Roxholme Duke can win race against Time!
IT’S another quiet night at Shelbourne Park but that won’t last for long as the €16,000 Gold Cup is just around the corner.
It’s always a brilliant competition that attracts some of the country’s finest and it’s a great way to kick start a busy season.
There are 11 races tonight at HQ with race 10 having the potential to be a cracker.
Champion Stakes and Irish Laurels winner One Time Only is the obvious choice for trainer
Thomas O’Donovan if returning to his best.
He was last seen when finishing second to The Other Kobe during the Winter Racing Festival but was beaten by six and a half lengths in 28.37.
He clocked 18.71 in a solo 350 yards trial last week, so everything looks good on paper.
However, I’m going to take on the favourite here and go for trap six Roxholme Duke for trainer Martin Lanney.
His dogs are running out of their skin and with 28.30 on his card, he should be competitive enough to bring to his tally of wins to 11. He is well drawn too but it goes without saying that a slick start from the traps is needed.
Cheque For Sir in trap five is a dark dog.
Career
Trained by Karol Ramsbottom, this son of Droopys Sydney–Yahoo Ava has 12 wins from 19 starts with a career best of 28.33 over the course and distance so he is worth keeping an eye on.
The Marie Gilberttrained Rathdown Molly has been in great form lately, so she is worth taking a chance on in race 11 in the red jacket.
This daughter of Droopys Sydney–Some Ginger still has youth on her side with 2023 an exciting year for her. She likes the rails and should set the pace here as she is fast away.
Toolmaker Stan in trap two is a big worry. This Robert Gleeson-trained puppy won here earlier this month in a flashy 28.34 on just his seventh start so there’s more to come.
There is so much early pace in this race with Jirano Jetstream, Lilywhite Queen, Robbies Beat and Pintsnotpilates, all fast from boxes.
Robbies Bear steps back in trip so should be sharp while Pintsnotpilates could lead but tends to run out of juice coming home. Rathdown Molly has a good draw so she is my choice.
A Lucky Lady has been exactly that for trainer Jerry Melia as this 62lb bitch has been on a winning streak with six wins from ten starts now.
She was fast away last week and strong at the finish which is a great sign for when she steps up in trip. If she sets the pace then win number seven will be on it’s way.
Dangers are Forest Willow in trap five who was denied on the line last week by A Lucky Lady in 28.63 so he will be trying to get his revenge. Great Dale, perfectly housed in trap six, is another with a fine strike record of seven wins from ten starts.
Shelbourne Park regular Auxerre returns for more action in race 7 for Oliver Shields. This will be his 72nd career start and he is down in grade now to A1 so I fancy him to get back to winning ways.
This speedster turns five in May, but he still has bundles of ability. He might not be as sharp as he was but he is ideally drawn wearing the stripes with Urban View in trap four a danger.
There is a competitive 750-yard race on the card with the Murt Leahy trained Storys Peewee stepping back up in trip. Racing from trap one, this versatile tracker has won over the six-bend contest before, so he looks a major player here having clocked 41.77.
All About Annie looks the main worry.
SHELBOURNE PARK
Race 5 – Trap 1 Storys Peewee Race 7 – Trap 6 Auxerre Race 8 – Trap 4 Stefans Socks Race 9 – Trap 1 A Lucky Lady Race 10 – Trap 6 Roxholme Duke Race 11 – Trap 1 Rathdown Molly
Exactly
(inset)