SUPERB FRIDAY NIGHT RUNS AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

There were some brilliant displays at Shelbourne Park on Friday night, over both two and four. The youngsters took their chance to shine in the early part of the card with the opening round of the TOTE Betting ON1 350 unearthing some very promising trackers.

Shalefield Cunha and Half Yours shared the honour of going fastest but Bushpark Lennie and others also ran well. Shalefield Cunha displayed massive early speed to build a big lead into the bend in the opening heat although he needed the line to contain the big eye-catcher Glengar Robin.

The incredible early speed of Shalefield Cunha did prove decisive, however, with Liam Dunphy’s son of Signet Ace and Please Poppy hitting the line with a short head to spare in a quick 18.60.

HALF YOURS A BRIGHT PROSPECT

Minutes later it was the turn of Half Yours to post an identical 18.60 for Hall of Fame handler Francie Murry and his son Francis.

There was so much to like about the display of the well-bred son of Ballymac Cashout and Cliffhanger.

Breaking smartly, he quickly asserted at the head of affairs. Highview Rob moved second between the opening two bends but couldn’t land a blow. Instead, Half Yours powered up the home straight, increasing his lead with each stride to emerge a five and a half length winner. Indeed, the manner in which he ran to the pick up suggests he will be better for 525yds.

LENNIES SURVIVES A SCARE

Bushpark Lemmie gave his connections a bit of a fright in the third heat, getting distracted late when in complete command only to recover for a very promising success in 18.81. the son of Dromana Bucko and Bushpark Katie was razor-sharp in the early yards, holding a decent lead on the turn.

Mongys Treaty did close briefly around the second bend but Bushpark Lennies kicked again off the second turn. Moving into a near four-length lead, he seemed to get distracted by the bookmakers and checked up between the two winning lines but quickly regained his momentum to see off the advancing Carrick Bruno by a length and a half. The winner will certainly go faster next week and is clearly a bright prospect for Graham Holland and the Bushpark Family Syndicate.

HULK GOES SMASH…. AGAIN

Amidus Hulk, owned by John Lambert and Leslie Brown, is going to win a bucket full of races before his career is done.

The Karol Ramsbottom trained son of The Other Kobe and Affable Aoife was absolutely razor-sharp in the semi-finals of the Talking Dogs TV A1 525, clocking a brilliant 17.74 to the third turn.

He may have tired on the run in but he had more than enough in hand to hold his kennel companion Lamrock Ace by four lengths in 28.18.

SUSIE CONTINUES HER FINE RUN OF FORM

Maireads Susie also impressed in the other heat, forcing her way to the front in the early yards to continue her superb run of form for Fraser Black and Joe Horan.

The well-bred daughter of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire was chased throughout by Kilcolgan Norman but she is very strong and ran right to the line to win by three lengths in a quick 28.33.

MEZZA FASTEST

Keith Turner’s Droopys Mezza was by some margin the fastest semi-final winner in the Shelbourne Museum A4/A5 525, posting a rapid 28.41 to emerge an easy winner of the second heat.

Leading from the bend, the Murt Leahy trained daughter of Pestana and Droopys Onestop eased clear in the latter stages to beat Tollstone Flash by five lengths in 28.41.

The other heat saw Ropewalk Bob return to winning ways, making all for James Stafford to beat Zaconey Adonis by three lengths in 29.14.