CRISPY SERVES UP TASTY DERBY EVE APPETISER
Ian Fortune
It was always billed as a tasty appetiser ahead of Saturday night’s main course and the opening round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial certainly delivered at Shelbourne Park on Friday evening.
With the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby final now just hours away, some exciting trackers provided a fitting curtain-raiser, with each of the six heats won in style although the standout performance came from Droopys Crispy.
DINO HOLDS ON
The Michael Taggart trained Hackney Dino got the ball rolling in the Paddy Merriman Memorial, producing a fine front-running display to land the opening heat in 28.37.
The son of McInerney and Ballymac Ariel showed good early pace to take control and looked set for a comfortable success.
Headwire Trout, however, refused to surrender and closed all the way to the line. Hackney Dino had just enough in reserve to hold on by half a length, with Turnon The Turbo staying on to take third, some four and a half lengths further back.
The winner was sent off the 5-4 favourite and his lucky owners, Swifttrack BC Ltd, will be hoping it serves as a good omen as they also have a Derby finalist in Hackney Dancer this evening.
COOL DELIVERS
Jacktavern Cool produced a fine display in Heat 2, showing fine pace to take control down the back straight before powering away from his rivals.
The 6-4 favourite was never far away but as those in front moved of the fence, the Michael Corr trained tracker made his move.
Once going to the front, he eased right away to emerge a facile winner. He eventually opened up a six-length advantage over Barnfield Jack in 28.34 with Boozed Akela just a short head back in third.
The winner is a September ’24 son of Jacktavern Gem and Beaming Smasher and could go even faster if he sharpens up at boxes.
JO TOO STRONG
Not Just Jo came in as a reserve to produce an authoritative performance in Heat 3.
Johnson was the hot favourite on the inside of the track but could never get going, finding traffic at the wrong time on more than one occasion.
In contrast, Hollyhill Stacey displayed fine early zip to lead early. Not Just Jo was always too close, however. The daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Oi OiUpenaltychallenged down the back straight and slightly clipped the heels of the leader before going to the front at the third turn.
Hollyhill Stacey attempted to rally but Not Just Jo was too strong. Trained by Barry Clancy for the Just Not Necessary Syndicate, Not Just Jo eased on to win by four lengths from Hollyhill Stacey in 28.52. Drumnafern Orey was another four and a half lengths back in third.
BORN SASSY SHINES
Heat 4 was certainly a contest worth noting with the first two home showing real promise.
Born Sassy produced a most impressive display, flashing from boxes and showing fine early dash to take command. The daughter of Tommy Shelby and Whitings Gift went on to make every inch but she was pushed hard by the eye-catching Ballymac Imrie.
The latter flew down the back straight to challenge on the fence but Born Sassy closed the door and kicked again. Ballymac Imrie continued to push but Born Sassy wasn’t going to surrender her advantage and she eventually went on to score by two lengths in 28.31. Onward Upward stayed on well for third, another six lengths adrift.
Born Sassy looked every inch a future top-class performer for Jennifer O’Donnell and John Mitchell, although the same can be said for the runner-up.
COOLE MOUNT SPRINGS SURPRISE
Coolemount Will provided something of a surprise in Heat 5, upsetting the more fancied runners to land the contest at 8-1.
The son of McInerney and Highview Mission chased the fast-starting Old Texas into the back straight before moving to the front into the third turn.
Portumna Levi also closed to this point but ran out of racing room. Pennys Wildpoppy finished at speed to come through for second, but Coolemount Will would hold on by a length in 28.51 for owners Mark Connolly and Tom Caughey. Old Texas was another length away in third.
CRISPY SERVES UP THE FASTEST
The best was saved for last with Barry Clancy and Graham Ashe’s Droopys Crispy, producing the fastest run of the six heats,and the night, in 28.17.
Drawn on the fence, the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Bitch Unraced winner was quickly into stride and never gave her rivals a chance.
Away Zoomey took up the chase but had no answer to the winner. Instead, Ballymac Whistle came home well to take second but she was all of six lengths behind the impressive Droopys Crispy. Away Zoomey was a neck away in third.
The winner, a daughter of Droopys Addition and Droopys Alyssa, is clearly going to be a force going forward and is certainly one to keep on the radar.