STAYERS DELIGHT IN CORN CUCHULAINN

Ian Fortune

It was wonderful to see the stayers get their chance to shine at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as the RPGTV Corn Cuchulainn got underway.

All five heats were won in superb fashion but the headlines went to Threesixfive as he posted a fastest of the round 41.30.

AWAY AND GONE FOR THREESIXFIVE

Threesixfive couldn’t have been much more impressive.

This was a display of true professionalism and strength from the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Dunquin Anna. The Scott Phelan trained star was electric from traps and was clear of her rivals at the opening bend.

From there she pulled right away to hold a decisive lead from an early stage in the contest. Maintaining a relentless gallop to the line, Threesixfive, owned by the Pints of Heino Syndicate, went on to win by six lengths from Sober Bullet in a fastest of the round 41.30. Ballymac Katie ran on strongly, catching the eye, just a short head away in third.  

BLAZE ON FIRE

Graham Holland can do no wrong at present and he has a lively Corn Cuchulainn contender in the shape of Garfiney Blaze who brought his six-bend record to two from two in Heat 3.

Michael Lynch’s son of Ballymac Anton and Ballymac Merkle motored into the turn to grab the lead.

In a matter of strides, he put the result beyond doubt. The September ’21 whelp eased right away, showing great strength to eventually win by nine lengths from Ranchers Master in 41.44. Lady Jo Ann was another two and a half lengths adrift in third.

MCNEILL GRINDS LUCIUS DOWN

Heat 4 went right to the wire with Prince Lucius just failing to contain Mcneill.

The pair headed the market with Mcneill going to traps the 5-4 favourite but for much of the way it seemed as though he would have to settle for second behind the early pace-setter.

Approaching the penultimate corner, Carol O’Riordan’s Mcneill started to bridge the gap. There was still work to do off the final bend but the Paul Hennessy trained Mcneill galloped on strongly to take charge in the final yards. The son of Jaytee Jet and Home Julie got up to score by a head in 41.76. Newport Pier was a further length and a half adrift in third.

KINTURK TOO GOOD

Fresh from her Deadly Kennels Open 750 success, Kinturk Road ran out a ready winner of the final heat for Liam Dowling and Frank Thornton.

Mrs Boss led the field in the early exchanges but Kinturk Road made her move off the second bend.

Once taking over, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Arminta shot into a commanding advantage to the fifth turn. Ballybough Champ did run on well but Kinturk Road was too good as she ran out a comfortable six length success in 41.46. Flying Honours came home fast to take third, a further three and a half lengths adrift.  

SYDNEY IN A THRILLER

There was a desperately tight finish to the opening heat.

In truth, the entire contest was very competitive with Peters Sydney, Cholita and Ballymac Johnjo all racing prominently. The last named tended to run quite wide of his rivals and that was to cost him valuable ground in the latter stages.      

That left it between George Roche’s Peters Sydney and Cholita. The pair swapped the lead numerous times but Peters Sydney finally got the better of his rival on the run in. the son of Droopys Sydney and Blundel Spark went on to win by a head from Cholita, who was later suspended, and Ballymac Johnjo in 41.97. Trapper Queen was just a length away in third but made it through.   

GIFT DIDN’T NEED LUCK

A Lucky Gift was seen at his best in the ninth race on the card as he ran on strongly to grab the lead off Cheque For Sir in the final strides.

The latter shot from trap two and made virtually all but he was always under pressure when A Lucky Gift turned a relatively close third.

Predictably, the strong running A Lucky Gift began to close into the third turn. Once going second, there was a certain inevitability about the result. Jerry Melia’s powerful son of Ballymac Eske and Julies Paradise ran on strongly to collar Cheque For Sir for a neck verdict in 28.52. 

TOMMY HAS TOO MUCH AMMUNITION

Graham Ashe and Shaun Gresham’s Hovex Tommy opened his Dublin account in the penultimate race on the card.

The son of Laughil Blake and Emers Velvet shot frm trap four to lead early but Deadly Showtime shot up his inner to take over on the turn.

Hovex Tommy always had the new leader in his sights, however, and made his move into the third turn. Going around Deadly Showtime at this point, the Graham Holland trained tracker eased on to win by two length in 28.47.   

BEEPERS SUCCESSFUL IRISH RETURN

After running so well in the early rounds of the English Derby, Beepers Lariat returned to Ireland with a successful run in the finale over 550yds.

Trained by Jack Kennelly for Lenny O’Hanlon, the son of Droopys Sydney and Beaming Smasher didn’t fly from traps but was always close to the pace.

Ballymac Walt went up fastest with Boylesports Vic on his heels but Beepers Lariat had the leaders in his sights. Showing fine pace into the third turn, the June ’21 whelp charged up the inside of the front two on the third turn.

It was to be a decisive move. Tommys Hewick and Clogheen Lass both finished well to make the frame but Beepers Lariat emerged a good winner by a length in 30.06.

SYD MAKES A POINT

There was a wonderful display from the rapidly progressive and hugely exciting Stonepark Syd in the third race on the card as he overcame a slow start and a little early traffic to emerge a tremendous winner for Michael O’Donovan and Michael O’Dwyer.

Ballymac Scottie went up fast to hold a comfortable advantage into the back straight but things started to get interesting into the third turn as Stonepark Syd flew into second spot. The son of Droopys Sydney and Affane Beauty still had work to do but he finished with real purpose to come through in the closing yards. Incredibly, after being well off the pace early, Stonepark Syd eventually emerged a length winner over the long-time pace-setter Ballymac Scottie in 28.44.

SUN SHINING ON DUBAI

After showing real promise around Enniscorthy in his early starts, Dubai Kid opened his Dublin account in the curtain raiser, showing plenty of pace and strength to win an A1 575.

Salmic Fitz got loose into the turn but was chased by American Prince and Dubai Kid.

American Prince moved with real purpose into the third turn and looked likely to shoot to the front but he got clipped from behind and baulked in a matter of five strides, leaving him with little chance.

It meant that Salmic Fitz led the field into the home straight but Dubai Kid was now advancing for the Keg Syndicate and Peter Cronin. The son of Out Of Range and Swift Acoustic quickly joined and headed the early pace-setter before going on to score by two lengths in 31.60.

A TIGHT FINISH GOES TO BLU

There was a tight finish to the second race with the Kevin Losty trained Clona Blu arriving late and fast to get the better of the fast starting pace-setter Hello Mom.

The latter seemed certain to come home in front after making almost every inch only for Clona Blu, owned by the Give Him A Chance Syndicate, to come from third to deny her late.

The son of Droopys Sydney and Skywalker Pearl moved past Prime Rocket on the final turn to move second before charging at the leader. The pair got close together with Clona Blu just doing enough to win by a half-length in 29.99. The winner was subsequently suspended.