BALLYMAC RUN AND UNDULATION EXCITE AT SHELBOURNE PARK

Ian Fortune

There was some superb racing at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night but the headlines certainly belonged to Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Run, as she won the final of the RPGTV Puppy Oaks in real style, and Undulation who emerged a tremendous winner of the Paddy Merriman Memorial.

Both young bitches have a very bright future and its hard not to get excited about what they could potentially go on to achieve in 2023.

MAGIC RUN BY BALLYMAC

Ballymac Run went slightly faster of the dup as she produced yet another foot-perfect display to run out a ready winner of the RPGTV Puppy Oaks in a rapid 28.17.

Liam Dowling has clearly always thought very highly of his daughter of Bull Run Bolt and Jaytee Pearl as she was given an entry in both the Derby and Juvenile Derby.

While things didn’t work out in either classic, she put that right in some style on Saturday. In truth, she turned the contest into a procession although Three Canons did run a big race in second to keep the pace-setter honest.

Three Canons actually started well but Ballymac Run stayed far tighter to the fence to enter the back straight with three lengths in hand. Once doing so, she was never going to be stopped. Three Canons stayed on well in second but Ballymac Run emerged a thoroughly deserving winner of the €5,000 first prize by two and a half lengths. There was a further two and a half lengths to Ballymac Drama in third, meaning Liam Dowling had first and third in the contest.

Dave Lawrence representing sponsors presents the trophy to Alan Bonn after Ballymac Run won the final of the RPGTV Puppy Oaks 525 at Shelbourne Park. Also included are Conor Matthews Racing Support Officer, Dara Geraghty Hospitality and Facilities Manager Shelbourne Park and Wayne McCarthy GRI.           Pic: Imelda Grauer

EXCITING UNDULATION TAKES PADDY MERRIMAN MEMORIAL

While it wasn’t meant to be for her sisters in the final of the RPGTV Puppy Oaks, Undulation did provide the incredible Pestana/ Unlock Unlock litter with a big race success on the night as she emerged a brilliant, wide-margin winner of the Paddy Merriman Memorial.

Brendan Matthews’ rapidly progressive bitch was ideally housed on the fence and she seemed to sense her opportunity, posting a career best 2.10 to the line. That was enough to see her challenge on the inside of a line of greyhounds into the bend.

Using the inside line to her advantage, Undulation avoided the traffic that ended the hopes of many of her rivals, including the favourite Whyaye Man, before racing clear. Maintaining a powerful gallop all the way to the finish, the January ’21 whelp emerged a facile nine length winner in a brilliant 28.24. Urban Captain stayed on to take second just a short head in front of Sawdust Good Job.

VIC LOOKS A PROSPECT

Elsewhere on the Shelbourne Park card, Boylesports Vic continued the impressive start to his career by capturing the Talking Dogs Open 525.

Prominent into the turn, he moved to the front at this point before easing on to see off Knight Honcho.

Trained by Paul Hennessy for John Boyle, the son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Hugh Dream ran out a comfortable five length winner over Knight Honcho in 28.31. It’s very evident there is event better to come from the leader and he is destined for big things.