TRAPRISE - Scaglietti returns in sizzling Champion Stakes semi-final

The 2023 BoyleSports Champion Stakes 550 offered just two qualifying positions from three semi-final heats at Shelbourne Park on Saturday and returning from a two-month layoff in sparkling form, the Pat Guilfoyle trained Scaglietti (Magical Bale-Outdoor Roller) was an imperious winner of the concluding heat in the prestigious 18-runner event.

Last seen when scorching to 29.42 over the same trip, the Cheryl Sutcliffe owned star began on terms from trap 2 but would find early pacer Callaway Pro Am drifting towards the middle of the track from his inside, ensuring minor bumping before forced to switch behind that rival on the run to the first bend. Cannily seizing command of the rail while little over a length adrift upon tackling the turn, the Guilfoyle powerhouse readily recovered lost ground when impressing on the approach to the backstraight and took command of the race when straightening on the run to halfway as Derby finalist Droopys Nice One attempted to match the move on the outside. That latter rival gave game pursuit thereafter but never likely to surrender such an opportunity, Scaglietti stayed stoutly to the line when registering 29.66 in a two-length verdict.

The victory went some way towards compensating for the elimination of Magical Kuba in the previous heat when only losing out on qualification by a neck in his third to The Other Kobe in 29.61 and with the remaining heat claimed by Trinity Junior in a brilliant 29.53, final victory will be hard fought.

Final Draw: 1) Trinity Junior 2) Scaglietti 3) Hawkfield Blue 4) Boylesports Gift 5) The Other Kobe 6) Droopys Nice One (m)

A repeat draw in trap 2 offers highly plausible final claims for Scaglietti and though on the immediate outside of the fastest heat winner, the Guilfoyle star is a more consistent starter and is expected to lead that rival for crucial command of the rails in a showdown with five inside seeds. In such a scenario, Scaglietti would prove difficult to contain despite the calibre of opposition and gets both the biased and percentage vote for victory!

SWIZZ MAY BE A TIPP CUP STAR

The quarter finals of the 2023 Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup Open 525 were the feature of the Saturday action at Thurles last weekend and with selfish ambitions well and truly alive to this week’s semi-finals of the Premier venue’s perennial feature, Heat 3 saw a brace of local challengers advance with the Pat Guilfoyle trained Swizz Star (Dorotas Wildcat-Clongeel Mills) prevailing in most game manner.

Grateful for a fourth qualifying place on opening night, the Liam Cahill headed Premier-Rebel Syndicate owned August 2021 whelp made just a moderate start from trap 4 but battling bravely through traffic while in tight quarters around the opening bends with Old Bill, he emerged in third at the top of the backstraight while in pursuit of Terezas Mendoza and halfway leader Carrigmore Mason. Stalking that bumping pair following an impressive gallop along the backstraight, the Guilfoyle winner seized his opportunity with a rails-run to the home stretch and staying stoutly, Swizz Star stopped the clock in 29.04 (-20) with four and a half lengths back to Millroad Bolger and a further length to Bernie Hogan’s strong staying Old Bill (Droopys Sydney-Starry Display) in third while recovering from early bumping.

A hot event, the remaining heats delivered a double for trainer Pat Buckley with Pape Di Oro fastest for the second week in succession when posting a brilliant 28.67 (-20) after De Gander Pen also went back-to-back with 29.22 (-20) in the opener. Local Thurles hopeful Cabra Kronk claimed the remaining heat in 28.88 (-20) for Paddy Scally and ahead of semi-final action on Saturday, both our local stars have avoided each other in draw!

GIGI HAS HIGH HOPE IN WHELAN CUP

The John Whelan Memorial Cup A3 525 has been a fruitful source of entertainment for local supporters at Limerick over the past fortnight and back to winning ways with a new career best in quarter final victory on Saturday, Maureen & Sally Mounsey’s Patterdale Gigi (Magical Bale-Patterdale Lena) led throughout a most game fifth career victory.

Displaying the best early dash from trap 4, the lightly raced September 2020 whelp reached the corner with a length in hand before stretching further clear of Charlie & Tom Bourke’s Ballygraigue Jim (Silverhill Shay-Newlawn Minnie) and Four Bullets to the top of the backstraight. That latter rival posed the greatest threat when reducing arrears from halfway but retaining ample resolve for a half-length verdict, Patterdale Gigi posted 28.74 with three lengths back to Ballygraigue Jim.

The Whelan Cup got even better in the following heat when Cathal McLoughney & John Cleary’s Eireanns Hope (Droopys Noah-Ballydurn Sophie) built on his close first-round second while securing a second win from his six career starts.

Breaking on terms from trap 2, the September 2021 whelp was forced to check at the opening bend when tracking the pacesetter before reaching the top of the backstraight with two lengths to recover. However, a powerful gallop along the backstraight would see the Ardcroney charge overtake the leader off the final bend and staying stoutly, Eireanns Hope ran out a cosy one and a half-length winner in 28.95.

A hot event for the grade, semi-finals go ahead this Friday with the regular Saturday fixture brought forward to avoid a clash with the Limerick Senior Hurling clash against Galway.

Commencing the winning action for last weekend on the Thursday fixture at Limerick, the Toomevara Six Syndicate’s Toomevara Lily (Clona Blaze-Diamond Ria) doubled her win tally while gaining due reward for her game recent placed performances at the Treaty venue.

An early career winner, the Michael Delaney trained October 2021 pup went close when second in A3 grade last month before again filling runner-up position last time out but another opportunity at A4 level for Thursday’s 525 event saw her back to winning ways when leading from the opening bend. Well housed in trap 1, the Delaney winner was headed at trap rise but pacing up well to the corner, defended her inside pitch within tight quarters and emerging best from bumping, showed narrowly in front at the crown of the turns. Skipping clear to a decisive lead while impressing on the run to halfway, Toomevara Lily maintained a strong gallop thereafter before defending a half length winning margin over a strong staying rival. Remaining ahead of the grader in a bump affected 29.42 (+10), Lily will avoid a rise for this second career win and should prove tough to contain next time.