BEST SAVED FOR LAST AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
It was a low-key Saturday evening at Shelbourne Park but there were a couple of moments of magic that will leave those present salivating for the start of the Bresbet Easter Cup next weekend.
The undoubted highlight was the finale over the 550yd trip as Boylesports Bob sent out a timely reminder that he is an absolute monster when given the space to show what he can do. There is scarcely a greyhound in training that could pick up Coosane Pickles but that’s exactly what the incredible son of Good News Roana Bess did.
Juvenile Derby champion and Derby third Callaway Knegare was installed the 4-6 favourite after a couple of stunning trial efforts in recent weeks but he didn’t have the clearest of passages in the early yards after a moderate start.
In contrast, one of the rank outsiders Valinor flew into the turn only to be challenged by Glory Lord. It was on the corner that the race really took shape. As Glory Lord checked wide, hampering Valinor, Coosane Pickles was left to assume control.
Within a matter of strides, Boylesports Bob had picked his way through the pack to go second with Callaway Knegare third. And so, it was race on. Three of Irelands very best sitting first, second and third, roaring down the Shelbourne Park back straight.
To all the world it seemed as though Coosane Pickles was going to follow up her recent impressive success but Boylesports Bob had other ideas. Three lengths adrift at halfway, the Paul Hennessy trained powerhouse clearly meant business.
Moving with real fluency and purpose around the last two bends, he began to slowly eat into the leader’s advantage. Callaway Knegare also attempted to close but he had too much to do behind two such wonderfully strong greyhounds.
In a tremendous finish, Boylesports Bob ate up the ground in the final fifty yards to finally collar Coosane Pickles on the line. The judge declared the powerful black the winner by a neck in 29.50 with Callaway Knegare just two lengths further back in third.
Winning owners Ned Murphy and John Boyle can now start dreaming of Easter Cup glory as Boylesports Bob is clearly a greyhound in fine form and is likely to emerge as a serious contender for the oldest classic on the calendar. The same can also be said for the second and third.
PRINCE GETS FIRST RUN ON KING
There were also some high-class performers on show in the fifth race over 550yds where Maireads Prince would ultimately come home in front for Fraser Black and Joe Horan after getting first run on Carmac King.
There was a little bit of traffic on the inside of the track leaving Maireads Prince with room to drive the turn from trap five. Once going to the front, the son of Droopys Sydney and Clona Skye was always going to be hard to pick up. Carmac King did work his way into second before the third turn but the lead was too great. Maireads Prince kicked off the final turn to win by a length and a half in 29.53.
SCOTTS SCOOTS IN
There was a very obvious return to top form for Randolph Scotts in the A1 fourth race with the son of Brett Lee and Oi Oi Upenalty posting a sizzling 28.23.
This was a flawless display from the Big Bus Syndicate owned tracker. Going to the front early, the Peter Cronin trained Randolph Scotts shot clear of his rivals to halfway before cruising home with four and a half lengths in hand. Boylesports Blue joined Innfield Rapid on the line to share second.
BUCKS TOO SHARP AGAIN
Racing got underway with Nick Hammond’s Morning Bucks making every yard for the second weekend running.
The Kevin Losty trained son of Burgess Bucks and Wishful Ali was again thoroughly professional, flashing from trap two and assuming control in the early yards. Aayamza Wizard was his nearest rival throughout but Morning Bucks kept finding to hit the line a length to the good in 29.75 for the 550yd trip.
DOMINANT MINSK
Meenagh Minsk was at her very sharpest in the A1 third race, showing fine trapping ability and early speed to make every inch at the expense of the always second Nellys Twink.
Representing Michael Corr and Josie Burns, the daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Meenagh Miracle came home three lengths clear in 28.60.
BLUETIMER WINS FROM RED
Hall of Fame handler Gerry Melia sent out Bluetimer to win the seventh race from an ideal draw on the fence.
A close third into the turn, Mary Melia’s son of Ballymac Bolger and Midas Fern barged his way to the front before going on to make every yard thereafter. Stefans Tomcat stayed on well to grab second, albeit five lengths behind Bluetimer, who stopped the clock in 28.73.
GERRY TAKES HIS CHANCE
Rathmoyle Gerry was a good winner of the eighth race after coming in as a reserve for John Fennelly. The son of Jaytee Jet and Highview Lauren certainly read the brief as he shot from the outside box to race to the fore throughout.
A couple of his rivals made a crack at the lead but Rathmoyle Gerry was in no humour to surrender his advantage and he stuck his neck out to hold the fast-finishing Highview Daniel for a well-deserved success, winning by a head in 28.71.
JOE GIVES RIVALS THE SLIP
Janine Barber’s Slipalong Joe (Ballymac Bolger/ Slipalong Angel) lived up to his name in the penultimate race on the card, an A1 525.
He gave his rivals the slip in the early stages before containing the challenge of both Malibu Chic and Mustang Marydel.
The latter actually gave chase down the back straight but challenged at the wrong point, checking her stride at the third turn. Malibu Chic did the same which was to prove decisive. Slipalong Joe increased his advantage again before holding on by a length
NOTHING COSTLY ABOUT THIS LESSON
The massive Costly Lesson came out on top in the sixth race, showing fine back straight pace to make the most of some luck off the second turn.
Gracebridge Star led the field but encountered traffic off the second turn as Ballygloss Bale ran into the back of her.
While all this was happening, Costly Lesson was starting to improve his position and he took up the running into the third turn. Trained by Barry Clancy for the Thirty Or More Syndicate, the son of Droopys Sydney and Hail Cleopatra raced on to score by three lengths from Kereight Pimple in 28.93.
A SPEEDY MICROCHIP
Microchip claimed a second victory in just his third career start when stepping down in trip to win over 350yds.
Mary Clarke’s well bred son of Droopys Sydney and Clona Skye wasn’t fastest into stride but was certainly fastest into the corner, shooting up the fence to assert. Once doing so, he kept going to see off Ballyroe Ben by a length in 18.94.