ALDO AND BEACH SHINE AS HUNT FOIR GOLD COMMENCES

Ian Fortune

There were some very recognisable names in tremendous form at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as the Tote Gold Cup got underway.

Certainly, the two stars as far as the clock was concerned were Seven Beach and Carrick Aldo.

The duo were amongst the best in training over the past year and a half and little has changed with both impressing in their respective opening round assignments. Conditions were tricky with a strong wind and the track was rated .20 slow throughout the card but it didn’t stop the aforementioned duo from going very fast indeed.

BEACH IS NO BUM

Seven Beach set the standard in Heat 2 of the early season showpiece.

The Jennifer O’Donnell trained star was razor-sharp, leading from the early yards to emerge a facile scorer for his owners, the Beach Boys Trio Syndicate.

The son of Pestana and Whitings Gift flashed to the turn to quickly assert from Kerogue Lady and Dynamic Force. The chasing pair did all they could to stay with Seven beach but he had no intention of taking his foot off the pedal. He would go on to beat Kerogue Lady and Dynamic Force by six lengths and a neck in a rapid 28.36.

ALDO LOOKS READY FOR 2025

Carrick Aldo had to work a little harder in Heat 5 with Grangeclare Lady really putting it up to the David Murray trained star down the back straight but he was up to the test.

Showing his trademark early speed, the son of Droopys Sydney and Minnies Hazel would assert into the bend only to steer a middle path, allowing Grangeclare Lady to enter the back straight on his heels.

The latter flew down the far side to almost join Carrick Aldo but he would assert again at the third turn. Once doing so, there was never any doubt about the result. Thomas Glynn’s Carrick Aldo stayed on well to emerge a two and a half length winner over his rival in a quick 28.39. There was another length to Cheque For Sir in third although his owners, the Cash Back Syndicate, would later taste victory with Cheque For Cash.

CASH IS KING

Cheque For Cash posted 28.60 in the final heat, showing a clean pair of heels to his rivals from the early exchanges.

The son of Dromana Bucko and Paradise Asia would fly into the turn to hold a comfortable lead.

In Good Time got racing in behind and briefly looked a threat into the third turn but, despite the lack of a recent run, Cheque For Cash had the fitness to hold his rival. Staying on well, Cheque For Cash would complete a double on the night for Karol Ramsbottom in 28.60. In Good Time was three lengths away in second with Da Tapper Flynn another length and a half back in third.

A SLICK RUN FROM ROBBIE

After hitting the woodwork in a couple of recent outings at Shelbourne Park, Robbie Be Slick did everything right in Heat 3.

Coming home clear for Barry Clancy in 28.65. the son of Ballymac Anton and Notimetotalk was always to the fore but ran a fine bend to assert at the head of affairs.

It would be a decisive manoeuvre. Glitzy Magic would pursue him throughout but never really looked like getting back on terms and Robbie Be Slick would take the verdict by two lengths in 28.65. Julies Gem was best of the remainder in third, another three and a half lengths adrift.

FALCON SWOOPS

Da Bold Falcon made a winning start to 2025 in Heat 4, powering rom halfway to better his rivals. Phoenix Memphis went up fast and would set the pace to the third turn where he was challenged by Untold Rufiyaa.

With the latter attempting to squeeze up the fence, the pair clashed. By this point Da Bold Falcon was in full stride and the son of Droopys Sydney and Hail Cleopatra shot straight past them to go to the front. Once doing so, the Ginger McGee trained star raced right away to emerge a comfortable nine length scorer over Phoenix Memphis in 28.71. Saraghs Sadie was just a head further back in third. 

BABE LEAVES IT LATE

The opening heat was a remarkable contest with a number of different pace-setters only for Youandme Babe to arrive late and fast to claim a tenth career victory.

Is She There, Lemon Joey and Ballyhooly Bruno all got their nose in front at some point but with none of the trio finding room to get loose, it allowed Youandme Babe to stalk them in behind.

Trained by Paul Hennessy for Paul Hynes, the big finishing daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Jaytee Pearl would power up the straight to eventually score by a length from Ballyhooly Bruno in 28.89. Lemon Joey was just a half length away in third.

HOUDINI PULLS A RABBIT FROM HIS HAT

Harry Houdini finally doubled his career tally in the A2 opener.

After a few costly reversals, the son of Magical Bale and Rangefield Lass was sent off a hot favourite from an inside draw and despite edging off, taking a bump in the process, he would make virtually all.

Cayan Lady chased him hard throughout but there was no stopping Harry Houdini, who would come home clear for Gavin Johns and Karol Ramsbottom. At the line he had a length and a half in hand on Cayan Lady in 29.09.

WILLOW AND BUDDY CAN’T BE SEPARATED

The tightest finish came in the third race, the second semi-final of the Shelbourne Park Museum A3 525, with the judge unable to separate Innfield Willow and Highview Buddy on the line.

Pat Daly’s Highview Buddy found himself in front for much of the journey but he was rapidly running out of steam as the line approached. In contrast. Barry Clancy’s Innfield Willow was finishing with purpose and the pair would dead-heat in 29.22.

TREND TOO STRONG

Georgina Gibbon’s Tidy Trend came out on top in the opening semi-final, charging to the front in the early yards before handing the advantage to Vine Cottage lad on the turn when running wide.

Tidy Trend was soon back in front, however. the Declan Crossan trained son of Ballymac Bolger and Dryland Sally shot to the front at the third turn before easing on to see off Droopys Jiver by two lengths in 29.35.

NOVA BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Racing ended with Nomadic Nova completing a double for Barry Clancy.

He was afforded plenty oft room on the outside of the track on the run to the turn and made full use of it. Once going to the front, he quickly opened up a race-winning advantage. The son of Broadstrand Bono and Some Girl Isla would eventually come home four lengths clear of Castleivy Ginge in 29.19.

A LATE TWIST FOR STORY

Pat Griffin’s Coolavanny Story arrived late and fast to snatch victory away from long-time leader Coonough Aki in the fourth race on the card.

Picking his way through the pack, the Neilus O’Connell trained son of Jacob Tashadelek and Feora Inish was in the perfect position to strike as they hit the final bend and charged up the straight to win in the final stride by a neck in 29.01.