TOOLMAKER’S WILDE DISPLAY AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

A week after producing a flawless trap to line success in the semis, Toolmaker Wilde had to do it the hard way to land the €2,000 on offer in the final of the Upcoming Events Open 550 at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

This was a contest that went right to the wire with Hes The Greatest setting a strong gallop from the outset. His fate was effectively sealed at the turn when Toolmaker Wilde slipped past Lujaneo to move second.

Entering the back straight just two and a half lengths adrift, it was always going to ned something extraordinary from the leader to contain the powerful Toolmaker Wilde. Trained by Robert Gleeson, who had a fine double on the night, for Willie Hyslop, Toolmaker Wile stalked his rivals for much of the remainder before launching a decisive challenge on the run in.

In a tremendous finish, Toolmaker Wilde came through to score. The son of Droopys Jet and Kilara Lizzie got up to score by a head in 29.64. Hes The Greatest ran a fine race in second, while there was just a length and a half to Storys Cashout in third.

RUN FASTER LIVES UP TO HIS NAME

One of the displays of the night came in the final of the Talking Dogs A1 decider as the aptly named Run Faster did exactly that.

A steady improver in recent outings, Owen McKenna had the son of Droopy Cain and Sarista purring and he emerged a facile six length scorer. 

Breaking smartly from the inside box, Martin and Eve Crowe’s February ’21 whelp said goodbye to graded company in some style. Pulling right away he eventually went on to beat Droopy Battery in a rapid 28.31. Given the winner’s trajectory, he I clearly on to keep an eye on going forward.

SWEET RUN FROM MELLO TO COMPLETE ROBERT’S DOUBLE

After taking the feature with Toolmaker Wilde, Robert Gleeson completed a superb double with Marshmello emerging a fine winner of the ninth race.

Keith Duffy’s daughter of Droopy Jet and Droopy Megan was only third into the back straight but quickly moved past Rowlers Road to chase the pace-setting Pintsnotpilates. 

Predictably, the strong running Marshmello stayed closer to the fence and had too much ammunition or her rival at the business end. Staying on with real purpose, Marshmello came through to score by a length in 28.64.

CU BRINGS THE CURTAIN DOWN

For the second week running, Cu Mochua brought the curtain own with a superb front-running success, this time over 600yds. Storys Peewee broke fastest but Cu Mochua soon shot to the front on the long run up.

Once going to the front, defeat never looked likely. Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for the Thirsty Seven Syndicate, the son of Droopys Sydney and Bangla Road maintained a powerful gallop throughout to eventually strike the line three lengths to the good in 32.58. After finding traffic, Storys Peewee stormed home to grab second. 

BRAVE BONANZA ADDS TO TALLY

Crafty Bonanza must be a dream greyhound to own. A fast starter that has both the pace and strength to win over sprint trips and up to 550yds.

On Saturday, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Allowdale Nokia claimed a seventeenth career victory in the tenth race, showing all his dash and bravery to get the better of Whyaye Man.

Crafty Bonanza was fastest into stride for Martin Lanney and the David, Gerry, Danny Syndicate, but Ballycrystal Ace flew into the turn to challenge and take over. Crafty Bonanza was always on his shoulder, however, and he was never going to surrender.

Turning for home, Crafty Bonanza made his move. Taking over from Ballycrystal Ace, he eased on to score by a length and a half from the staying on Whyaye Man in 28.61.

FUSION A VERY PROMISING STAYER

It was wonderful to see a Novice 750 contest on the card and Cornamaddyfusion couldn’t have been

any more impressive as he dominated from the start, seeing out every inch of the six bend trip.

Owned by the Lord of the Rings Syndicate, the son of Droopys Cain and Colarhouse Vicky was always

going to be a tough nut to crack once getting loose at the head of affairs. Maintaining a relentless

gallop to the finish, Cornamaddyfusion raced to a five and a half-length victory over all About Annie

in a quick 41.64.

NANNI IS FLYING AT PRESENT

Coolavanny Nanni has been in tremendous heart in recent weeks for Johnny Donohoe, Tom

O’Donnell and handler Garry Dempsey and she ran out a deserving winner of the third race.

The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Perlena shot from trap five and, once turning on front, was

never going to be picked up.

Kilcolgan Chief gave chase down the back straight and stayed on well in defeat but Coolavanny

Nanni was too good as she raced to a comfortable two length verdict in a fast 28.56.

LADY WINS A THRILLER

There was a tremendous battle between Jerry Melia’s A Lucky Lady and Forest Willow in the fourth

race with the former just getting the better of her rival although she really had to dig deep.

A Lucky Lady broke fastest and looked a certain scorer when turning on front but she left room on her inner,

allowing Forest Willow to make a bold move down the back straight.

The pair had a great buckle into the third turn with Forest Willow showing narrowly in front but A

Lucky lady is very strong and the daughter of Ballymac Eske and Julies Paradise stormed home to get

the better of the argument by a half-length in 28.63. In doing so she completed a double for her Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Melia.

ANGEL FLIES

Liam Walsh and Peter Cronin have teamed up to provide countless winners through the years and they added another to their tally in the fifth race with Angry Angel (Ballymac Best/ Angry Lauren) claiming a fourth career victory at the expense of Droopys Haze.

The latter shot from four but couldn’t match the early speed of Angry Angel, who shot up the outside of the track to take the corner. A couple of lengths clear at halfway, she cut off the advancing Burj Khalifa into the third turn which was to prove decisive. Droopy Haze did stay on well to come through for second but Angry Angel held on to score by a half length in 28.74. 

SHARI DOUBLES UP

Ballygur Shari finally doubled her career tally in the A2 second race when leading early to stop the

clock in 28.69.

Willie Hanlon’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Newinn Boodles was prominent into

the turn before asserting.

Once moving on, she was always travelling like a winner before coming home four lengths clear of

Quivers Magic.

MAMMY CRACKS ON

The wonderfully named Crackon Mammy opened up proceedings when getting the better of her long-time rival Friday’s Awesome on the run in.

The latter set the pace down the back straight and around the third turn but as he steered a wide path, Ray Farrell’s Crackon Mammy was only getting going.

The daughter of Ballymac Best and Night Time Mammy stayed on well to lead late for a two length success in 28.86, in turn initiating a fine double for Jerry Melia, which was later completed by A Lucky Lady.