FLYING START TO TOMMY & BRIDGET MARY DUNFORD MEMORIAL

Peter Farrell

With the action coming thick and fast at Clonmel on Sunday night, the opening-round heats of the Tommy & Bridget Mary Dunford Memorial Bitch Stake took centre stage, and Lone Calling set a notably high standard with a sparkling display in the concluding heat.

Trained by Michael O’Donovan for William Keane, Lone Calling (7/2) advertised her ability when clocking a sensational 28.14 around Waterford in just her third career start, though consistency proved elusive thereafter, with only one win from her previous six outings. She has, however, begun 2026 in emphatic fashion.

Despite the presence of the highly regarded Bushpark Mel, Lone Calling made all the running to land a thoroughly impressive success on her Clonmel debut. Breaking smartly from the red jacket, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Pete surged from her inside berth and narrowly held Swift Hayley to the opening bend. Bushpark Mel, sent off the 1/2 favourite, was slow into stride but quickly recovered, moving past Swift Hayley to give chase. Lone Calling was in relentless form out front, stopping the clock at a rapid 16.05 for the third-bend sectional, and although Bushpark Mel produced a blistering finish to close rapidly in the latter stages, Lone Calling held firm to prevail by three parts of a length in 28.44.

DOMINANT SKYLARK

Owned by John Fox, Tinahue Skylark arrived for heat two on the back of a couple of smart Waterford trials and the 5/2 chance proved a class above her rivals with a commanding display.

Drawn in trap one, Tinahue Skylark broke sharply and immediately edged right to dispute the early running with the favourite, Droopys Melon. There was little between the pair entering the back straight, but Fox’s charge found another gear at halfway, quickly opening up a two-and-a-half-length advantage approaching the penultimate bend. Stopping the clock at 16.23 to the third bend, the daughter of Malachi – Scallywag was much too strong from there, stretching her lead to five lengths over Droopys Melon at the line. The winning time was 28.65.

DETERMINED ROXANNE PREVAILS

The opening heat saw the heavily-supported Imokilly Roxanne justify her 10/11 starting price for owner Michael O’Driscoll.

Subject of strong market support earlier in the day, Imokilly Roxanne is renowned for her early speed, but she displayed a different dimension on this occasion, coming from off the pace to score. Chasing a remarkable seventeenth career victory, the daughter of Coolavanny Hoffa – Cunnigar Spice encountered traffic at several stages of the contest before finally getting a clear run approaching the penultimate bend. Showing admirable determination in the closing stages, she held off the late challenge of Bogger Callie to prevail by one and a quarter lengths. The time, rendered academic by the interference, was 29.48.