GEORGIE AGAIN
Thursday, February 25th
Pat Gordon made it four winners in the week at Shelbourne when Farboyz Georgie (Yeah Man/ Droopys Roberta) maintained his unbeaten record in the competition with an impressive 28.81 run in Heat 2 on Thursday night. He headed Let Him Tarry into the first bend, quickly went clear and had four and a half lengths to spare over Ballyfeard Brave.
Stephen Bourke’s Side Plate (Brett Lee/ Side Saga) also remained unbeaten as he was a comfortable leader into the back but was all out to hold Faypoint Lad by a short head in 28.85.
There was a very tight finish to Heat 3 with Ollie Bray’s Brett Lee/ Three Star Girl) leading all the way and holding off the big late run of Tyrur O’Shea by a short head in 28.90.
Early pace also decided the concluding heat as the Nick Turner trained Tulla Spark (Daves Mentor/ Tari Side) followed up last week’s victory, leading all the way for a two and a half length margin over Olympic Sunrise in 28.93.
Trainer Ian Reilly had a great hat-trick on the night, highlighted on the night by Hee Haws Arazi (Droopys Kewell/ Greenville Light) in the concluding Open 525. He led from the opening bend in beating the strong staying Tipp Fab by five and a half lengths in 28.72.
O’Reilly’s first winner was Lolos Chief as he bolted from traps to win an A1 525 in 28.87, winning by five lengths from Holly Polly. The middle leg was then supplied by Deanridge Gooner (Boherduff Light/ Droopys Sporty) as he also led all the way to take the A1 final in 29.18, just holding off Gentlygentlytom by a short head.
BRADLEY A PROSPECT
Wednesday, February 25th
Dan Butler’s Droopys Bradley (Droopys Kewell/ Droopys Mo) looked a real prospect when winning the final of the A6 525 at Shelbourne on Wednesday night.
His chance looked gone when he was slowly into stride but he flew down the back, burst his way to the front around the bottom and then surged clear for a five and a half length margin over Fastaway Flash in 29.00.
Paddy Byrne looks to have come up with another gem in Catunda Barry (Flying Penske/ Catunda Rumble) which was a runaway winner of a heat of an A7 525 on his debut. He bolted from traps and came home alone in 28.99. Remember the name!
SOX FOR PATRICIA
Tuesday, February 2nd
Four finals were run on Monday’s card at Clonmel track and the solitary open competition, the Phelan & Callow Open 575, was won by Patricia Tobin’s Granada Sox (Boherduff Light/ Granada Girl) in 31.40. The 5-2 chance was prominent throughout as he beat Kiltrea Kev and Lightning Liam by a length and a half and the same.
Neil Bruce’s Grayslands Bubba (Hallucinate/ Grayslands Flo) sprang a 10-1 upset in the T.J’s Cabs A2 50 final. Trained by Tom O’Neill he strode home seven and a half lengths clear of Lemon Cha in 30.04.
Another surprise was the order of the night in the final of the Cabra Cool A3 Stake where Marie Duggan’s Cavecourt Rocket (Hades Rocket/ Mutts Jude) popped up at 6-1, winning by two lengths from Riverside Ella in 29.20.
The first final was the Hewitt College A5 575 and here Padraig Hickey’s Millbank Movita (Tyrur Ted/ Spaner Dancer) justified favouritism when beating Black Beast by two and a half lengths in 31.71.
NANS THE IGB PACE SETTER
Thursday, January 22nd
Mary and Maurice Whittle’s Nans Pride (Ballymac Maeve/ Shaneboy Dorie) emerged as the fastest second round heat winner in the IGB Open Unraced Stake at Clonmel on Thursday. Kid Billzer raced clear in the third heat but Nans Pride went in pursuit down the back and got up close home for a half length verdict in 28.93.
Fastest first round winner Boggan (Royal Impact/ Smooth Rhythm) had to overcome early bother to win an untidy second heat. The inside runner and favourite Burn Em Up moved wide all the way to the bend, causing trouble for every other runner in the race. On the corner Ken Foley’s Boggan nipped up the inside to take over from Brave Blake and he had to pull out the stops to hold off the big run of Broadstrand Lad by a length in 29.44, while they were more than ten lengths clear of Brave Blake in third.
The opening heat saw the Peter Cronin trained Peggys Way (Droopys Kewell/ O Learys Peggy) justify favouritism when taking over from Knockrua Hawk kon the bend and racing on for a three length verdict over Riverside Greg in 29.13.
The final heat saw the Stephen Bourke trained Mustang Ossie (Cool Performance/ Spiral Ebb) pop away smartly and lead all the way for a very convincing four and a half length victory over the staying Mallogs Allblack in 29.20.
* Full draw and form for next Thursday’s semi-finals in Events (Upcoming Racecards).
TURBO LIVES UP TO HIS NAME
Thursday, January 21st
Farley Turbo certainly lived up to his name when a runaway winner of the opening A5 contest at Shelbourne on Thursday night when stopping the clock in 28.90.
