughil Duke

26/09/2013

31.91

750

Redzer Ardfert

21/09/2019

40.86

850

Corporate Attack

12/09/2009

47.11

1025

Riverside Honey

06/12/2019

58.11

525H

Secondrate Champ

16/04/2005

28.73