TASTY ACTION AT SHELBOURNE ON DERBY EVE
Ian Fortune
Just hours shy of Derby final night at Shelbourne Park, this evening’s action should act as a very tasty appetiser with the opening round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial the feature action on what is a very decent card.
In recent years, the valuable A1 competition has seen some very talented trackers emerge and this year’s renewal is packed with promising youngsters with the potential to go to the top of their chosen profession. There are six heats in all and each should provide a good winner.
DINO TO GET FIRST RUN
The opening heat features some talented trackers including Turnon The Turbo and Freeway Bruce. Both of which have run well around Shelbourne in the past while also leaving the impression that better was to come.
But the nod goes to Hackney Dino. Blessed with fine early speed, he is perhaps the most likely pace-setter and can make every inch to score.
JACK MAKES DUBLIN DEBUT
After capturing the Kiltrea Kennels Open Unraced at Enniscorthy on Monday night, Barnfield Jack makes an immediate switch to Dublin in Heat 2.
And there is every chance he will continue his winning ways.
A good starter, he can secure first run on Cooga Ted and Jacktavern Cool to bring his career tally to three wins from five starts.
JOHNSON TO FIRE
Pat Devaney has a nice type in Johnson.
Although the son of Callaway Pro Am has yet to win a race after two attempts, he certainly displayed enough pace behind a couple of very talented trackers and now is his time to open his account. He gets the nod from an ideal draw on the fence. Beaky Blinders and Priceless Robbie can emerge the main dangers.
SASSY TO GIVE RIVALS THE SLIP
Born Sassy is another without a win on her card after being picked up late in her two previous outings around Kilkenny.
In those two starts, she displayed fine early speed, while also clocking well. She can secure first run in Heat 4 and is chosen to score for the husband and wife team of John Mitchell and Jennifer O’Donnell.
LEVI FACING TOUGH TEST
Portumna Levi picked up the aforementioned Born Sassy in both his career starts to date to maintain an unbeaten record.
He puts that record on the line in Heat 5 where he faces some notable rivals in Old Texas, Ballymacmadeline, Coolemount Will, Droopys Chef and Pennys Wildpoppy.
This is without doubt the deepest of the six heats and it would be no surprise if any of the six were to post a sub 28.50 run. But Portumna Levi gets the nod. The manner in which he won his two previous starts suggest Shelbourne Park could be right up his alley and he gets the nod over the well-housed early pacer Old Texas and the ‘could be anything’ Ballymacmadeline.
CRISPY HAS HER DRAW
Droopys Crispy makes her Shelbourne debut in the final heat.
She looked a real prospect earlier in the year when capturing the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Bitch Unraced at Newbridge. She only recently returned to action after seasonal rest and ran okay in the early rounds of the Munster Oaks at Waterford.
From an ideal draw on the fence this evening, she can return to winning ways at the expense of the promising duo of Ballymac Whistle and Hackney Saver.