FULL SERVICE WILL RESUME
Tuesday, November 18th
We apologise for slightly reduced Talking Dogs coverage due to the fact that Michael Fortune is away on holidays.
He travelled with Laptop over the shoulder but has so far discovered virtually insurmountable problems in accessing the Internet. However, he has managed to get a certain amount of copy through, while the back-up team has also been pretty active.
Rest assured, Talking Dogs will return to its top level of performance in the very near future.
NO COLLEGE BUT SPONSOR DOES THE DOUBLE
Derby winner Shelbourne Aston got his challenge for the Mardoc Holdings Golden Jacket at Galway off to the perfect start when winning his first round heat on Saturday in 31.29. Sponsor Denis O’Connell had a first round double while the run of the night was produced by Broadacres Turbo as he coasted home in 31.10.
Shelbourne Aston was always up with the pace and hit the front on the fourth bend en route to a three length victory over The Other Sonic, with Slick Spiral two lengths back in third.
As Talking Dogs clients would have been aware, College Causeway did not take his place in Heat 10 and in his absence Nawhobberthadda (Top Honcho/ Maroochydore) completed a double for owner P.J. Fahy when beating Kerrydale Bhoy by a length in 31.78 with Toledo James just over two lengths back in third.
The great old veteran Tyrur Lee (Brett Lee/ Tyrur Dee) was the first winner for Fahy when leading all the way to win the second heat in a fast 31.23. Tyrur Dee was fast into stride and led all the way for a near six length verdict over Riverside Honcho with Elouisa taking third spot.
Run of the night was produced by the Graham Holland trained Broadacres Turbo (Top Honcho/ Riverside Bella) in Heat 8. The strong running black was fast into stride and proved five lengths too strong for Tyrur Laurel in a brilliant 31.10.
HOLLAND DOUBLE
Holland was also on the mark with Full Bloom when the son of Late Late Show and Tamna Rose got up late to win Heat 6 in 31.46. Shelbourne Denny cut out the running but Full Bloom came through fast to snatch victory by three parts of a length. It was over six lengths back to Mardocs Nani in third.
Sponsor Denis O’Connell had the perfect start to his stake when, along with son Cian, he had a first round double. First winner for them was Mardocs Heinze (Top Honcho/ Hoffmans Ticks) in Heat 4. He grabbed an early advantage and led all to beat Ask Amy by two and a half lengths in 31.40, with Shaneboy Sophia a length back in third.
Then, Mardocs O Shea (Go Wild Teddy/ Hoffmans Ticks) won what was billed as the race of the night, Heat 7, in 31.50. Target Kewell cut out the running but Mardocs O Shea powered past on the fourth bend and went on to beat the staying Lemon Zamora and Target Kewell by a length and the same.
The event started with the Gerry O’Donoghue trained Sherie (Droopys Kewell/ Clonreddan Mist) taking the opening heat. She led from the opening bend for a neck verdict over The Other Achill in 31.81, with Doonbeg Crash a half length back in third.
Ollie Bray’s 2007 Puppy Derby hero Royal Treason (Top Honcho/ Three Star Girl) was a decisive winner of Heat 3. He took it up on the third bend and went on to beat Skywalker Dream and Droopys Teabag in 31.25.
Recent Irish Grand National winner Distant Legend proved his versatility with an impressive run in Heat 5. Julie Power’s dog broke fast and always led when beating reserve Skywalkers Angel by a length and three parts in 31.36. Just over a length back in third came Swinford Mylo.
LONGER SETANTA LIVE SHOW
Thursday, November 13th
The good news for greyhound followers is that the live programme on Setanta Sports from the Mardoc Holdings Golden Jacket on Sunday, December 14th will be half an hour longer than the previous programmes from the Cashmans Laurels and the Gain Waterford Masters.
The IGB’s Head of Marketing Orla Strumble confirmed on Thursday that the live transmission from Galway will run from 8.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. She said: “Due to the success of the Masters and the Laurels programmes, Setanta will be transmitting an extended programme from Galway of an hour and a half. That is definitely very good news for the Mardocs Golden Jacket supporters”.
PRIZE MONEY PAYMENT SYSTEM
From December 1, 2008, the Irish Greyhound Board will be making Prize Money Payments to greyhound owners and breeders, by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), and will need to sign up to it in order to be paid their prize money after that date.
There may be some new owners who have only acquired dogs in the past few weeks who haven’t got the forms and they can get them from the IGB website, www.igb.ie, at their local racing office, or phone the special EFT helpline at 061-448035 to get a form posted to them. To access information about the EFT System on the website and download the appropriate forms, go to the Trainers and Owners Section and then look under Prize Money Payments.
NEW TOTE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
Tuesday, November 11th
The new look Tote Advertising Campaign will be launched at Shelbourne Park on Thursday night (November 13th).
