SOME FINE DISPLAYS AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

It was a low-key Saturday night at Shelbourne Park with the start of the Bresbet Easter Cup only days away but there were still some notable displays including a 28.52 return from the thoroughly likeable Hello Mom as she finally got things her own way.

Liam O’Connor’s daughter of Priceless Boris and Jaytee Charlie was lightning fast at boxes and held a commanding lead from the outset. Paradise Nikibel turned second and did all she could to stay in touch but Hello Mom was in no mood to give second chances.

Instead the Ray Melia trained September ’20 whelp powered home to hit the line with five lengths in hand in a career best time. Given the track conditions, this was a hell of a run and clearly one that should be respected in the coming weeks.

GARFIO DOMINANT

Kenneth Busteed’s Capitan Garfio added to his superb record in the fifth race, winning in very similar fashion to Hello Mom.

Breaking smartly from the inside box, he held Sunshine Tiger into the turn before going on to make every inch.

A member of the hugely talented Droopys Sydney/ Ballymac Petsy litter, Capitan Garfio drew clear from halfway to eventually cross the line with four lengths in hand in a fast 28.66. Sunshine Tiger remained in second throughout.

BILLY RACES AWAY FROM RIVALS

Barry Clancy has provided a number of winners in recent weeks with his string clearly in tremendous form and Innfield Billy became the latest when running out a wide margin winner of the seventh race.

Staying tight to the fence around the corner, he moved to the front as they entered the back straight and was simply too good for his rivals thereafter. Turning on the power from halfway, the son of Ballymac Anton and Highview Daisy pulled further and further clear to eventually emerge a nine length winner over Ballinacarriga in a quick 28.68.  

MOON WINS A THRILLER

Only four went to traps in the finale but it turned out to be a cracking contest with just two lengths separating the field at the line but, importantly, the verdict went to the admirably consistent Ringthemoon.

Trained by Liam O’Rourke for Karl Cooney and Michael Dowd, the son of Droopys Sydney and Sparta Emmy was only third into the back straight behind the pace-setting Urban Fire but he drew a lot closer into the third turn.

This set up a great finish. Urban Fire and Well Met were now all out up front and Ringthemoon took his chance. Staying on well, he came through to win by a half length from Urban Fire in 28.70, with hot favourite Ballymac Whispa also finishing well to sit another half length back in third.

REMARKABLE RUN FROM BALE

There was a remarkable finish and run in the sixth race over 575yds with reserve, Ballygur Bale coming from a mile off the pace to collar the favourite Clona Blu in the closing yards.

Ballygur Bale actually made a fast start but was outpaced into the turn before finding herself in last spot to the corner.

Up front, Clona Blu took over from Granard Thunder into the third turn and seemed set to race to victory but Ballygur Bale, after improving her position down the back straight to go third, was now finishing with a wet sail. Powering up the straight, Willie Hanlon’s bitch collared Clona Blu in the final strides for a half length success in 31.52. 

NO SEPARATING CARRAUNTOOHIL AND CLANG

There was no closer finish on the card than that of the eighth race as Gavin Johns’ Carrauntoohil and Mary Buggy’s Kilgraney Clang dead-heated.

The former struck the front before halfway and seemed likely to come home clear but Kilgraney Clang is very strong and he shot into second before the third turn to give chase.

Both greyhounds eased clear of the chasing pack with the Thomas Buggy trained Kilgraney Clang joining the Karol Ramsbottom trained Carrauntoohil on the line. The duo stopped the clock in 28.92.

IZZY COMPLETES A QUICK HAT TRICK

There is no stopping Reggie Roberts’ Delightful Izzy at present and she made it thee wins on the spin in the tenth race, holding her line into the corner to turn in front.

The strong running daughter of Droopys Sydney and Urban Tim was always in complete control thereafter.

Maintaining a comfortable lead into the third turn, she kicked off the final turn to increase her advantage to the line for a five length success over Ballymac Joey in 28.76. 

POWERFUL CHAMP LEADS LATE

Ballybough Champ is known more as a talented stayer these days but he is clearly still sharp enough to win over four bends as he came home in front in the A2 third race for Pat Carroll and Murt Leahy.

Staying wide into the turn, he slipped around in third and was always a big threat to the leaders, Killinure King and Payment Due.

Moving through the gears down the back straight, the powerful son of Coolavanny Jap and Droopys Talia moved second before the third turn and picked up Killnure King with little fuss on the run in to cross the line two lengths to the good in 28.95.

GIZMO LEAVES IT LATE

The well-bred Thats Gizmo displayed fine determination and strength to win the A2 second race despite taking a hefty bump on the corner.

Only fourth into the back straight behind Apache Pass, the son of Pestana and Allen Comet started to close into the third turn before flying home to lead under the line. Owned by the Colrose Syndicate, the May ’21 whelp got up to win by a half length in 29.14.  

BEST A READY WINNER OF OPENER

Tom Egan had a good winner in the A2 opener with Abbeyville Best making a move into the turn to take over.

Once going to the front, the son of Premier Fantasy and Velvet Lilly May pulled further and further clear to hit the line with eight lengths in hand on Boyneside Rita in 29.27.

MAXIMILIAN IN SUPERB FORM

Maximilian continued his superb run of form to claim a third win on the bounce in the A1 fourth race despite finding plenty of traffic in the early exchanges.

Last into the turn after being squeezed out soon after trap rise, he also took a bump on the turn but it failed to halt his progress.

Moving into third as they entered the back straight, Danny Kehoe’s son of Pestana and Ballycowen Lucy slipped into second and the third turn before mowing down Ballymac Raya to lead in the final strides for a head success in 29.52.