KILDARE SHINES IN DERBY PLATE
Ian Fortune
Born Warrior was the undoubted star of proceedings at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night but the thousands that flocked through the stiles were treated to the most magnificent night of racing.
Race after race, there were performances of the very highest calibre.
The Michael Fortune Memorial Plate saw Kildare produce a near career best run. A popular choice in the ring, the Peter Cronin trained star went off the 5-4 favourite and his many followers never had a moment’s worry.
Breaking smartly from trap five, the son of Droopys Sydney and Palermo was given plenty of room to race in the early stages, in contrast to those on the inside of the track. By the corner, Kildare had over two lengths to spare and he increased his advantage by missing a scrimmage in behind.
Well Met gave chase down the back straight but Kildare was sailing and he coasted home a facile four length winner in a rapid 29.35. Ballymac Ben ran on strongly to grab second with Well Met a further length and a half adrift in third.
CRYPTO’S CONSOLATION
The absence of Coolavanny Hoffa from the Derby Consolation final threw the contest wide open and the early speed of Cryptopunk was to make the difference.
Representing the 2020 Derby winning combination of Simon Taylor and Graham Holland, the brindle son of Dorotas Woo Hoo and Bogger Bonnie broke smartly and was soon in charge.
Irelands Own, who came in as a reserve for Coolavanny Hoffa, gave chase into the back straight but was never going to worry the leader. Instead, Hoodoo Brown ran on strongly to grab second on the line but Cryptopunk wasn’t for catching as she raced to a two length victory in 29.59.
SWORDS REX SMASHES 28 SECONDS
Con & Annie Kirby Memorial champion Swords Rex roared back to his brilliant best with a stunning display in the 525yd third race on the card, smashing the 28 second barrier in the process.
This was effectively over as a contest in the early yards when the Graham Holland trained son of Droopys Sydney and Starry Display flew from boxes to hold Hawkfield Ozark into the bend.
When dictating the pace into the back straight, there was little his rivals could do. Pulling further and further clear, Barbara Lowndes’ exceptional tracker went on to record an incredible eight and a half length success over Hawkfield Ozark. All eyes went to the clock which displayed 27.79, making him the third fastest greyhound to ever cover the 525yd standard trip at Shelbourne Park.
CRYSTAL SHINES AGAIN
After the success of both Cryptopunk and Swords Rex, Graham Holland completed a tremendous hat trick in style with Bockos Crystal again confirming her standing as one of Ireland’s fastest females in the tenth race.
Perfectly housed on the fence, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Vigorous Hilary flew up the fence to lad into the turn. Her rivals were involved in crowding at various points in the contest but it scarcely mattered. Bev Lochead’s Bockos Crystal stayed on really strongly to emerge a nine length winner over Clona Blu in 29.53.
KUBA ENDS THE NIGHT ON A HIGH
It was fitting that such a wonderful occasion should end with one of the best performances of the night as Magical Kuba again displayed his immense talent to stretch a top-class field over 600yds.
The Pat Guilfoyle trained son of Magical Bale and Impact Miami really does relish the longer run to the turn and he flew into a clear advantage.
Sentimental Lad moved second on the corner but was never close enough to land a blow, while he cramped up in the closing yards. In contrast, Magical Kuba was relentless out front. Owned by the Westwell Racing Club Syndicate, Magical Kuba galloped on to a brilliant six and a half length success over the fast-finishing Droopys Nextone in a stunning 32.05.
PABLO HANDS KAROL A DOUBLE
Pablo Escobark was an exciting six bend debutant in the fourth race on the card and, by running out an impressive scorer, he completed a tremendous double for his handler Karol Ramsbottom.
Magical Poppy was fast into stride but so too was Pablo Escobark and this was key.
Holding Magical Poppy on the turn, he quickly moved on to open a clear advantage passing the stands. It was not a case of whether he would stay or not. Certainly, his owners, the Glamdog Millionaires would have been hopeful having made the choice to step up in trip and he didn’t let them down.
Maintaining a pretty ruthless gallop throughout, the massive son of Droopys Noah and Lemon Hazel was never really threatened. Jacktavern Bella and Magical Poppy attempted to stay with the leader unsuccessfully, while Hello Hammond made up eye-catching ground after a slow start to grab second.