The new campaign is aimed at encouraging more Tote customers, new and old alike, to become more involved in the full range of tote bets including the exciting combination and pool bets.
Four themes have been developed for visual impact and a unique set of posters was commissioned to promote a selection of Tote bets. Several weeks in the making, each poster required a team of set-builders, costume stylists, hair and make-up artists and photographers.
The Tote Win theme is the All-American Beauty Queen; the place theme is the Parisienne Burlesque Act, the Forecast theme is the Gypsy Fortune-Teller and the Pick 7 Jackpot theme is the 7 Armed Indian Goddess.
All the models are members of the Shelbourne and Harold’s Cross Tote staff, working either behind the Tote desk or on the floor with hand-held remote units.
Also being launched on Thursday night are the new “How-To-Bet” information screens and these will be shown from here on before racing each night.
ENCOURAGING SETANTA FIGURES
Tuesday, November 11th
The Irish Greyhound Board has expressed its delight with the viewership figures for the Greyhound View Live programme from the Gain Waterford Masters final on Saturday night last.
The programme, shown live on Setanta Sports, attracted over 81,000 viewers between the live showing on Saturday and the repeat programme on Sunday. Figures released by Setanta show that 43,000 viewers watched the live programme on Saturday while 38,000 tuned in for the repeat on Sunday evening.
These figures were considerably bigger than for the first of the Setanta programmes from the Cashmans Laurels final in Cork.
The third of the end of season programme will be transmitted by Setanta from Galway Track on Sunday, December 14th where the feature race will be the final of the Mardoc Holdings Golden Jacket.
SATURDAY START FOR JACKET
Tuesday, November 11th
Fears that the first round of the Mardoc Holdings Golden Jacket may have to be delayed by a week proved unfounded after a host of entries arrived on Tuesday morning. The second most valuable event in the greyhound calendar will now be run as a 60 dog competition and all ten first round heats will be run on Saturday.
Ollie Hester was very relieved yesterday afternoon as he confirmed that the competition will commence as planned this weekend, but the option of staging some of the heats on Thursday will not be pursued.
On Monday, Ollie had reported that he only had 34 of the advertised 72 entries for the Golden Jacket, which carries a winner’s prize of 40,000 Euro and a total fund of 100,000 Euro. But some 24 hours later and 60 entries were in the book with perhaps one or two more yet to arrive.
The draw will be made on Wednesday and topping the list is the Derby champion Shelbourne Aston after his 28.87 trial spin in slow ground on Saturday. Other leading names in the book include Broadacres Turbo, Droopys Arsene, Lemon Zamora, Mardocs O Shea, Mardocs Heinze, Royal Treason, Tyrur Laurel, etc.
NEW RED MILLS RACER A3 NATIONWIDE STAKE
Tuesday, November 11th
The level of prizemoney will receive a nice end of season boost through a series of A3 competitions which will be staged at every track in the country thanks to sponsorship from Red Mills.
The series will mark the launch of the Red Mills Racer Plus Greyhound Food and the total prizefund for the A3 Stakes will be 26,350 Euro. The finals will take place over a three week period.
Barry Coleman, IGB Welfare & Racing Operations Support Manager, said: “This fantastic event gives over 200 A3 grade greyhounds the opportunity to share 26,350 Euro in prizemoney and will certainly add a bit of excitement to stadia around the country and is an ideal way to lead into the Christmas Party season. We at the IGB are thrilled that Red Mills chose to partake in this novel form of product launch and it may well lead to other companies going down this route in the future. We will be only too willing to accommodate them”.
Gareth Connolly, Sales Manager of Red Mills, said: “Following extensive research and development we are delighted to announce the launch of new Racer Plus Greyhound Food. This year we are also celebrating our centenary year, so to mark this and the new product launch, we are sponsoring the Red Mills Racer Plus Stake which will cover all the tracks. We are looking forward to an exciting and competitive stake”.
THE IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT
Tuesday, November 4th
Greyhound enthusiasts will welcome a new Christmas Gift idea just launched by the Irish Greyhound Board. Their new Greyhound Xmas Pack will be much appreciated by anybody interested in the sport.
Orla Strumble has just released details of the new Christmas Pack which, not alone incorporates a number of items which will be welcomed by greyhound folk, but will also contribute to the Retired Greyhound Trust.
The Christmas Pack costs €45 per pack, plus post and packaging, and will be available from November 17th. The pack includes:
· Beanie Hat with IGB logo
· Pen with IGB logo
· Luggage spotter
· 100% Silk Tie with Greyhound
· IGB Pin Badge
· IGB Window Sticker
· 2 Complimentary Passes to any IGB stadium
Full details on how to order in time for Christmas will be available on www.igb.ie or at your local track