FLASH AND BAGGAGE TAKE HEADLINES AS THURSDAYS RETURN TO DUBLIN

Ian Fortune

Thursday night racing returned to Shelbourne Park and there were some decent displays including a 28.74 return from Mark Connolly’s Speed Flash in the finale, but in terms of the feature action, the opening round of the Droopys Flytline @ Stud ON2 525 was the highlight.

Fastest of the three heat winners was Swift Baggage as he stormed home to win for Stevie Dunne. Blackheath Flame set a strong pace but Swift Baggage (Coolavanny Hoffa/ Swift Hazel) began to close into the third turn before flying up the straight to win by three parts of a length in 28.94.

CHARA GOES CLEAR

Next fastest was the extremely well-bred Ballymac Chara.

Shooting to the front early, the daughter of Ballymac Best and the brilliant Ballymac Ariel made every inch to win for Michael and Tamara Butler. Despite fading home, the winner held on to see off the eye-catching Droopys Flirty by a length and a half in 29.14.

COOPER WILL GO FASTER

The opening heat was a messy affair with My Boy Cooper overcoming traffic to win by a length and a half in 29.69 for Nicole and Nigel Leonard.

Innfield Solar was an eye-catcher in second and it’s safe to assume the first two home will go far faster in the near future.