GREYHOUNDS | Lanney’s lining up the fav for Saturday’s final at Shelbourne Park

Closer to home, California Groove rediscovers winning touch

Although based in Co Meath, Martin Lanney’s ‘home’ track is Dundalk, but this Saturday his attention will be fully focused on Shelbourne Park.

The Rathkenny handler has guided Forest Natalee to the final of the Sporting Press Oaks, and she is favourite to take the bitches’ classic, which carries a first prize of €25,000.

Forest Natalee, owned by well-known English trainer, Kevin Hutton, was pipped by Heisman in the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup final at Dundalk Stadium, and since then has continued to impress at the Dublin track.

She lost her unbeaten record in the semi-final, but her chances of bouncing back have been boosted by a trap six draw.

There is further local interest provided by Mrs Chippy in five. This lassie is trained in Bessbrook by Barney Mooney. He owns her jointly with Martin White, an England-based Newry man.

Meanwhile, at Dundalk last Friday, Calfornia Chrome rediscovered the winning groove for Michael Doyle, Togher, who owns the dog in partnership with Catherine Johansson. He made all the running in the black jacket, to see off Ennafort Ace by three lengths in 28.84.

Ardee enthusiast, David Daly struck in the opener with Nanny Brien, prepared by the afore-mentioned Martin Lanney. She fairly whizzed around in a career-best 28.43, six lengths ahead of her nearest pursuer.

In the finale, Holey Moley got off the mark at the seventh attempt for The Quay’s Paddy Kerr. He pounced when the leaders got into a tangle between the final two bends, to prevail by a half-length in 29.25.

On Saturday, Furiously Fast returned after a lay-off to collect for Master Niall Delaney, Dundalk. She held Omeath tracker, Ah Ah Jet by one-and-a-half lengths in 21.88.

The Dromiskin-based Aintree Crew Syndicate cheered home Aintree Mac to a twelfth success from 67 starts. Trained by Ollie Fitzpatrick, he showed good pace along far side, on the way to beating Billy Junior by more than four lengths in 29.00.

The Knockagh, Hackballscross kennel of Colm Farrelly also got among the winners, thanks to Climb The Walls, who handled a rise in grade for a second victory on the bounce. The homebred made all in 28.96.

And, in the lucky last, Valeries Express reeled in pace-setter Fridays Warhol, to oblige for Drogheda’s Michael Cunningham, in 29.11.

Greyhound Results

Friday, October 13th
Race 1: Nanny Brien won in 28.43 for David Daly and Rathkenny trainer Martin Lanney; Race 2: Noticketforjoe won in 28.86 for Greg Conlon (Coalisland); Race 3: Void Race — Trap Malfunction; Race 4: Powerhouse Paddy won in 30.24 for Liam McKiverigan (Gilford); Race 5: Eves Messiah won in 28.95 for Denis Scott (Ballymena); Race 6: Hanoras Breeze won in 19.02 for Gerard Patterson and Derry trainer William Mullan; Race 7: Calfornia Chrome won in 28.84 for Michael Doyle & Catherine Johansson (Drogheda); Race 8: Holey Moley won in 29.25 for Patrick Kerr (Dundalk).

Saturday, October 14th
Race 1: Coloured River won in 21.87 for Brendan O’Callaghan (Monaghan); Race 2: Furiously Fast won in 21.88 for Master Niall Delaney (Dundalk); Race 3: Coloured Dubh won in 29.40 for Brendan O’Callaghan (Monaghan); Race 4: Revilo Jordan won in 28.95 for Philip Fitzpatrick and Oldcastle trainer Philip Oliver Fitzpatrick; Race 5: Ardera Agassi won in 21.79 for B Clare and Rathkenny trainer Martin Lanney; Race 6: Aintree Mac won in 29.00 for Aintree-Crew-Syndicate and Oldcastle trainer Philip Oliver Fitzpatrick; Race 7: Fridays Zeus won in 21.96 for owner/trainer Paul Whyte (Lifford); Race 8: Third Choice won in 28.95 for Liam Woods and Downpatrick trainer Damian Maginn; Race 9: Black Game won in 29.17 for Eamon Heaney (Newry); Race 10: Climb The Walls won in 28.96 for Colm Farrelly (Hackballscross); Race 11: Valeries Express won in 29.11 for Michael Cunningham (Drogheda).