STUNNING DISPLAYS AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
The 28 second barrier took a bit of a hammering at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night, both before and during racing, with no fewer than three greyhounds breaking the mark on their way to success.
The semi-finals of the This Runs Deep Open Unraced 525 were the feature and Boylesports Blue set an exceptional standard when posting a brilliant 27.98, while Yorkie Ollie won the other heat in fine style also.
Elsewhere on the card, Dutchie looked a real star in the making when equaling the run of Boylesports Blue, while honour of going fastest went to Arent We All as she recorded a scarcely believable 27.92 on a track that was rated .30 fast.
BRILLIANT BLUE SETS STANDARD
Boylesports Blue looks every inch a future champion.
After a fast start from the inside draw in the opening heat of the This Runs Deep Open Unraced, he disputed the lead into the turn with Droopys Expected. Running a fine bend, Boylesports Blue had already edged on when the challenging Droopys Expected was clipped from behind.
Suddenly, the Paul Hennessy trained Boylesports Blue found himself in complete control and he certainly didn't take his foot off the pedal. John Boyle's hugely promising son of Ballymac Cashout and Hugh Dream flew down the back straight and ran right to the line to emerge a facile seven length scorer over Droopys Roar in a brilliant 27.98. Unreal Unreal was best of the remainder in third, a further two and a half lengths back.
SUPER OLLIE REMAINS UNBEATEN
Michael Hennessy and Eugene Hearns' Yorkie Ollie had to work a little harder in the second heat but ultimately ran out a very easy winner.
Challenged in the early yards, the son of Magical Bale and Outdoor Roller had to force his way to the front on the corner, taking a bump in the process.
It was a decisive maneouvre, however. Annual Tom turned second but had no answer to the pace-setter. the Owen McKenna trained Yorkie Ollie eased on to lead by a comfortable margin at the third turn and he continued to pile on the pressure all the way to the line.
With Annual Tom fading away, Yorkie Ollie went on to win by an ever-increasing fourteen and a half lengths from Vivaro Ceyian with Fun Inthe Run the third qualifier, just another half lengths adrift.
This Runs Deep Open Unraced
Final draw
1 VIVARO CEYIAN
2 UNREAL UNREAL
3 FUN INTHE RUN
4 BOYLESPORTS BLUE
5 YORKIE OLLIE (M)
6 DROOPYS ROAR (W)
********
PICKLES LOOKS THE REAL DEAL
Coosane Pickles was awesome in the semi finals of the Sporting Press Mini Open 525, shooting down Deelish Nora to record a third career victory in a rapid 28.11.
Deelish Nora actually took up the running on the turn but her fate was sealed when Coosane Pickles moved into second as they entered the back straight.
Showing her incredible pace to the third turn, the Michael O'Donovan trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Pickles eased right away to eventually emerge a ready three length winner over Deelish Nora. Crafty Alejandro was best of the remainder, a further two lengths back.
CUSHIE IS THE FASTEST
Cushie The Best again displayed massive early speed to dominate in the second semi-final for John Cod and Diane Brodie.
Charging up the middle of the track, the son of Allforthebest and Fatboyz Storm moved to the front in the early yard and always seemed to have the chasing Edermine Bonner at arm’s length.
Maintaining a strong gallop throughout, Cushie The Best went on to emerge a comfortable four length winner over Edermine Bonner in 28.23. Headinthewindow was just a half length away in third.
SENSATIONAL RUN FROM ARENT WE ALL
Arent We All was simply brilliant as she set the standard in the semi-finals of the Sporting Press Open Bitch 525 with a sensational 27.92 return.
This was a display of true professionalism. Alan Devine’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jet Ski Queen flew from trap three, posting a 1.97 sectional, and was in control from the opening stride.
Beretta Reba and Now Were Talkin gave chase throughout but neither could land a telling blow. The David Murray trained Arent We All proceeded to win by two and a half lengths from Beretta Reba with Now Were Talkin another length and a half further adrift.
RAMPANT RUN INITIATES A DOWLING TREBLE
Fresh from claiming a second Shelly Fennelly Memorial success, Ballymac Run continued her superb run of form when coming home clear in the second semi-final, in turn initiating a wonderful treble for Liam Dowling.
Poets Dawn offered the most resistance to Ballymac Run but the latter was simply too strong. The pair battled it out to the second turn but Ballymac Run won the argument down the back straight to assert into the third turn.
Poets Dawn stuck on well in second but Ballymac Run is very strong and the daughter of Bull Run Bolt and Jaytee Pearl ran out an impressive length and a half scorer in 28.11. Droopys Edel recovered after an early stumble to qualify in third.
BRIAR OPENS HIS ACCOUNT
Ballymac Briar opened his account at the ninth time of asking in the ninth race on the card.
Trained by Liam Dowling for Maurice Brick, the promising son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Cams made the most of an ideal draw on the fence.
Going up strongly, he burst his way to the front on the corner and proceeded to make every inch thereafter. Getup Me Lad gave chase down the back straight but ran out of steam. Instead, Coonough Pady ran on to grab second spot, albeit it three lengths behind Ballymac Briar who stopped the clock in 28.31.
GIZMO COMPLETES LIAM’S HATRICK
Liam Dowling later completed a superb double with his English Derby finalist Ballymac Gizmo in the finale.
Mustang Sam turned in front but his fate was sealed when Ballymac Gizmo powered his way into second on the turn.
A length down as they entered the back straight, Gizmo was in front by the third turn. The powerful son of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Arminta shot clear from that point to eventually stop the clock in 28.08, seven lengths clear of De Foxy Devil.
DUTCHIE A STAR OF THE FUTURE
Noel Hehir unleashed a new star in the third race with Dutchie going ballistic.
A well bred son of Droopys Sydney and Beaming Scarlet, he displayed plenty of pace in a luckless debut run but had no such bad luck on this occasion.
Despite being left short of room into the turn, he ran a tremendous corner to slip around behind Grangeclare Lady. Showing massive pace into the third turn, the November '22 whelp took charge along the fence before powering right away. He really couldn't have been any more impressive as he raced to an incredible five and a half length victory over the staying on Clonfert Annie in a stunning 27.98.
BELLA IMPRESSES
Tell On Bella is bred to be a champion and she certainly has plenty of ability if her run in the semi-finals of the Wear Your Parade Jackets A1 600 is anything to go by.
This contest was effectively decided in the opening yards with the Owen McKenna trained Tell On Bella coming away racing from two.
Once turning in front, she was always on the front foot. Droopys Bro did all he could to stay with the pace-setter but she was relentless. Darren Brynes' daughter of Droopys Sydney and oaks winner Ballymac Beanie raced to a mighty impressive four length verdict over the fast-finishing Stripe Sparky in 32.24.
BILLY TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Cagey Billy made light work of his task in the opening semi-final, shooting into a clear advantage before the opening corner before proceeding to win in style.
Chris Delaney's son of Pestana and Lilly Lula was a mile clear to halfway but had to keep up to his work to contain the fast-finishing Saleen Pearly by a length and a half in 32.42.
CANTONA WITH THE LATE STRIKE
There was a terrific finish to the Novice 750 on the card.
When Carrick Cantona Crash/ Blundel Spark) and Crossfield Auric crossing the line locked in battle although it didn't seem likely for much of the way with Robbies Galaxy setting a blistering gallop from the third turn only to completely run out of steam on the run in.
Still four lengths to the good off the final turn, Robbies Galaxy began to falter. This allowed Carrick Cantona and Crossfield Auric to make their move. In a desperate finish. Carrick Cantona got up to win for Thomas Glynn and David Murray by a head from his rival in 41.70.