WONDERFUL ACTION IN CORN CUCHULAINN AND CHAMPION 550

Barry Caul

Aside from the final of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks, there was also an exceptional undercard at Shelbourne Park on Saturday with tremendous displays throughout.

Braveheart Bami set the standard in the opening round of the Corn Cuchulainn, while Left Corner Back was brilliant in the Champion 550.

COMRADE BACK IN BUSINESS

Droopys Comrade has a fine record over the 750-yard trip at Shelbourne Park and he notched up another victory when taking the opening round head of the Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchulainn.

Turning third behind pacesetters, Born To Perform and Ballymac Sophia, Fraser Blacks' powerhouse flew down the far side and took control before the fifth bend.

Clona Ice came in a reserve and ran a cracker on six-bend debut, there's much better to come from Pat Buckley's runner. Droopys Comrade has been there and done that, however, and ran out a comfortable winner in 42.21 over Clona Ice.

BAMBI REELS IN DIEGO… AGAIN

Braveheart Bambi once again got the better of Hello Diego in a thrilling finish to our third race, Heat 2 of the Corn Cuchulainn.

Air Flyer took a flyer and led early but was joined and passed as they approached the third bend.

Diego moved clear down the far side, but the eye was drawn to Braveheart Bambi who was moving through the gears, albeit in fourth place. That fourth soon became second at the fifth bend as Bambi closed rapidly turning for home. Proving too strong, Bambi powered past Hello Diego for Pat Buckley and owner Darren McCoy to stop the clock in an impressive 41.64. Air Flyer held on for third.

CRAZE SPARKLES

Jaytee Craze once again showed us why he was one of star stayers over six bends since the third quarter of 2024.

Paul Hennessy’s runner flew from traps and was always in full control in Heat 3 of the Corn Cuchulainn.

Passing the stands with a four-length lead over Callaway Hybrid, Craze kept pulling from the front. In Good Time briefly challenged Callaway Hybrid for second but the leader was never in any real danger. He did fade slightly, perhaps cramping up a little, on the run in but at that stage he had done more than enough. Stopping the clock in 42.17 he came home clear of Callaway Hybrid with Daleroad Poppy taking third.

VIPER TOO STRONG

Bookmakers got a result in Heat 4 when Borna Viper made in two from two over six bends.

Boylesports Blue and Sunset Shannon broke well but it was Sunset Shannon who cut off Boylesports Blue on the run to the first bend. Suddenly the complexion of the race changed as Blue ran off, allowing Borna Viper to slip into second behind Sunset Shannon. Down the far side you could see Viper was moving with real menace and he shot to the lead at the fifth bend over Sunset Shannon. Staying on strongly to the line Borna Viper ran out a good winner over Sunset Shannon with Keelans Joker staying on for third in 41.94.

EWARD PREVAILS IN A THRILLER

Razldazl Edward and Ballinabola Joe served up a real classic in the first semi-final of the Shelbourne Champion 550.

Edward broke fast from three and led up from Ballinabola Joe on the run to the first bend.

Edward just led round and set a strong gallop down the far side, keeping a middle to wide course into the third bend, he allowed Ballinabola Joe to slip up his inside. The pair had a ding-dong battle all the way up the home straight, but Edward proved too strong and got the verdict by a neck over Ballinabola Joe. Dolores Ruth's tracker stopped the clock in 29.74.

CORNER LEAVES RIVALS STANDING

There was a late withdrawal in our eight race as Razldazl Kamaria was withdrawn under veterinary advice.

It was left to Left Corner Back to continue to impress around Shelbourne. Starting fast, he led up with Upper Horgan. Asserting down the far side the Tom Leahy-trained Left Corner Back hit the third bend in a slick 17.04. Maintaining the gallop all the way to the line he came home comfortably clear of Upper Horgan with Snazzy Boss back in third in a very smart 29:47.

SYDNEY SCORES FOR FAVOURITE BACKERS

Darraghs Sydney was well-supported in the opener for Gerry Daly and trainer Paul Duffy, eventually sent off the 6/5 jolly.

Initially headed by Singalong Mick on the run to the corner, Darraghs Sydney showed great bravery to force his way up the inside of the leader at the opening bend and that would prove crucial.

Leading by a couple into the back straight, Sydney was challenged all the way to the line by a gallant Singalong Mick who couldn’t quite get to the leader. Sydney held on by a length with Coolavanny Shona running on to take the bronze medal in 31.20.

RAPID LIVE UP TO HIS NAME

Ballymac Rapid was a most impressive winner of our ninth race for Liam Dowling.

Well away from two, he showed electric early pace and was already four clear by the opening turn. There was some crowding in behind and at halfway Rapid was all of ten lengths clear. Fading slightly on the run in Ballymac Rapid still had a four-and-a-half-length advantage at the line over Zenith Gizmo and Costly Lesson in 28.55.

TETRA TAKES ADVANTAGE

Tetra Destiny made the most of a seam up the inside at the opening bed in race ten.

Cagey Billy led early but was joined up the inside by the strong travelling Lamrock Ace. Ace moved off around the opening turn and allowed Tetra Destiny to hit the front as they entered the back straight. Owned by the Benalmadena syndicate Tetra Destiny would pull further and further clear, emerging a four-length winner in 28.81. Kereight Pimple finished second with Innfield Force showing promise back in third. A few winners will come from this contest in the coming weeks