TEDDY SETS THE EASTER CUP PACE AGAIN
Ian Fortune
The Bresbet Easter Cup delivered even more drama and wonderful action at a busy Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
There were so many superb displays, both in victory and defeat, in the four quarter finals but honour of gong fastest again went to Hopes Teddy as he produced yet another flawless display of front running.
TEDDY GIVES RIVALS LITTLE HOPE
The opening heat went largely to script with Hopes Teddy maintaining his unbeaten record in 2025 with yet another near-perfect display of front-running.
Sent to traps the 6-4 favourite, the son of Confident Rankin and Dolls Lady clearly read the brief, showing real alacrity in the opening yards.
Tarsna Maasai also went up fast but the inside line was the key to success for Hopes Teddy. Trained by Pat Buckley for Ciaran O’Sullivan, Hopes Teddy would enter the back straight in front and continue to make every inch.
Tarsna Maasai again ran a big race in second but could never get close enough to worry Hopes Teddy, who emerged a two length scorer in a fastest of the round 29.56 (RATED .20 SLOW). Tarsna Maasai was second with Da Bold Falcon finishing fast to take third, some two and a half lengths further adrift.
BLUE TOO STRONG
Heat 2 saw Jerry Connors’ Hawkfield Blue maintain his unbeaten record in the classic with a determined display to come through in the second half of the contest.
Clonbrien Treaty was sent of the even money favourite but he would again run out of steam as he continues his comeback.
Hawkfield Blue and Barefoot On Song were fastest into stride in the middle of the track but Clonbrien Treaty flew into the turn to join in the pair before going on. Hitting halfway with a could of lengths in hand, everything seemed to be going well for the favourite only for his stride to shorten as he hit the final turn.
The Ginger McGee trained Hawkfield Blue was in the perfect position to strike. Closing on Clonbrien Treaty between the last two bends, he made his move as they turned for home. Going to the front, the son of Good News and Brownstown Tango eased on to win by two and a half lengths in 29.78 (.20 slow), while Barefoot On Song came through for second. Clonbrien Treaty held on for third, another half length further back.
PRINCE REIGNS AGAIN
After two superb displays in the past fortnight, Maireads Prince made it three straight wins in Heat 3, showing all his many qualities to see off Randolph Scotts and Jaytee Craze.
This was a wide-open abetting affair with Randolph Scotts eventually sent off the marginal favourite at 9-4, closely followed by Maireads Prince and Carmac King at 5-2.
It was soon clear that two of the three would have a big say. Jaytee Craze went up fast from four, but Randolph Scotts also went up fast, forcing his way to the front on the bend. His lead was short-lived, however, as Maireads Prince flew around the outside to take up the running as they entered the back straight.
It became clear that Maireads Prince was going to take some stopping. Randolph Scotts chased him hard for the remainer but Joe Horan’s Maireads Prince ran right to the line. The Fraser Black trained son of Droopys Sydney and Clona Skye would hold off Randolph Scotts by a length in 29.70 (rated .20 slow). Jaytee Craze, after suffering early crowding, flew home to take third, another length and a half further back.
CUSHIE FINDS A WAY
The final heat of the round was hugely competitive and provided an incredible finish with Cushie The Best somehow getting back up to beat Mustang Fever and Yorkie Ollie.
Callaway Knegare and De Lahdedah were the big two in the market but the pair clashed on the turn, leaving them with a mountain to climb.
In contrast, Cushie The Best went up fastest to dictate the pace into the back straight but Yorkie Ollie looked a huge danger at this point. Mustang Fever was just behind them in third. The race began to really come to life into the third turn as Yorkie Ollie moved up to challenge Cushie The Best.
Attempting to slip through on the fence, he checked off the fence between the last two bends clipping the heels of Cushie The Best in the process. Mustang Fever was perfectly positioned to strike and she shot to the front before the home turn.
Great credit must go to Cushie The Best, however. John Codd and Diana Brodie’s talented son of Allforthebest and Fatboyz Storm rallied on the run in, while Yorkie Ollie also finished with purpose. The trio flashed past the post locked in battle with the verdict going to Cushie The Best by a neck in 29.90 (.20 slow). Mustang Fever was second with Yorkie Ollie another short head back in third.
Supporting card
A PRICE DOUBLE
The semi-finals of an A1 Dual Distance were the second and third races on the card and they provided Rosemary price with a superb double as Available and Air Flyer came home in front in their respective heats.
Air Flyer went fastest in the second of the two semis. Breaking smartly, Eugene Price’s son of Droopys Sydney and Ballycowen Lucy made virtually all after a slick exit. Dutchie did press him throughout but was never getting on terms and at the line the pair were separated by two lengths in a fast 31.24. Goutouttatat was third, some five and a half lengths further adrift.
Aidan Price’s Available won the opening heat in similar fashion, initiating the Rosemary Price double. Prominent in the early yards, the daughter of Jaytee Jet and Me Penny drove the corner to go to the front. It would prove decisive with Available going on to contain the fast-finishing Brackile Roxy by a length in 31.45.
MAGIC MOLLY
Gilbert Anderson’s Singalong Molly was at her very best in the fourth race, posting a rapid 28.37 after a pretty slick effort.
The daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Blundel Bridie disputed the lead into the turn with her litter sister Clonfert Annie before taking charge on the corner. It was all very straightforward thereafter for the Pat Buckley trained leader. Maintaining a relentless gallop to the line, she would see off Clonfert Annie by three and a half lengths.
GRANDE AT HIS VERY BEST
Sogna In Grande has long been a talented tracker with superb early speed and he added a fifteenth career victory to his tally with a superb trap to line victory in the fifth race.
Representing Jack Kennelly and the Swedish House Party Syndicate, the son of Laughil Blake and Fast Hurling was razor-sharp in the early yards and he would dominate to see off Dear Sir by four lengths in 28.44.
NOTHING TO BE ANGRY ABOUT
Racing got underway with Faypoint Angry returning to winning ways after a year without a success. Clearly appreciating the longer run to the turn, the Chris Delaney trained son of Ballymac Best and Angry Lauren broke smartly before asserting into the turn.
Droopys Bookem and Clona Bingo gave chase down the back but Patricia Flanagan’s Faypoint Angry was always moving with purpose and he went on to win by three lengths from Droopys Bookem in a quick 31.13.
COMRADE COMPLETES A DOUBLE FOR FRASER
After winning with Maireads Prince earlier in the evening, Fraser Black completed a wonderful double with Droopys Comrade winning the final over 600yds.
Alva Mist set the pace for much of the way, going to the front into the turn but she was pressed by Azurite around the last two bends.
Droopys Comrade was left third on the opening turn and was poised in third when the front two clashed. Droopys Comrade came around the front pair, finishing at speed to lead in the closing yards. Liudmila Ioannou’s powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Sweet would pull away to see off Snowy April by three lengths in 32.84. Azurite would later be suspended for fighting.
BIG SECRET OBLIGES
Sean Malone’s Sober Secret was again on the scoresheet in the penultimate race on the card, an Open 525, with the massive son of Droopys Sydney and Sober Pearl dominating from the start.
While never a long way clear of his rivals, the Karol Ramsbottom trained powerhouse would keep finding out front to see off Darbys Queen by two lengths in 28.82.