SPLASH OVERCOMES CONDITIONS TO SET EASTER CUP STANDARD

Ian Fortune

Conditions were again tricky at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with cold temperatures and a stiff breeze affecting the clock but many of Ireland’s best overcame the elements to impress in the quarter finals of the Bresbet Easter Cup, including Highview Splash who set a strong standard in the opening heat with a fastest of the round 29.73 return.

Heat 1 – A BIG SPLASH FROM HIGHVIEW

With plenty of room to race in a four dog contest, Highview Splash justified odds-on favouritism to win the opening heat of the Bresbet Easter Cup for Dolores and Gerry Merriman.

Sogna In Grande was perhaps the first to hit the ground on the outside of the track but Highview Splash was soon challenging along the fence and he took over on the bend.

The hugely talented son of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Abbey quickly opened up a race-winning advantage and was always in complete control. Hukum did run on fast but Highview Splash would emerge a comfortable and most impressive winner by two lengths in 29.73. There was a further length and a half margin to Sogna In Grande as he held off Neon Lights by a head to take third.

Heat 2 – UNDULATION REMAINS UNBEATEN

There was a tremendous finish to the second heat with Undulation and Droopys Fidget locked in battle on the line with the verdict going to the former.

Here Ballymac Walt set a strong gallop but, for the second week running, he ran out of steam.

Both Droopys Fidget and Undulation displayed good pace after a reasonable start to turn second and third, leaving them in the perfect position to strike. Droopys Fidget was in prime position around the last two bends but Undulation really does seem to be running with some purpose at present and she was to outgun the pair on the run in.

Droopys Fidget made her move up the inside of the track, while Brendan Matthews’ Undulation (Pestana/ Unlock Unlock) swung wide to deliver her effort on the run in. In a wonderful finish, Undulation got up in the final strides to win by a neck in 29.99. Droopys Fidget was second with Ballymac Walt in third, another length and a half back.

Heat 3 – DUKE SEES OFF MARTHA

There was a very close finish to Heat 3 with Kevin O’Brien’s star Clona Duke eventually just getting the better of Glengar Martha after the pair had a protracted battle.

Here Bens Teddy challenged early only to hit the deck at the corner.

De Lahdedah was also prominent into the bend but was squeezed and lost further ground as they entered the back straight. The Graham Holland trained Clona Duke slipped around in front, avoiding much of the traffic but Glengar Martha was soon on his heels.

Showing pace into the third turn, the bitch began to close on Clona Duke setting up an exciting finish. By the final bend, she was within a half length and still closing but Clona Duke (Malachi/ Coolavanny Pearl) kept going up front to eventually hit the line with a short head to spare in 30.31. Boylesports Bob was best of the rest, staying on well to finish just a length adrift in third. 

Heat 4 – JET TOOK OFF

Deadly Jet both flew to the turn and up the home straight and yet had to work hard for his victory in the final heat as Clonbrien Treaty displayed the superior middle pace to put himself in a winning position.

Deadly Jet shot from traps to lead the field into the turn, where he was challenged by Nomadic Nova.

The pair clashed at this point with Nomadic Nova getting further clipped from behind to lose any chance.

AS this was happening, Clonbrien Treaty was motoring around the outside to challenge off the second turn. The Leger and Kirby memorial champ shot to the front down the back straight but or the second week running was to run out of steam, in contrast to Deadly Jet.

The Karol Ramsbottom trained son of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx began to rally as they turned for home. Two lengths down as they hit the home straight, he switched wide to shoot past Clonbrien Treaty inside the final fifty yards.  Gary Hanon’s charge went on to take the victory by a length and a half in 30.10. Clonbrien Treaty was second with another length and a half to Beepers Lariat in third.  

CHELSEA STRIKES 

The final of the This Runs Deep A1 525 was worth an impressive €2,000 to the winner and the ever-consistent Chelsea Pat clearly had her eyes on the prize as she did everything right to emerge a deserving winner.

Trained by Lar Kelly for the Manor Racing Syndicate, the daughter of Ballymac best and Killeen Princess flashed from traps to dictate from the outset. Mustang Sally challenged on the corner but Chelsea Pat was not in any humour to be headed.

Pulling out extra, Chelsea Pat went again. Knockdrinna Ruth put in a challenge to the third turn but again the leader repelled her rivals before staying on well to secure a fine two length victory in a useful 28.61.

REBELS IMPRESSES

Racing ended with the semis of the This Runs Deep A0 575 and Tells On Rebels set the standard with a fine run from the front in the opening heat.

Appreciating the longer run to the turn, the Rebel Hearts Syndicate owned son of Malachi and Tell On Lexi bumped Fahy Hazel out of his way on the turn before making every inch thereafter. At the line Tell On Rebels was two lengths clear of the staying on Velvet Jenny in 31.22.

IZZY POWERS HOME

Recent Midland’s Derby winner Rough Frankie set a strong gallop in Heat 2 despite taking a bump on the turn but he was always under severe pressure when Delightful Izzy turned close to the pace.

Motoring into second spot before the third turn, Delightful Izzy always had the leader in her sights.

Predictably, Reggie Roberts’ daughter of Droopy Sydney and Urban Time was too strong on the run and came through to land the verdict by a length and a half in 31.54. Rough Frankie was second. 

BOLT GETS LOOSE

Jacktavern Bolt claimed a second Shelbourne Park success to add to his many Cok successes in the tenth race, showing his trademark early speed to hold Road Exile.

The Graham Holland trained Jacktavern Bolt edged inwards from trap four but was too sharp for those on his inner.

Instead, it was Road Exile on the outside of the track that offered most resistance, although he took a bump on the bend with the prominent Arent We All edging off. This allowed Jacktavern Bolt to open a decisive advantage although he needed it as he did tie up a little.

At the finish, the Pillar Syndicate owned son of Pestana and Newinn Madam saw off the staying on Rod Exile by two lengths in 28.84.   

KAMARI IN A CANTER

Droopys Kamari was one of the easiest winners of the night when racing clear of her rivals in the A2 opener.

Representing Murt Leahy and Patrick Nagle, the early paced daughter of King Sheeran and Droopys Hunch broke in front and proceeded to increase her lead with each stride. She eventually crossed the line eight lengths to the good over Brayview Picture in 28.60.

HAWKFIELD LEAVES IT LATE

There were a number of close finishes on the night with another coming in the ninth race as Hawkfield Abbie got up in the final strides to deny Beretta Reba and Stepitoutjulia. None of the trio did the pace-setting up front.

Instead, it was Abbeyside Spice who entered the back straight with four lengths in hand, although it was clear those in behind were moving with some purpose into the third turn. Beretta Reba got first run at the leader but she too failed to contain the late charge of Hawkfield Abbie. Trained by Ginger McGee for Jerry Connors, the daughter of Good News and Brownstown Tango flashed home to beat Beretta Reba by a short head in 28.78.    

KENDRA ALWAYS IN CHARGE

Ballymac Kendra claimed the third victory of her seven race career in the opening semi-final of the IRGT A1 525.

It was all very straightforward for the Paul Hennessy trained daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Jaytee Pearl as she assumed control into the turn before going on to dominate. At the line, Susan Hennessy’s youngster had three and a half lengths in hand on Urban Delight in 28.95.

MARCIA TOO STRONG

The second heat was won in slightly faster time with Ballymac Marcia running on well to better the long-time pace-setter La Rebelde.

Ballymac Marcia was off the pace into the back straight but found a seam up the fence into the third turn to go second.

Once doing so, Michael Butler’s daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Mint6on cut down the leader to score by a length in 28.93.