GREYHOUNDS: Donegal Hospice Gala at Lifford

The switch is to facilitate a Gala Fundraising event for the Donegal Hospice which gets underway at 5.00 p.m. In total, there will be 12 races on the card plus a special auction and many prize-draws throughout the evening with all the proceeds going to the very worthy cause. Tickets have been selling particularly well for this advent and the biggest crowd of the year is expected at the track. Those wishing can opt to pay at the door the admission charge of E10. On the competitive front there will be three Open races with a winners prize of E500 and there will be top class greyhounds running in these events. Also on the card will be two semi finals of the Track Lotto 525 yards event with four heats of the competition having been staged last week. So going into tomorrow afternoon’s semi finals it looks a wide open competition. Going on form the first semi-final looks between ‘Entrapment’ from trap one and ‘Dysert Sterling’ from trap six. ‘Entrapment’ is trained by Ian Carter and ‘Dysert Sterling’ by Mark Duffy and the interesting fact is both trainers hail from Letterkenny so it will be a real local derby. ‘Dysert Sterling’ showed good early pace last week and won in a time of 29.39 while ‘Entrapment’ also won from trap to line in a time of 29.47 so with only eight spots between them, it’s basically the flip of a coin as to which dog will win. ‘Dysert Sterling’ may lead from trap six but I thought it tired slightly in last week’s heat so I’ve opted to select ‘Entrapment’ to win from a favourable trap one draw.# ‘Eager Silver,’ from trap two, looks to have a great chance of also qualifying from this semi-final and making it through to next week’s final. The second semi-final is a real tricky race to call as there are four dogs that look to have a good chance. However, I think that ‘Cricket Bat,’ from trap two and ‘Colarhouse Honey,’ from trap three, look the most likely winners. ‘Colarhouse Honey’ won her heat last week in ‘trap to line’ fashion in a time of 29.20 secs. while Cricket Bat’ also won from ‘trap to line’ in a time of 29.12 secs. ‘Colarhouse Honey’ runs from trap three with ‘Cricket Bat’ next door in trap so the run to the bend will be crucial. My view, therefore, is that ‘Cricket Bat’ may be open to slightly more improvement. This April 15 pup was having his first run at 525 in last weeks heats and he looked a stout stayer so ill select him to win with ‘Colarhouse Honey’ the one for the forecast. ‘Gotham Girl’ in trap six looks to have a good chance of gaining the final remaining qualifying spot to make it through to next week’s final. Finally there where two finals last week at the track and congratulations to Sammy McAllister on winning the Track Bookmakers Tri-Distance with ‘Conlig Belle’ in a time of 33.17 secs. for the 600 yards. Congratulations also to well known Derry owner/breeder, Brendan Duffy, on winning the McLean Bookmakers 525 yards event with ‘Central Cloud’ in a time of 28.83 secs. So don’t forget no racing tomorrow night at Lifford but the Gala Meeting starts at 5.00 p.m. this Sunday afternon. Track Lotto 525 (in trap order) First Semi-Final: 1. Entrapment; 2. Eager Silver; 3. Corakelly Magic; 4 Counterfeit Laura; 5. Pinewood Tank; 6. Dysert Sterling Second semi-final: 1. Messan Meadow; 2 Cricket Bat; 3. Colarhouse Honey; 4. Tartan Gunner; 5. Santro Rico; 6 Gotham Girl