Having finished third in his only previous race, a sprint contest at Lifford back in October, Anthony Loughrey’s Farley Turbo (Hondo Black/ Blue Honey) went off at 4/7 and after a tardy start he shot to the front off the second bend and drew right away to win by thirteen lengths from Robeen Rogue.
SMART SHELBOURNE PUPPIES
Wednesday, December 9th
One thing you can guarantee about any Open Unraced competition at Shelbourne is that it will throw up some very fast trackers. The competition which commenced on Wednesday night
Brendan O’Shea’s Crossfield Shane (Ballymac Maeve/ Crossfield Tex) looked a really smart prospect in the opening heat where he took it up from the early paced Razldazl William off the second bend and then went away to win by seven lengths from the strong staying Priceless Jasmin in a very smart 28.75.
In the second heat we had a good battle before P.J. Fahy’s Tyrur McGuire (Tyrur Ted/ Lemon Post) asserted to win in 28.85. Coldwater Penny showed nice early and led to beyond halfway where he was joined by his two pursuers. Tyrur McGuire led into the third bend and resisted the strong challenge of Nighthawk Boy by a length and a half, with Coldwater Penny some four lengths adrift in third.
Trap draw for next Wednesday’s final: 1 Coldwater Penny; 2 Nighthawk Boy; 3 Razldazl William; 4 Tyrur McGuire; 5 Priceless Jasmin; 6 Crossfield Shane.
EDEN CROWNED CHAMPION
Friday, November 27th
The John McRoberts owned Eden Brett (Brett Lee/ Crazy Jane) gained his anticipated victory in the £5,000 Sporting Press Ulster Champion Stakes at Drumbo Park on Thursday night when just getting the betting of his main rival Superb Course after a thrilling contest.
Superb Course assumed control on the opening bend but the Willie Atcheson trained Eden Brett was quickly in pursuit. It was still Superb Course in front turning for home but 5-4 favourite Eden Brett wore him down on the run-in for a half length winning margin in 29.91, with Droopys Lee some three lengths adrift in third place.
ENDA IS REAL STAR QUALITY
Thursday, October 29th
In a year that we have been privileged to see some outstanding puppy runs at Shelbourne, we were treated to another exhibition at Shelbourne Park on Thursday night as Brendan Gervin’s Regards To Enda flew around the circuit when winning the Shelbourne A3 525 in a fabulous 28.32.
The son of Razldazl Billy and Regards To Alice had been hugely impressive in his two earlier outings when clocking 28.67 and 28.41 but he looked even better this time. He was smartly away and then a few classy sprinters for dead on the run to the bend.
He dominated all the way and drew away to win by six and a half lengths from Hillside Bandit, with Minglers Merc another two lengths third.
ROVER LANDS DERBY
Thursday, October 29th
Ciaran Breen’s Forest Rover (Top Honcho/ Coolavanny Posh) landed the €4,000 Richie Walsh & Kehoe Accoustics Derby at Enniscorthy on Thursday when scoring in a near record 29.85 for the 550 yards.
The Derek Kehoe Forest Rover was fast into stride and led all the way for a length and a half margin over Welesbourne Dan with Marked Urgent some four lengths adrift in third.
Also on the card was the final of the €2,000 Paddy Sharkey 750 and this was won by the Seamus Kennedy and Sean Leahy owned Newlands Seanie (Ace Hi Rumble/ Quit It) which was prominent throughout and won by a length from Rockmount Pride in 42.75 with Orange Blackie a neck further back in third.
SAXON UPSETS JESTER
Thursday, October 22nd
After posting a sizzling 28.59 in his debut last week, all eyes were on Larry Dunne’s Jester Can Run in the final of the Open Unraced 525 at Shelbourne on Thursday night, but odds-on backers were left deflated as Slick Saxon emerged triumphant.
After a fast start, the son of Top Honcho raced prominently to the turn, but he took a hefty bump at this point as Keith Allsop’s Slick Saxon forced his way through on the fence. Jester Can Run found himself three lengths adrift in second as they entered the back but he could never get back on terms.
Instead the Pat Buckley trained Slick Saxon (Westmead Hawk/ Classic Wings) stayed on strongly himself to take the verdict by two and a half lengths in a fast 28.63. Incidentally the winner only found himself in the final after two runners were disqualified for being mistakenly seeded in the opening round.
Remarkably that wasn’t the fastest run on the card. Fifteen minutes later the very promising Regards To Enda (Razldazl Billy/ Regards To Alice) produced a stunning display in the second round of the A3 525. Leading early he drew further and further clear to stop the clock in a superb 28.41. The winner is owned and bred by Brendan Gervin in Coalisland and had clocked 28.67 when winning his first round heat.
A MERC RALLY
The second heat was won by the Maria Nierobiaz owned Minglers Merc (Head Bound/ Minglers Ripple) which led from halfway to near the third bend and then rallied to collar Hillside Bandit by a short head in 28.78.
