TRAPRISE - Ted takes-off in tremendous Shelbourne debut

TRAPRISE

 

The latter half of the 2020 season has seen the emergence of many exceptionally talented pups on the local racing scene and in a stunning debut at Shelbourne Park on Tuesday last, William Rigney’s All About Ted (Kinloch Brae/Enable) became the latest exciting prospect with a simply brilliant performance over 525 yards.

Trained by Peter Cronin, the March 2019 pup was quick to stride from Trap 5 when immediately taking command of the race on the run to the opening bend. Turning with two lengths in hand, the Rathcabbin speedster streaked readily clear to the backstraight and had the race settled as a contest before reaching halfway. Impressing with a powerful gallop throughout, All About Ted never sighted another rival in a facile twelve length verdict while posting a sublime 28.31.

That winning time is only possible for a supremely talented pup and immediately catapults the Rigney prospect to the top echelons of the sport. In a first litter for brilliant racing dam Enable, the victory also confirms her as a hugely exciting brood for connections with comrades showing similar Open class abilities even at this early stage.

Never short of support from local runners, Galway provided plenty to cheer over last weekend with a first winner for the newly formed Paddys Crew Syndicate in Ballinderry as Roy Rovers (Ballymac Eske/Liosgarbh Pops) gained his first race victory at the fifth time of asking.

Slow breaks had been a feature of his previous outings, but the October 2018 youngster had displayed strong staying abilities in defeat and delivered on that promise despite another poor beginning on Friday.

In the back division to the first turn, Roy Rovers found clear passage while turning on the rails from his Trap 1 berth and gamely negotiated a path to second position at the top of the backstraight. Taking aim at the pacesetter from over two lengths behind, powerful pace passing the halfway mark saw the Vincent McKenna trained youngster switch to the outside while forcefully striking the front at the third bend. In command to the home straight, Roy Rovers duly stayed strongly to the line when drawing readily clear to a seven-length winning margin in 29.63 (-40).

Taking a rise to A4 next time, he can cope in that sphere with much room for further progress on the evidence of this victory.

Earlier on that Friday card, the S8 350-yard sprint brought a third career win for Denis Collins & Pat Cleary’s Heresourpaddy (Sir Paddy/Canvas Tracey) while denying Timmy Heenan’s Ringroe Rambler his fifth victory as local kennels dominated.

Superior early dash saw Heresourpaddy strike the front when crucially securing the rails position once in full flight from Trap 2 on the approach to the opening bend, as Ringroe Master battled in mid-division on the outside when drawn widest of all.

Asserting while tackling the turns, the Collins charge led to the home straight but galloping powerfully on the outer, Ringroe Master would make his way to second before mounting a challenge on the run to the line. An entertaining buckle was settled when Heresourpaddy repelled the Heenan charge by a diminishing length in 19.92 (-10).

Staying at Galway and the Saturday programme brought further success as Tommy Ryan extended a recent smart strike rate with Some Cut Two (Zero Ten/Cupids Causeway) securing a fourth career win in thrilling style over 525 yards in A4 grade.

Breaking on level terms from Trap 1, the August 2016 veteran raced on the inside of a tightly packed field approaching the first bend and although headed before turning, used his rails pitch to good effect when contesting for the lead into the backstraight.

Just edging to a narrow advantage, the Portroe charge would be briefly headed at the third bend but battling back, again held the call to the home straight. Never able to fully shake off his closest rival however, he was required to find one final effort close home when bravely securing a neck verdict in 29.90. Avoiding a rise, he can hold every chance in the same grade next time.

A condensed classic season continues at a hectic pace at present and following her brilliant campaign to run-up the Irish Cesarewitch last week, Pat Guilfoyle’s Amazing Alice negotiated her way through the opening round of the Friends Of Limerick Stadium Irish St Leger at Limerick on Saturday when third behind fastest heat winner Ballymac Kingdom.

Slow to stride from Trap 1, the brilliant young bitch had made her way to a challenging third before stumbling at the second bend and despite twelve lengths adrift of the winner in 29.57 (-20) for the 550-yard classic trip, her qualification was a most game effort. Certain to progress, she remains a big factor in the event.

Joining her in the second round will be kennel companion Magical Jasper who opened his campaign in hugely pleasing fashion, just missing out on heat victory in a thriller with Feudal Spirit. The duo were locked in battle for much of the race but obliged to chart a wider route throughout, Jasper went down by only a shorthead in 30.34 (-20); both Guilfoyle trained runners can hold every claim to advance from Saturday’s second round.

Double handed in the 525-yard Sporting Press Irish Oaks at Shelbourne Park, Lorrha’s Michael Hogan tasted defeat with Grangeview Nifty and Grangeview West but will have exited Saturday’s second round delighted with both!

First into action, Hogan guided Grangeview Nifty (Skywalker Puma/Grangeview Vicie) to the quarterfinals when the progressive bitch broke swiftly to just lead a high-class field to the opening bend in a hot Heat 6. Retaining a narrow advantage all along the backstraight, she would cede the lead to Sliabh Liag at the closing turns before bravely defending second position to the line. Two and a half lengths back in 28.29, the Hogan charge posted a career best time and remains on an upward curve.

It would be fair to label the wonderful Grangeview West (Zero Ten/Portumna West) as the Hogan first string in the Oaks and having returned to winning ways in a sparkling opening round win, all connected with the Pat Guilfoyle trained star will retain hopes of outright glory despite defeat to Scooby Princess on Saturday.

Not finding her best break from Trap 2, Grangeview West needed all of her blistering early pace to secure a narrow first bend lead when tracked to the backstraight by the eventual winner. As the pair reached the closing bends, Scooby Princess ranged up on the outside and denied Grangeview West victory with a powerful surge close home. However, in a sublime time of 28.12 both bitches were performing to an exacting standard and when back to her best breaking form, Grangeview West will be a most feared opponent for any in the event.