LEMON ORLA WINS AN EASTER CUP THRILLER
Ian Fortune
Lemon Orla captured the Shelbourne Park Bookmakers Easter Cup with a typically powerful and determined display on Saturday night. It was one of those special nights in Dublin with our canine athletes laughing at the best Storm Dave could throw at them and the undoubted highlight was the display of Lemon Orla as she completed her transition from sales purchase to classic winner, denying Lennies Tank in the final yards of a thriller.
Lennies Tank came in for strong support in the market ahead of the classic decider and was sent to traps the industry favourite at 15/8. Droopys Faithful was next in at 5-2 with Callaway Knegare at 3-1 and Lemon Orla at 4-1.
Lennies Tank clearly read the brief as he did everything right in the early exchanges, breaking well from six before driving into a clear lead by the bend. Lemon Hidalgo, one of the outsiders of the field, also went up fast from three and was on the heels of the leader on the corner.
Droopy Faithful was just behind the pair with Lemon Orla holding her pitch on the fence in fourth. This would prove crucial. The race really took shape as they entered the back straight with Lemon Hidalgo checking wide and losing his chance of victory.
Within a couple of strides, Droopys Faithful had moved second with Lemon Orla third. And so, it was race on. Lennies Tank continued to gallop with purpose down the back straight but he had two flying females on his tail.
Still, Lennies Tank was three lengths to the good at halfway. In turn, Droopys Faithful had two lengths on Lemon Orla. Importantly, Lemon Orla closed on Droopys Faithful to the third turn and when the latter steered a middle path, Lemon Orla didn’t need to be asked twice to take advantage.
Running a wonderful third turn, she moved second as they hit the final bend. Lennies Tank was also steering a middle path and not looking particularly fluent. This allowed Lemon Orla to join the long-time pace-setter as they straightened for home. In a tight, grueling finish, Lemon Orla got the better of Lennies Tank.
A packed Shelbourne Park witnessed the pair flash past the post locked in battle, wide apart on the track, causing confusion. The judge took his time in declaring a photo finish and even more time in declaring a winner. In hindsight, it may have been the photo for third which delayed the announcement as Lemon Orla had claimed a well-earned victory by a rather short looking neck in 29.90.
Lennies Tank went out on his sword but the power and pace of Lemon Orla made the difference. Callaway Knegare ran on well to take third, just two lengths behind Lennies Tank and a shorthead in front of Lennies Madge.
For owners TJ Lyons and Noel Crowley, it was the most important step in an incredible journey with their brilliant daughter of Jacob Tashadelek and Foyle Lucy. The duo had stepped up to buy Lemon Orla at the sales in Kilkenny in July 2024. As Vinny Grennan reliably confirmed soon after the race, she went for €3,700 on the bench and is now a classic champion.
And for her handler Tom O’Neill, it is a second classic victory at Shelbourne in two years as he also captured the Shelbourne Open 600 last year with her litter brother Ballyhooly Bruno. He has done a truly wonderful job with Lemon Orla, who was also an Oaks finalist in 2025. Where she ends up next is up in the air but one suspects another crack at the Oaks seems likely. If she does line-up in the opening round, it will be as Easter Cup champion.
MORE THAN A GALLANT EFFORT FROM CAPTAIN
Gallant Captain certainly lived up to his name and more in the final of the Shelbourne Park Bookmakers Open 550 as he came storming through to deny the long-time pace-setters Shanahee Boomer and Exclusion Order.
The latter named duo had met twice in the preliminary rounds with Shanahee Boomer holding his rival on both occasions. It seemed highly likely they would again finish in the same order but Gallant Captain had other ideas.
After turning in third, the progressive son of Ballymac Cashout and Slippery Diva began to really motor into the third turn. Despite being forced to dab on the brakes at this point, hie somehow carried his momentum into the home straight.
Owned by Jamie Magee and Gerry Connors, Gallant Captain stayed tight to the inside and outstayed his rivals, showing great determination to win by a half-length from Shanahee Boomer in 29.72.