The other final on the card, the Mick Scully A1 525, saw the Liam Ramsbottom trained Bide Your Time (Honcho Classic/ Sandyhill Flash) lead all the way in 28.94. Clearview Lad ran on strongly but was still a length and a half adrift of the Dan Dunne and Liam Ramsbottom owned Bide Your Time.
Another fine run on the card saw the Kevin Losty trained Dinnys Brightone (Roanokee/ Minnies Ferrina) contest his last A1 for some time when leading all the way for a four and a half length verdict over Sandyhill Selina in 28.60.
There was another sub 29 run from PJ Fahy’s Tyrur Egan (Tyrur Lomu/ Tyrur Kitten) in the A2 535 as he displayed fine early pace to ride a bump on the opening bend en route to a six length margin over Swords Tosh in 28.94.
The sub 29 runs continued in the A1 ninth where Kahal Monerawela’s Kahils Pal (Droopys Maldini/ Alle Grease) gained his first victory in some time with an all the way three parts of a length victory over the staying Knockrour Tapped in 28.90.
Cliodna O’Gaora’s Cliodhnas Gold (Droopys Scholes/ Wee Ranger) returned to Shelbourne after quite an absence and turned in a good effort when winning the open 525 in 28.79. He took over from Woodhurst Crash around the opening bend and went on to win by two and a half lengths from Caz Diamond.
LEGEND SIZZLES AS LANCELOT IS BEATEN
Monday, October 19th
Reigning champion Distant Legend showed that he is going to be the one to beat in the Vetsearch Irish Grand National after delivering a powerful first round performance at Harold’s Cross on Monday night. He took it up from Cranley Bound on the second bend and went on for a very easy success over the staying Shelbourne Lola in 29.09.
The Dolores Ruth trained Toomaline Jack set a hot pace in the first heat when he ran out a most impressive winner of the opening heat in a brilliant 29.12. The Laura and Cillian Crowley owned son of Hallucinate and Mercury Queen didn’t break the best but flew to the bend where he hit the front and went on to win by three lengths from the strong finishing Nebuchadnezzar in 29.12.
The much hyped UK raider Platinumlancelot failed to deliver in Heat 2 where he took up the running on the opening bend but was run out of it from the last hurdle by Julie Power’s Lisacaha King (Droopys Vieri/ Westmead Kiwi) in 29.25. Lisacaha won by a length and a half with Fortfield Meg a close third.
There was another mighty run from Liam Butler’s Junior Mac (Large Mac/ Slick Mona) in Heat 7 when he led from the first bend and held the persistent challenge of The Other State by in 29.22.
Eugene Gleeson’s Winning Spirit (Honcho Classic/ Hannahs Fancy) was an easy winner of Heat 3 where she took it up at halfway and went on to win by five lengths from Giddy Half Hour in 29.55.
Flat star Cashen Zig made a bold bid in Heat 4 when he hit the front on the third bend but was beaten half a length by the Sally Williams owned Time Me (Flying Penske/ Oneco Amanda) in 29.44.
The Martin Lanney trained Little Boy (Honcho Classic/ Any Time Soon) was the easiest winner of the night when he was left a mile clear with the fall of Cranley Squire at halfway and won by ten lengths from Plane Daddy in 29.39.
Michael Mulleady’s Bigstrongpup (Honcho Classic/ Ms Burberry) had a good battle with Love Lynx in Heat 6 when leading from the second bend. It was close around the bottom bends but Bigstrongpup won by two lengths in 29.30.
MURTY A FUTURE STAR
Friday, October 2nd
There was a huge turn-out at Enniscorthy track on Thursday night to witness what promised to be a tremendous final of the Future Champion Unraced Stake. They weren’t disappointed and enjoyed a brilliant performance from local hope Fatboyz Murty as he claimed the €10,000 prize for owner/ trainer Pat Gordon.
Continuing a marvellous year for Enniscorthy based trainer Gordon, Fatboyz Murty went second behind fast starting Kingsmill Honcho out of the second bend and hit the front on the third corner. From here he stayed on strongly to hold the challenge of Colorful Champ by a length in 28.65 with Kingsmill Honcho another length back in third. The favourite Pocan Fada walked from traps before checking wide on the first bend and losing his chance. Fatboyz Murty is a September ’07 son of Royal Impact and Aclamon Rosie.
The Track Supporters Diamond Stake for dogs beaten in the Future Champion produced a most impressive winner in Michael Galway’s Misterin Bob (Elite State/ Ashtown Debbie) as he won in 28.78. The Pat Whelan trained youngster flashed out of the three box and led all the way for a most emphatic six length margin over Orlando Dawn.
A third valuable final on the card was the Tomjoe Morrissey A6 Stake and here trainer Harry Seery had a great 1-2 with litter comrades. Annaldins (Droopys Maldini/ Annes Honcho) gained a pillar to post success for owners Peter Rider and William McCluskey when beating litter brother Directors Bar by three lengths in 28.86.