A WONDERFUL START TO THE FESTIVAL
Ian Fortune
It may have been windy and wet but the action on the track on the opening night of the RCÉ Winter Racing Festival certainly helped to heat up proceedings.
There were numerous impressive displays over a range of distances. Those that really impressed included Drive On Beauty and Riverside Scotch but we will start this report with Lennies Desire as he sent out a warning that he would be a serious performer in 2025.
EXCITING LENNIES LOOKS A REAL PROSPECT
The Paul Hennessy trained youngster displayed all sorts of pace and promise in the semi-final, overcoming traffic to win in 28.41.
A week on, he went to traps the 11-10 favourite to follow up in Friday’s decider and he certainly read the brief.
Breaking smartly from trap five, he immediately took a bump from Dear Me but it failed to halt his momentum. Turning second to Dear Me, he was forced to check his stride at the second turn but again he quickly recovered.
Showing a massive turn of pace down the back straight, the son of Signet Ace and Free From Desire cruised past the early leader into the third turn. It was a real sign of intent. Powering clear, the hugely exciting December ’22 whelp drew right away to beat Dear Me by seven lengths in 28.32. Owner Lee Craze can start dreaming of big things as Lennies Desire is destined for big things.
A SMOOTH SCOTCH
The Graham Holland trained Riverside Scotch was smooth as silk in the final of the Winter Racing festival A0 600.
As with many of the winners on the night, Rachel Holland’s talented son of Droopys Sydney and Riverside Honey found himself on the bunny early and proceeded to see out every inch of the extended trip.
Blackeyed Turbo emerged a serious threat after halfway but the leader is bred to stay and he certainly does. Relentless throughout, Riverside Scotch went on to emerge a two length winner over Blackeyed Turbo in a fast 32.25.
BEAUTY DELIVERS
Chris O’Donovan’s Drive On Beauty followed up her impressive semi-final success to capture the Winter Racing Festival Open Bitch 525.
She was pressed in the early yards by Highview Katy but, once taking a narrow lead into the turn, was always in charge.
Maintaining a strong gallop throughout, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Alice eased away from Highview Katy from the third turn to eventually cross the line four lengths to the good in 28.39. Kilcolgan Whitney flew home to take second.
CARBINE OVERCOMES A TOUGH DRAW
Droopys Carbine may have faced a very tough draw in the final of the Winter Racing Festival A1 550 but he displayed all his speed and track craft to skip around his rivals into the turn.
For trained Pat Kiely and owners Mike Kiely and Michael Ryan, it would have made for happy viewing but thing started to get interesting into the third turn.
Toolmaker Curio began to fly as they turned for home but Droopys Carbine kept on finding with the son of Droopys Jet and Droopys Pickles going on to hit the line a length clear in 29.96.
SIR EARNS HIS CHEQUE
The Winter Racing Festival Old Stagers 525 was the only stand-alone contest on the card and the Cash Back Syndicate owned Cheque For Sir brought his career tally to a mighty impressive 23 wins when leading early to make virtually all.
Getting the better of his rivals into the turn, the veteran son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Ava never looked like surrendering his advantage. Ballymac Finn did show plenty of pace from of the pace to come through for second but the Karol Ramsbottom trained Cheque For Sir maintained a purposeful gallop to the finish to emerge a five length winner in 28.58.
BABE TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Youandme Babe was simply too hot to handle in the final of the Winter Racing Festival Dual Distance over 850yds.
Despite making a couple of mistakes in the early yards, the hugely fast daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Jaytee Pearl moved second passing the stands before closing rapidly on Forest Lady.
Going to the front as they hit the back straight, Youandme Babe drove clear for owner Paul Hynes and handler Paul Hennessy. By the fifth bend, the race was over as a contest. A mile clear turning for home, Youandme Babe saw off Mochonog Miss by ten lengths in 48.05.
CAILIN FINISHES FAST TO CLAIM NOVICE 750
Mongys Wild was a 4-9 favourite to win the Winter Racing Festival Novice 750 but a tardy start and early crowding ended his hopes.
It almost ended the hopes of Pennys Cailin also but she displayed real pace and determination to strike the front in the latter stages for Eugene and Rosemary Price.
Last in the early yards, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballycowen Lucy found herself a long way off the pace in third behind the fast-starting Valinor as they entered the home straight for the first time.
Gradually, stride by stride, she began to close on the pace-setters into the fifth bend. By this point she was close enough to make her move. Rounding the front two, Valinor and Ballymorris Buzz, she struck the front on the final turn before racing clear to win by six lengths in 42.24. Valinor clung on for second.
BRO BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Droopys Bro returned to some form to emerge a good winner of the Winter Racing Festival A2 525.
A star in his youth, the son of Malachi and Droopys Cake was much sharper at traps than in recent times and led the field into the turn.
Once doing so, he was always going to be a tough nut to crack. Coolavanny Shay did show pace and determination to keep the leader within his sights but could never quite get close enough. Trained by Murt Leahy for the Sweeney Todd Syndicate, Droopys Bro ran out a ready three length scorer over Coolavanny Shay in 28.60.
JUSTINE MAKES EVERY INCH
Brockagh Justine emerged an impressive winner of the final of the Winter Racing Festival Open 525, getting loose into the bend before containing a persistent challenge from Dunnanelly Fred.
Trained by Maureen Finnegan for Cieran Fitzgerald, Brockagh Justine was sharpest in the opening yards.
The daughter of Magical Bale and Killeen Princess had no intention of letting her lead slip. Dunnanelly Fred did close to the final bend but could never get to the pace-setter. Brockagh Justine held of her rival by a half length to emerge a deserving winner in 28.74.
NO SURPRISE FOR REUNION FANS
Surprise Reunion, owned by the Three Legs of Man Syndicate, emerged a facile scorer of the Winter Racing Festival A3 decider, the second race on the card.
Highview Lyric predictably set a strong gallop but was always under severe pressure.
Despite running wide on the turn, Surprise Reunion entered the back straight in second, leaving him in pole position to challenge the pace-setter. Showing an impressive turn of pace into the third turn, the Marie Gilbert trained son of Ballymac Cashout and Das Eadaoin hit the front before racing clear to emerge a comfortable eight and a half length winner in 28.73. Kilara Moosh ran on to take second.
BRIDGES FLIES FOR REGULARS SUCCESS
Black Bridges was at her professional best in the final of the WRF Shelbourne Regulars A2/A3, dominating throughout after a flying start from three.
Owned by Barry and Matthew Caul, the thoroughly likeable daughter of Ballymac Best and Killeen Princess quickly moved towards the fence to lead Coonough Aki around the bend.
It was all very simple for the pace-setter thereafter. Coonough Aki did all he could to close but could never land a blow. Instead, Coolavanny Story ran on well to take second on the line, three lengths behind Black Bridges who scored in 28.81.
POPPY BLOOMS IN A4 OPENER
Racing commenced with Vale Poppy emerging the most straightforward and impressive winner of the final of the Winter Racing Festival A4 525.
Trained by Liam O’Rourke for Joe Day, the daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Vale Recruit shot from the inside trap and was never threatened despite the best efforts of High Performer in second.
Maintaining a strong gallop to the line, Vale Poppy would cross the line with three lengths to spare over High Performer in 28.60.