Droopys has Verve in thriller

EOS IT SOLUTIONS DUNDALK INTERNATIONAL

DROOPYS Verve became the first English trained winner of the Dundalk International since John Mullins’ Blonde Dino ten years earlier when he edged a thrilling €20,000 EOS IT Solutions International at Dundalk on Thursday night.

The English derby runner-up and the youngest contestant in the race sealed his victory with a lightning start which saw him grab a decisive lead.

Trained by Angela Harrison for the Conlon family, he needed every inch of that early advantage to hold off the powerful Borna Gin by a short head in a new track record time of 29.39.

The money poured on Droopys Verve and he closed the evens favourite, with Borna Gin a solid 5-2 second favourite with Whoops Jack the third choice at 4-1.

When traps opened it was the black nose of Droopys Verve (Loughteen Blanco/ Droopys Cyclone) which shot out in front and he was chased to the bend by Borna Gin. After a slow start Whoops Jack was in third place at the bend ahead of Slippery Jade. Jubilant connections of Droopys Verve receive the coveted EOS IT Solutions Dundalk International trophy from Sean Rooney, Chairman of Down GAA County Board and Diarmuid Cahill, Treasurer of Down GAA County Board.

From here there was an absorbing contest as the two favourites battled it out. Droopys Verve was three lengths ahead early in the back straight but Borna Gin began to close gradually down the far side and by the third bend he had closed to a length and a half.

Droopys Verve moved a little wide off the final bend and Borna closed on the inside. The gap diminished with each stride and they hit the line virtually together.

There was a slight delay before it was announced that Droopys Verve had his nose in front on the

line, the margin of victory being just a short head. It was then four and three quarter lengths to the gallant bitch Jumeirah Charm in third.

The winning time shaved one spot off the previous record of 29.40 which had been set by

the Pat Buckley trained Droopys Roddick in the 2016 International.

It was a delighted Jimmy Wright, partner of trainer Harrison, who greeted the winner. He said: ‘That short head verdict will make such a difference to us all on our long journey home. This was a massive race with great prize money. He is still only a young dog and we now plan to bring him and Droopys Expert for the Boylesports Irish Derby at Shelbourne and we have been invited by Pat Buckley to stay with them.’

Results

Race 1 Mays Kimberella won in 28.93 for owner/trainer Vincent Toner (Newry)

Race 2 Monleek Express won in 29.03 for Rita Downey and Tullyallen trainer John Downey Race 3 Madabout Paws won in 18.91 for TheThree-D-Amigo-Syndicate and Armagh trainer Sean Devlin

Race 4 Ross Swift won in 28.69 for Noel Devlin (Dungannon)

Race 5 Effernogue Aero won in 31.28 for Matthew Crossan and Derry trainer William Mullen Race 6 Rains Danny Boy won in 21.48 for Stephen Carroll and Mooncoin trainer Peter Cronin Race 7 Droopys Denny won in 29.98 for Miss Eleanor Barry-Murphy and agent Frank Harvey Race 8 Droopys Verve won in 29.39(New Track Record) for The-Conlon-Family-Syndicate and English trainer Angela Harrison

Race 9 Rosbirr Ranger won in 18.74 for Paul Pardy & Christopher Delaney and Roscrea trainer Christopher Delaney

Race 10 Cassies Warrior won in 30.24 for owner/trainer David Ritchie (Portaferry) Race 11 Ask Chuck won in 34.20 for The-Boston-Club-Syndicate and Navan trainer Ian Reilly Race 12 Beslow Maximus won in 18.79 for Angeline Richardson and Marina McKeown