SWEET DUBLIN CUP RUN FROM MARSHMELLO
Ian Fortune
In what were predictably slower than normal conditions at Shelbourne Park on Friday night, Keith Duffy’s Marshmello set a strong standard in the quarter finals of the Dublin Cup, leading from the turn to post a very quick 28.75 on a track conservatively rated .30 slow.
The key to success was the fact that she started better than in recent outings, holding the favourite Flaminmoneybags into the turn before asserting. Once going to the front, the Robert Gleeson trained daughter of Droopys Jet and Droopys Megan was never under any serious pressure.
A strong runner, Marshmello strode on to score by four lengths. Flaminmoneybags was second with Delirium Tremens another three and a half lengths adrift in third.
CHEQUE OBLIGES
Next fastest was Cheque For Sir as he justified favouritism in the final heat for Karol Ramsbottom and the Cash Back Syndicate.
Breaking smartly, the son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Ava just cleared the turn before going on to win by two and a half length in 28.93. Press Unlock stayed on for second with Smokey Frank another two and a half lengths back in third.
COURTY TOO STRONG
Courty Girl was another good winner in Heat 3. Representing John Meelam and John Byrne, the daughter of Laughil Blake and Killahen Queen was prominent throughout after a slick exit from trap four.
Payment Due and Deadly Crusader both led at various points in the contest but Courty Girl made a decisive move off the final turn, staying on well to lead on the run in for a half length verdict over Payment Due in 29.07. Jirano Supreme was on their heels just a half length away in third.
WEXFORD LEAVES IT LATE
The opening heat was an incredibly competitive affair with a number of the line-up holding strong claims at various points in the contest.
Fridays Awesome missed the kick but flew around the pack to lead into the back straight.
While his rivals seemed to be queueing up into the third turn, Fridays Awesome seemed to have done enough when holding his advantage into the home straight. John Turner’s Jaytee Wexford had other ideas, however. Staying on with real purpose, the Paul Hennessy trained son of Romeo Recruit and Jaytee China led on the line to win by a short head in 29.41. Craggan Mor was just a length back in third.
CLIFFS IMPRESSES
Elsewhere on the card, the feature was the final of the Barking Buzz App A2 525 and Bromore Cliffs ran out a ready winner for Karol Ramsbottom and Gavin Johns.
Shooting around the outside, the massive tracker eased onto build a clear advantage down the back straight.
Maintaining a strong gallop to the line, the March ’21 son of Droopys Syney and Casanova went on to beat the staying on Ranchers Lucy by three lengths in 29.14.