ALL ABOUT BALLYMAC RUN IN SHELLEY FENNELLY MEMORIAL FINAL
Barry Drake
The 2023 Shelley Fennelly Memorial Open Bitch Stake came to a conclusion in Curraheen Park on Saturday night and the €5,000 to the winner final went the way of Ballymac Run (Bull Run Bolt-Jaytee Pearl) for Liam Dowling.
Another magnificent event this year, the final produced another stunning performance as Ballymac Run clocked a fantastic 28.10. A previous winner of the RPGTV Puppy Oaks, the 4-1 shot added another major event to her fantastic CV.
Up The Style was sent off a warm favourite but after she appeared to stumble coming from traps, it really opened the door for her rivals and Ballymac Run took full advantage. Driving a brave opening corner, Ballymac Run just made the bend from both Bredas Wood and Scooby Duchess. Kicking clear down the back straight, the strong running Ballymac Run quickly put the race to bed.
Returning to winning form, it was a top-class winning performance as the Ballymac runner beat Bredas Wood, by four and a half lengths. Local raider Strike It Alice ran on well for third, two lengths behind the runner-up.
Winning connections of Ballymac Run and supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing pictured with sponsor JJ Fennelly.
THREE OF THE NIGHT FOR JOHN LINEHAN
Local Cork trainer John Linehan enjoyed a great night, recording a fabulous treble on the night.
In the second, an A1, Droopys Trouper did everything right when winning for the Courtmachove-Syndicate. The 4-1 shot came away racing, always in control, it was a superb display, clocking 28.37, three and a half lengths clear of Ballymac Opera who was back in second.
Two races later, an A0, Droopys Beglin made it four wins from just eight career outings with another flying 28.52 winning performance. The 4-5 favourite was the quickest into stride, but he showed brilliant early speed. Soon in front, it was a smashing display to beat Coosey Hall, by three and a half lengths.
The treble was completed after the success of Blarney Boy in the opening heat of the Denis Murphy Memorial A2 stake. Doing everything right early on, the 5-2 shot ran out an impressive winner, beating Fab Farm Sid, by four lengths, in 28.68.
IN OTHER RACES
In the following heat, Carrigoon Mia showed huge early pace to slip clear early on and the 6-4 chance just did enough to fend off the fast-finishing Subtle Jill. Owned by Noel Casey, half a length separated the front two, in 28.57.
In the third heat, Da Tapper Flynn scored for Pat Kiely and the Golden Spoon Syndicate. Showing massive speed, the 5-4 favourite was last early on, but the September puppy looks like a very exciting talent and he was well on top in the closing stages. A length and a half clear of Glenbowen Belle, in 28.55.
The fourth and final produced a very exciting finish with Dashgrove Bolger just doing enough to land the spoils for Patrick Finn. The 6-4 market leader put on a fine front running display to beat the staying on Naughty Naughty, by the shortest of margins, in 28.71.
OTHER FINALS
The €1,000 final of the Curraheen Park Local Trainers & CPSC A4 Stake went the way of Coppeen Best. Trained by James Kelleher for David Manning and Ted Lucey, the August puppy sat second for most of the way, but he was strongest in the closing yards as he pulled out all the stops to beat the well-fancied Burgess Coolio, by the shortest of margins, in 28.64.
The €1,500 to the winner Sean O'Leary Memorial & CPSC A4 stake final went the way of Exit Seventeen for Ger Crowley. The 2-1 winner was in total control early on, after producing a flying start, the powerful winner was always going to take the world of beating. Sole Exile showed his usual big early speed, but he had no answers late on. A 28.74 winning run, six lengths the margin.
In the following race, the Happy 80th Birthday to Der Lehane, it was Churchtown Syd who scored for trainer Denis Fitzgerald and owner Michael Crotty. A strong all-round run as the 3-1 shot scored, in 28.77, four and a half lengths clear of the fast-finishing Montana Fantasy.