JOE A CHAMPION AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
Ballinabola Joe displayed why many seen him as a serious Boylesports Derby contender when running out an emphatic winner of the Shelbourne Champion 550 at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
The Poat Buckley trained star may have been a little off his best in the two previous rounds after a third-round elimination from the English Derby but this was the real Ballinabola Joe.
Sent to traps the 6-4 joint favourite with Left Corner Back, he would soon seize complete control to leave his market rival chasing shadows. Rural Ana probably broke best from the inside trap but Ballinabola Joe would cruise past her on the run to the turn.
With Rural Ana moving off the fence, Left Corner Back took his opportunity to move second on the bend but it was never going to make a difference. Ballinabola Joe was in splendid isolation and really moving through the gears.
Entering the back straight with two and a half lengths in hand, he increased his advantage to three and a half lengths by the third turn. As hard as Left Corner Back tried, Ballinabola Joe was never going to be denied.
Owned by the Murphy Ballinabola Syndicate, Ballinabola Joe was relentless to the line, eventually going on to score by five and a half lengths in 29.37. Left Corner Back was second with Rural Ana finishing a further five lengths away in third.
Alex Grassic GRI presents the trophy to Aoibhin O'Leary after Ballinabola Joe won the 2025 Shelbourne Champion 550, also included are Brendan, Grainne and Mary Murphy, Eddie Sheridan, trainer Pat Buckley and handler Emma Buckley. Pic: Imelda Grauer
BRILLIANT ACTION IN DONAL BEATTY MEMORIAL CORN CUCHULAINN
There was tremendous classic racing action earlier on the card with both semi-finals of the Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchulainn going to the red-jacketed runner.
There were big differences between the manner in which Braveheart Bambi and Jaytee Craze won their respective heats but ultimately, both were hugely impressive.
BAMBI PACKS A PUNCH
Once again, Darren McCoy’s Braveheart Bambi set the standard.
For the third week running, the hugely talented daughter of Deerjet Sydney and Ambey Bamby would prove too strong for her rivals, although this display was a little special.
Keelans Joker set a really searching gallop, while Clona Ice and Hello Diego gave chase. Braveheart Bambi found herself with plenty of work to do in fourth but she somehow made up the ground in the second half of the contest.
Keelans Joker kept on finding out front to repel the challenge of both Hello Diego and Clona Ice but Braveheart Bambi stalked the trio into the fifth turn before launching a decisive challenge on the run in. Clona Ice got the better of Hello Diego around bends five and six to have first crack at Keelans Joker on the run in but Braveheart Bambi would come wide and fast to deny the pair.
In a dramatic finish, the Pat Buckley trained powerhouse got up to beat Keelans Joker and Clona Ice by a half length and a half length in 41.43.
CRAZE DOMINATES
The second heat was a far more straightforward affair with Jaytee Craze appreciating an ideal draw on the fence to dominate from start to finish.
Representing the trio of Paul Hennessy, John Turner and Lee Craze, the hugely talented son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Minton would fly into the turn to dictate.
Air Flyer and Droopys Comrade turned closest but neither could land a glove on the leader. Using his four-bend pace to great effect, Jaytee Craze opened up a race-winning advantage to the fifth turn before coasting home a comfortable winner.
Droopys Comrade did finish with a flourish to reduce the margin inside the final fifty yards but there was no stopping Jaytee Craze, who held on to win by a comfortable length in 41.74. Air Flyer was another four and a half lengths adrift in third, earning himself a place in the final.
Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchulainn
Final draw
1 JAYTEE CRAZE
2 BRAVEHEART BAMBI
3 DROOPYS COMRADE (M)
4 AIR FLYER (M)
5 CLONA ICE (M)
6 KEELANS JOKER (M)
Undercard
BEN GETS LOOSE
Racing commenced with a big run from Ballyhimikin Ben.
Representing Graham Holland and Kenny Glen, the son of Good Cody and Ballyhimikin Hun was in a class of his own, showing early speed to hit the front before the corner.
It was all very straightforward for the talented tracker thereafter. Ballyhimikin Ben would go on to beat Max Pro by six lengths in 31.05.
A BRIGHT RUN FROM SUNSHINE
There was much to like about the display of Peter Comerford’s Sunshine Sioux in the A1 second race. The Owen McKenna trained son of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire burst his way to the front into the turn but was headed into the back straight by Rathmoyle Dasher.
It was only a temporary setback with Sunshine Sioux flying into the third turn to take up the running once again. From there, Sunshine Sioux raced on to beat Dear Me by seven and a half lengths in 28.47.
MIST INITIATES A HOLIAN DOUBLE
After an eye-catching run in defeat in her previous start, Omey Mist emerged an easy winner of the penultimate race.
In doing so, she initiated a last two race double for Gerry Holian. Owned by the Don’t Be Late Syndicate, the daughter of Good News and Twentylittletoes was in a rush, getting to the front early before emerging a comfortable scorer. She would eventually win by five lengths from Phoenix Memphis in 28.36.
A HOT RUN FROM WOOD IN FINALE
Gerry Holian completed his double in the finale as Hot Wood emerged a brilliant winner.
Pat Carey’s son of Airmount Nando and Burgess Millie was at his sharpest in the early yards, going to the front long before the bend to dominate throughout. Kournikova did finish well to close the gap but Hot Wood was ruthless. He would go on to see off his rival by three and a half lengths in 28.19.
FUN FOR RUN
Daire Malone’s Fun Inthe Run ran with real purpose to pick up Gwan My Boy in the eighth race over 550yds.
Gwan My Boy displayed superb early dash to get loose but Fun Inthe Run would run a tremendous corner to shoot into second.
Once doing so, it was always a case of whether he could get to the leader. Slowly, but surely, the talented son of Malachi and Love Island would bridge the gap before striking on the run in for a three parts of a length success in 30.12.
FLIGHT ALWAYS TO THE FORE
Urban Flight was always to the fore before taking the third race for Reggie Roberts.
Flashing from trap four, he would lead early before repelling the strong challenge of Mosey Lil into the third turn and again on the run in to win by two lengths in 28.69.
RAPID A GOOD WINNER FOR BARRY
Barry Clancy has his team purring at present and Innfield Rapid became his latest winner in the fourth race, forcing his way past early leader Mirage Majesty on the corner.
Once doing so, the son of Ballymac Best and Camera Shy would keep his rivals at arm’ length before staying on to secure a two-length success over Esmonde Champ in 28.73.