TYSON TOPS WONDERFUL DISPLAYS AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
There were some wonderful performances, both human and canine, at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
The final of the Book Your Fishing on Swimbooker A2 525 went the way of Phoenix Tyson as he left his rivals standing, while Murt Leahy was on fire, recording a fine treble, and Liam Dowling had a high-profile double.
TYSON KO’S RIVALS
As so often happens in finals, a fast start was the difference between victory and defeat.
For Phoenix Tyson’s connections, it was clear from the opening yards that he was going to take some stopping. Making a flying start from trap three, the son of Grangeview Ten and Fahy Ripley was always in the driving seat.
Getup Me Son gave chase into the turn and down the back straight but he is more of a front runner and was never going to worry the pace-setter. Valderrama is also more of an early paced type so he too was always facing an uphill task in third, while the remainder of the field just didn’t get the run around the turn to land a blow.
In truth this was little more than a procession for the progressive Phoenix Tyson. Trained by Ian Reilly for his son Billy, Phoenix Tyson never came under any pressure and he seemed to really enjoy himself as he coasted home a comfortable four length winner in a career best 28.60, landing the impressive €5,000 winner’s purse in real style.
Second went to Valderrama, who collared Getup Me Son in the closing yards to better him by a neck. Given the trapping ability and early speed of Phoenix Tyson, he should win many, many more races during his career and could turn out to be very useful in time.
LAHDEDAH RETURNS WITH A WIN
De Lahdedah, one of the fastest greyhounds in training, made a successful return after to win the ninth race, although nothing came easy for the brilliant son of Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Sarahjo.
Trained by Liam Dowling for the Garsuns Syndicate, he immediately found himself short of room into the turn wedged between Honey Sky, Kapuka Warrior and Seven Beach.
Despite the lack of room at his disposal, De Lahdedah forced his way through the middle of the pack to turn second to Honey Sky. It seemed to be only a matter of time before he took over and he duly flew into the third turn to join the pace-setter. The pair were to bump on more than one occasion, however, allowing Honey Sky to lead into the home straight but De Lahdedah was soon back to full stride. Charging home, De Lahdedah got up in the final strides to win by a half length from Honey Sky in 28.59.
MARINA MARCHES HOME
Liam Dowling later completed a superb double in the finale with Ballymac Marino stretching his legs ahead of a potential crack at the Easter Cup.
Sent off the 6-4 favourite, the 2023 Juvenile Classic winner was too sharp for those in opposition, getting loose into the corner before making every yard.
Catunda Ciaran emerged from the pack early in the back straight and displayed fine pace and power to close in the latter stages. Ballymac Marino was never going to be picked up, however. The top-class son of Vulturi and Jamaica Joy emerged a two-length winner over the eye-catching Catunda Ciaran in 29.99.
BEACH REMAINS UNBEATEN IN 2024
Alison Bandurak’s Ryhope Beach was hot favourite to land the penultimate race over 575yds and he displayed all his power and pace to eventually come home a couple of lengths in front of the eye-catching Ballymac Katie.
Hukum went up fast to offer the most resistance to Ryhope Beach in the early yards with the pair entering the back straight side by side. It wasn’t until the third turn that the Michael O’Donovan trained Ryhope Beach finally took charge.
Moving on by a length and a half between the last two bends, defeat was never a concern for his many backers. Ballymac Katie was now poised in third and closing fast but Ryhope Beach is immensely strong and the son of Droopys Sydney and Calzaghe Jan galloped all the way to the line to run out a tremendous two length scorer in 31.29. Ballymac Katie ran a huge race in second.
JET’S SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT
Deadly Jet had been finding the trouble spots in recent outings but he returned to winning ways in some style in the fifth race, showing a clean pair of heels to his rivals after a slick exit.
Lord Messi did all he could to stay in touch with the leader, keeping the gap to within a length to halfway but Deadly Jet is strong and he began to assert on the third turn. Ballymac Marcia emerged from the pack to give chase on the run in, but there was no stopping the leader. Representing Karol Ramsbottom and Gary Hannon, the son of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx eased on to win by three lengths from Ballymac Marcia in 28.49.
A SPICEY START FOR ABBEYSIDE AND MURT
Both Abbeyside Spice and her handler Murt Leahy made a rocket start to proceedings.
In the case of Abbeyside Spice, it was enough to provide her with a narrow victory in the opener, while she was just the first leg of a quick fire treble for Murt Leahy.
Owned by the Seven Aside Syndicate, Abbeyside Spice flew from traps and quickly shot clear. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Cunnigar Spice posted a very fast 16.00 to the third turn before containing the big finish of Glitzy Magic by a head in a quick 28.64.
FLOWER BLOOMS
Sober Flower was the second leg of the Murt Leahy treble just fifteen minutes later in the A3 second race, displaying plenty of promise in a comfortable success.
Despite missing the start and edging to the fence, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Sober Pearl displayed fine early speed to lead before the turn.
Once doing so, she quickly eased on. Sean Malone’s youngster proceeded to run out a ready six and a half length winner in 28.95. Freffans Bonny was second. Have no doubt, there is faster to come from the winner in the very near future.
APTLY NAMED SPARKLE HANDS MURT HIS HAT TRICK
Sober Sparkle completed a lightning-fast hat-trick for Murt Leahy in the third race, while also completing a double for Sean Malone in the process.
The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Sober Pearl had to work considerably harder than her kennel companions but looked every bit as exciting.
Nice Enough set a strong pace off the front and looked set to make a bold bid but the complexion of the race changed completely off the final turn. Despite finding bad traffic around the opening two bends and sitting a mile off the pace entering the back straight, Sober Sparkle somehow found herself within striking range into the third turn in fourth spot.
With the leaders swinging wide off the final turn, Sober Sparkle saw her chance. Finishing with real purpose, the June ’22 whelp charged up the inside of the track to lead late for an eye-catching and most encouraging two length victory over Nice Enough in 29.08. Much like her sister fifteen minutes earlier, Sober Sparkle will be going considerably faster in the coming weeks.
FOGGY MAKES ALL
Foggy Bottom has always been blessed with tremendous early speed and he used it to great effect to make every inch in the seventh race.
Laurence Jones’ son of Ballymac best and Corduff Flame shot up the fence to dictate from the outset. Scooby Pacemaker came home well to snatch second spot from Confident Anthony but Foggy Bottom was always in pole position, taking the verdict by two and a half lengths in 28.80.
DAWN COMPLETES A DOUBLE FOR LAURENCE
In the very next race Laurence Jones completed a quick double with Poets Dawn proving too strong for long-time leader Mad George.
Owned jointly by Ray Byrne, Poets Dawn moved into second before the second bend and was always close enough to worry the leader.
Staying tight to the fence around the last two bends, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Got The Charm joined the leader before asserting in the latter stages for a three parts of a length verdict in 28.87.
SYDLEE AND MEG CAN’T BE SEPARATED
There was a very dramatic finish to the A1 fourth race with Michael Devereux’s Tinnock Sydlee and Tom Egan’s Abbeyville Meg sharing the spoils.
Highview Katy looked a certain scorer after shooting clear but she ran out of oxygen off the final turn and her stride shortened quite notably.
In contrast, both Tinnock Sydlee and Abbeyville Meg flashed home. The pair crossed the line locked in battle with the judge unable to separate them in 28.99.