MAXIMUS CONQUERS TO HAND CONWAY A DOUBLE
Shaun Conway has his string purring at present and he recorded a superb double with the undoubted highlight the victory of Mutts Maximus in the final of the Racing Three Nights A Week @ SPK Mini-open 525.
Flawless in his two previous outings, making all to score in 28.57 and 28.49, he was again foot-perfect in a final that looked wide-open on paper. Owned by Decland and Ann Johnson, Mutts Maximus was again ultra-professional, flashing from trap two to dictate from the opening strides.
Droopys Punch and Firstpastthepost emerged as the main dangers into the back straight but the leader never gave an inch. Maintaining a strong gallop to the line, the son of Grangeview Ten and Glory Razl emerged a most impressive three and a half length winner in 28.54. Firstpastthepost was second with Roscomroe Rocky a neck away in third.
NUA TOO HOT TO HANDLE IN OPENER
Droichead Nua was taking a step into the unknown in the opener over 575yds but saw out every inch of the trip, emerging a tremendous winner for the Newbridge Racing Syndicate and initiating the Shaun Conway double.
This was indeed little more than a rout. Going clear into the bend, the talented son of Dorotas Wildcat and Limini never opened the door to his rivals, instead moving with great purpose throughout to increase his advantage. Callaway Five gave chase and finished second but Droichead Nua emerged a facile six length winner in 31.05.
HUNTER WITH A DECISIVE DISPLAY
Ollie Bray and the Virgil Van Fitzy Syndicate would have been delighted with the display of Gallant Hunter as he won the final of the Upcoming Classic Events Dual Distance over 550yds. It was a decisive display from the son of Broadstrand Bono and Silver Penny.
Breaking smartly from five, he edged across to the fence but comfortably cleared the turn before easing into a commanding lead by halfway. Belfast Gerry emerged from the pack to give chase but Gallant Hunter emerged a comfortable and most impressive three length success in 29.71.
CROIA POTENTIALLY VERY SPECIAL
A number of potential Puppy Oaks challengers and future stars were on show in the seventh race, an open bitch puppy 525. A number of those in the line-up displayed plenty of promise but Droopy Croia was a brilliant winner for Johnny Linehan and Sean Dunphy.
A half-sister to Broadstrand Syd, the daughter of Signet Ace and Droopy Alice looked exceptional. Flying into the turn, she quickly put daylight between herself and the chasers. She eventually emerged a comfortable two length winner in 28.55. Silent Noelle also displayed big promise in second, while Glengar Blitz also ran well in third, just a half length further adrift. Lennies Ash also caught the eye in fourth, finishing at speed. All four could have a big say in the upcoming Puppy Oaks.
COMET FLIES IN FINALE
Clona Comet was one of the stars of the early rounds of the Tote Gold Cup earlier in the year and he made a return to four bends for the first time since that competition to win the finale in impressive fashion.
The race to the bend was pretty tight with Patterdale Timmy holing a narrow advantage but Clona Comet was right on his right shoulder and ran a tremendous corner to shoot to the front. It was the decisive moment in the contest.
Representing Thomas McKevitt and Graham Kelly, the son of Newinn Session and Newinn Mimi went on to contain Miami Hyland by a length in 28.36.
WINSOME SHOWS PROMISE
Murt Leahy and John Coleman were on the board with Droopys Winsome in the mini-open fifth race as he stormed home to pick up Rolo Genie. The latter and Sober Barry went toe to toe for much of the journey, perhaps leaving both vulnerable to a big finisher.
Droopys Winsome just happened to be that finisher. The well-bred son of Pestana and Droopys Onestop was never too far away in third and he came with a powerful finishing kick to lead late. The rapidly improving puppy emerged a length to the good in 28.71.
AMIGO MAKES EVERY INCH AMIGO MAKES EVERY INCH
Amigos Star was at her very sharpest in the third race, a mini-open bitch 525, exploding from traps to dominate for Maria Kennedy.
Badminton Shiv pushed her throughout but Amigo Star was in no humour to surrender her lead. The daughter of Good Cody and Deelish Oreo hit the line a length to the good in 28.92.