URBAN TURNS ON STYLE IN DUBLIN CUP
Ian Fortune
Conditions may have been bitterly cold at Shelbourne Park on Friday night but the track staff did a wonderful job to have the track running perfectly safe.
There was a number of superb displays on the card which was dominated by the opening round of the valuable Dublin Cup. These included the fastest of the round effort from Urban Fire, while first round standard setter Hes The Greatest was again very impressive.
STYLISH RUN FROM URBAN
Urban Style really did set the tone, however.
Reggie Roberts’ veteran son of Laughil Blake and Idle Gossip turned the clock back to post a career best effort. Making a fast start from trap two, he was always in command.
Maintaining a strong gallop to the finish, the October ’18 whelp emerged a superb two and a half length winner over the staying on Courty Girl in a very quick 28.31.
GREATEST GOES FAST AGAIN
Brendan Mathews’ son of Ballymac Bolger and Dolce Vita had to work a little harder this week but, ultimately, he won in style.
Outdoor Eagle went up fatest from trap four to dictate the pace around the opening two bends but Hes The Greatest recovered from a moderate start to turn second.
Despite drifting off the opening bend, Hes The Greatest remained second before moving through the gears down the back straight. Forcing his way through on the fence into the third turn, the talented tracker eased on to put the result beyond doubt. Craggan Mor stayed on to take second but Hes The Greatest was to emerge a comfortable two length scorer in 28.38.
MONEYBAGS TOO SHARP
The Two-Laois-Four-Kilkenny Syndicate owned Flaminmoneybags added another wonderful success to his already superb tally in Heat 2 when leading early.
Forcing his way to the front at the corner from an ideal pitch on the fence, he eased away before holding the eye-catching run of Press Unlock by a length in 28.48.
WEXFORD COMES HOME CLEAR
John Turner’s Jaytee Wexford maintained his unbeaten record in the stake in Heat 3 when making the most of his inside draw.
Challenged into the turn by Coonough Cregg, the Paul Hennessy trained Jaytee Wexford (Romeo Recruit/ Jaytee China) forced his way to the front at this point and proceeded to ease clear for a comfortable seven length victory over Payment Due in 28.54.
DEADLY ON A CRUSADE
Deadly Crusader came home in front in Heat 4, initiating a tremendous double in the heats for Karol Ramsbottom.
Owned by William Ramsbottom, the son of Droopys Sydney and Mysterious Ways was prominent from the outset after a slick exit before repelling the persistent challenge of Robbies Bear to emerge a half length scorer in 28.53.
CHEQUE BOUNCES
Some fifteen minutes later, Cheque For Sir completed the Ramsbottom double.
Owned by the Cash Back Syndicate, the son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Ava broke smartly and asserted into the turn before going on to make all in fine style. Jirano Supreme stayed on well in second but Cheque For Sir was too good as he emerged a length to the good in a rapid 28.39.