SKIDROW SETS THE DUBLIN CUP PACE

    SKIDROW SETS THE DUBLIN CUP PACE

    Ian Fortune

    Skidrow Joe was at his very best at Shelbourne Park on Friday evening, producing a stunning turn of pace down the back straight to maintain his unbeaten record in the Dublin Cup, while also posting the fastest time of the third round in the process.

    Sober Secret, Highview Daniel and Free Flow also won their respective heats in good fashion but the headlines had to go to Skidrow Joe as he posted 28.52 on a track that certainly wasn’t running on the fast side.

    JOE TOO GOOD

    Sent off the 4-5 favourite in the opening heat, the Owen McKenna trained son of Ballymac Bolger and Coolavanny Chick was left a little flat-footed in the early yards with Gallant Hunter going up fastest to lead from his inside draw.

    However, he was in trouble once Skidrow Joe improved his position into the turn to go second. Showing massive back straight pace, the De Buitlear Syndicate owned favourite shot past Gallant Hunter into the third turn before cruising home a three-length winner over the early pace-setter. Highview Tom was five lengths further back in third.

    SECRET ALSO JUSTIFIES FAVOURITISM

    Sober Secret was also an odds-on chance in the second heat and Sean Malone’s huge tracker comfortably justified his market position, although it was only from the third turn that he really started to pull away.

    Breaking fastest from the inside, the Karol Ramsbottom trained son of Droopys Sydney and Sober Pearl made every inch. Diabolik did all he could to stick with the leader but he ran out of steam. Instead, Rathmoyle Gerry ran on to grab second, some five lengths behind Sober Secret, who stopped the clock in 28.74. Diabolik was another length adrift in third.  

    DANIEL ARRIVES LATE

    The result went right down to the wire in Heat 3 with both Highview Daniel and Knockmitten Liam finishing strongly to pick up the long-time leader Slipalong Joe.

    KNockmitten Liam looked the main threat into the third turn but he swung wide off the final bend to leave Highview Daniel the space to make a decisive challenge.

    Trained by Gerry Merriman for Dolores Merriman, the son of Daves Mentor and Highview Mission got up to win by a half-length and a head from Knockmitten Liam and Slipalong Joe in 28.83.

    FLOW TOO STRONG

    Francie Murray’s Free Flow was too strong for Razldazl Kamaria in the finale, getting up in the final stride to beat her rival by a short head in 28.93.

    Razldazl Kamaria worked hard to get to the front into the third turn and seemed to have done enough but Free Flow was now in full stride.

    She was only fourth at halfway but shot into second between the last two bends. Powering home, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Great Intentions clawed back Razldazl Kamaria to claim a third career victory.

    SKY FASTEST IN TRI-DISTANCE

    May and Cecil Kearns’ Airmount Sky (Airmount Nando/ Skyview Flash) was again foot-perfect in the semi-finals of the This Runs Deep A4/A5 Tri-Distance, dominating from the outset to win by three lengths from Prince Lucius in 30.31. 

    The second heat saw Kilgarron Dolly finishing best of all to get up in the latter stages for Craig and Conor Heffernan. The daughter of Malachi and Kilgarron Maid was of the pace for much of the way but really started to motor from halfway, getting up late to win by a half-length from long-time pace-setter Flys Legacy in 30.63.

    CHIEF SETS A STRONG GIZMO PACE

    Jacktavern Chief looked a prospect when setting the pace in the opening round of the Gizmo Cash @ Stud ON2 525.

    Representing David Byrne and the Untold Jacktavern Partnership, the son of Serene Ace and Droopys Natalia rocketed from trap four and was always in complete control in the opening heat.

    Despite coming back to his rivals a little in the closing stages, he would see of Rioseville Bale by three lengths in 28.80. It was by some margin the fastest heat success.

    In For One got the better of Bad Dreams after a protracted battle in the second heat. Trained by Brendan Matthews for the Away To The Bank Syndicate, the well bred son of Malachi and Love Island got up late to win by a half length in 29.38.

    No Doubt came home fast to win Heat 3 for Garry and Jamie Dempsey. Droopys Orator set a strong gallop but came under pressure when No Doubt began to close at the third turn. The daughter of Coolavanny Hoffa and Bo Shine Bullet flew home to win by two lengths in 29.18.

    Mary Clarke’s well-bred youngster Microchip (Droopys Sydney/ Clona Skye) dominated in the final heat. Moving to the front in the early yards, he would go on to make every inch to score by two lengths from Lombardy in 29.20.