But there was no catching Pablo Escobark as he emerged a wonderful winner by two lengths in a fast 41.35. It was a fine first attempt over six bends and it’s clear he has a bright future as a stayer.
NO MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB FOR CARRAUNTOOHIL
The opening leg of Karol Ramsbottom’s superb double came in the opener as Carrauntoohil displayed great determination and bravery in his success.
Only fourth into the bend, Gavin Johns’ strong running performer drove his way up the inside of the leaders to force his way to the front.
Entering the back straight with a couple lengths in hand, the son of Bull Run Bolt and Ranchers Queen was never going to be picked up. Increasing his advantage over Liosgarbh Lila to the third turn, he eventually ran out a comfortable and deserving three and a half length winner over Liosgarbh Lila in 28.32.
ED COMPLETES A DOUBLE FOR BUCKS
Ballinabola Ed is one of the fastest greyhounds in the planet. Of that there is no doubt and he needed to show all his qualities to master Bockos Budsit in the penultimate race on the card over 550yds, in turn completing a double for his handler Pat Buckley.
The pair had a great buckle but, importantly, they never clashed despite being drawn side by side in traps five and six. Predictably, Bockos Budsit made a fast start from five and led in the opening yards but Ballinabola Ed also broke smartly and was right on his shoulder in the early yards.
Staying wide of his rival, Ballinabola Ed catapulted into the back straight, although Bockos Budsit remained a persistent challenger. Holding a half length advantage passing halfway, Ballinabola Ed only got a length on Bockos Budsit at the third turn. Staying on well, Brendan Murphy’s sensationally fast son of Confident Rankin and Dolls Lady hit the line two and a half lengths clear of Bockos Budsit in 29.38.
A FLASHY WILLOW
The Pat Buckley trained Flashing Willow was one of the hottest favourites of the night in the open sprint and, while there were some concerns about a trap two draw, it was over after a single stride.
Kenny Glen’s brilliant sprinter flew from traps and was in control from the off.
Track record holder Gizmo Cash did fly into the turn to keep it relatively competitive but Flashing Willow was not for catching. Staying on strongly, Flashing Willow saw off his rival by two lengths in a fast 18.57.
LINDA LEAVES RIVALS STANDING
Crossfield Linda has in a very short spell, established herself as a really top-class performer.
This was certainly evident in the open bitch 525 as she again flashed from traps to see off a really talented field.
Owned by Brendan O’Shea and Richard Taberner and trained by Pat Kiely, the daughter of Droopys Jet and Crossfield Kate was always in the driving seat. The brilliant 2021 Derby runner-up Singalong Sally took up the chase and stayed on well but Crossfield Linda took the victory by a length in a rapid 28.16
PEEWEE QUIETENS THE STANDS
Good Cody was hot favourite for the fifth race over the 575yd trip and there was a roar of approval from his many supporters as he displayed superb early dash to the lead into the turn but things went very quiet when the knowledgeable crowd realised that Storys Peewee had turned second.
The latter had broken fast for Murt Leahy and Gavin O’Mahoney and did well to hold second into the turn. Once turning second, there was a certain sense of inevitability about the result. Good Cody, in his first start over the 575yd trip, was always going to struggle to contain his rival.
Storys Peewee began to draw closer at the third turn and he moved upsides the pace-setter at the final turn. Now it was the turn of the Storys Peewee supporters to make themselves heard. Powering up the straight, the son of Over Limit and Kittys Box emerged a wonderful two and a half length scorer over the staying on Cu Mochua in 30.82.
BONANZA TIME FOR CRAFTY
Martin Lanney and the David, Gerry, Danny Syndicate had a good winner in the form of Crafty Bonanza in the sixth race.
The flying starting son of Pat C Sabbath and Allowdale Nokia lew up the outside of the track to clear hi rivals and found himself in an unassailable lead at halfway.
Droopys Gravy did emerge from the pack and displayed great pace to close on the leader but Crafty Bonanza was never under any real pressure as he ran out a deserving length and a half scorer in 28.65.