Are You Joking has last laugh at Harold's Cross
Tuesday night was a great one for greyhound racing at the Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium in Dublin. Racing fans were treated to an exciting 11-race card featuring some of Ireland’s best canine competitors.
The 525y N2 race held at 20:10 featured a win from Springlawn Bert. Going into this race, odds makers listed Springlawn Bert as the favourite to win the race, with odds of 2-7. And win he did, with a finish of 29.34 seconds.
Thirteen lengths behind Springlawn Bert was second-place finisher Abbeyville Duke. Pre-race odds had the Duke listed at 2-1, and he managed to finish the race in 30.38. In third position by a shoulder was Tankincal Expert.
The bottom three dogs were Weston Mike (fourth place, 10-1), Click This (fifth place, 2-1), and Feora Amy (sixth place, 3-1). Feora Amy substituted in trap one for Shonas Fortune, who did not participate in this race.
In the 8:55 324y S4 race, Are You Joking pulled off a victory with an impressive finish of 17.78 – and that’s no joke. Are You Joking’s odds were listed at 2-1 before the race, but he was not the favourite to win. That honour was given to Hawk Eye Paddy, who despite having 6-4 odds finished second in 18.10, 4 lengths behind the leader.
Much to the amusement of racing fans, Giddy Half Hour did not live up to his name, and finished the race in 18.18 to claim third place. His odds were listed at 3-1 before the race, and his finish put him just 1 length behind Hawk Eye Paddy.
Rounding out the pack were fourth- and fifth-place finishers Assarula Clyde (2-1) and Kilmead Lass (5-2). The sixth dog, Yeah Diva, was scheduled to begin the race in trap five, but did not compete. There was no substitution offered for Yeah Diva, thus resulting in a five-dog race.
The exciting competition continued in the 525y A4 race held at 21:25. The highlight of the race was a thrilling upset victory from Headleys Millie, whose odds were listed at 3-1 before the race. She finished in 29.78.
In her two-year career on the greyhound racing circuit, Millie has had her share of big victories and painful losses. On 12 April, she won a 525y race by 3 lengths at Harold’s Cross, but on 15 March, she finished last, 16½ lengths behind winner Lukessherry.
Lively Flyer finished in 30.14, 4½ lengths behind Headleys Millie. That result was good enough to ensure a second-place finish. Third place went to Beckys Automatic, who finished the race in 30.20, ¾ lengths behind Headleys Millie.
Freddie Freckles placed fourth, while Loyal Nelly ended up in fifth. It was a disappointing loss for Loyal Nelly, who was billed as the favourite before the race with 4-5 odds. The sixth and final spot was claimed by Honest Ted, whose record has been up and down throughout his year at the races.
Harold’s Cross will be the site of another 11-race line-up on 27 August. The first race is set to begin at 19:55.
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