NALA FOLLOWS UP WITH SUPERB DUBLIN DISPLAY

Ian Fortune

After recording the fastest ever debut on Irish soil in the semi-finals, all eyes were on Mystical Nala when she lined out in the final of the Book Your Christmas Party Open Unraced at Shelbourne Park on Friday night.

Heavy rain delayed the start of racing but conditions were close to perfect by the time the Pat Guilfoyle trained Mystical Nala went to traps.

Eoin Troy’s daughter of Dromana Bucko and Mystical Luna faced just three rivals with the race cutting up somewhat but it scarcely mattered as she flashed from boxes and had nothing more than a procession.

Easing clear to halfway, she really turned the screw in the latter stages. Pulling further and further clear, she eventually saw off Podcasting by fifteen and a half lengths in a brilliant 28.12. She really is potentially very special and we look forward to seeing Mystical Nala in action again in the very near future.

ONWARD AND UPWARD

There were two exciting semi-finals of the Shelbourne Park Museum A1/A2 525 with Onward Upward and Droopys Gallant digging deep to emerge triumphant.

The former, representing Daniel Kerr and Michael Taggart, was headed early but flew down the back straight to lead into the third turn.

The son of Ballymac Cashout and Maytown Bard did tire on the run in but held off the advancing Gunner Bun by three parts of a length in 28.91.

A GALLANT RUN

Not for the first time in his career, Droopys Gallant lived up to his name in the second semi-final.

Trained by Murt Leahy for the Roll The Dice Syndicate, the son of Droopys Addition and Droopys Alyssa displayed his trademark early speed to get to the front before the corner.

It seemed as though half the field had a crack at him at various points in the contest but Droopys Gallant just kept finding. Drawing from extra reserves of stamina on the run in, he kicked again to eventually see off Blackstone Flash by a length and a half in 28.93.

FINE RUNS ELSEWHERE

There were also a few fine displays on the undercard.

Timmytuffnuckles went fastest when coming home well to score in 28.35. He is developing into a very nice type, while Group Gunboat also looked a talent when winning in 28.37. Check out the replays on the results page. You won’t regret it.