Buckley, Dowling are in familiar territory with Irish Classic wins
06/03 - Tralee: T Nolan CVRT Centre Juve Classic - Ballymac Deniro
BALLYMAC DENIRO credited trainer Liam Dowling with a fourth victory in the event by dominating throughout to land the €10,000 T Nolan CVRT Centre Juvenile Classic final over 525 yards at Tralee.
The May 2024 son of former Dowling inmates Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Arminta had opened his account second time up in the semis but improved again on that display with a convincing performance.
Quickly in front after a fast break from trap five, the 5/2 second favourite was pushed hard by outsider Silent Noelle but always looked to have her measure and so it proved as he went on to score by two and a half lengths in a competition-best 27.97sec.
08/03 - Mullingar: TIME Irish Cesarewitch - Ballinabola Joe
BALLINABOLA JOE showed the benefit of his seasonal - and venue - opener in the heats when justifying favouritism in the €10,000 TIME Irish Cesarewitch final over 600 yards at Mullingar.
Providing trainer Pat Buckley with a record-extending seventh victory in the Classic, he quickly asserted from trap six and had some three lengths in hand entering the back straight.
He extended his advantage over closest pursuer Actindamaggot by the third bend, which he handled far better than when beaten in the heats, which was to prove crucial as Durrow Star was now in full flight and closing.
The leader did come back a little on the long run for home but held on to beat Durrow Star by a length in 33.34sec with Flight Club also running on strongly to finish three lengths further back in third.
The winner is owned by the Murphy Ballinabola Syndicate and joins previous Buckley winners Micks Savings, Paradise Maverik, Droopys Acrobat, Bobsleigh Dream and dual champion Singalong Dolly on the Irish Cesarewitch roll of honor.
14/03 - Oxford: ultimatetipster.com Sandy Lane Sprint - Beaming Isla
BEAMING ISLA chose the perfect occasion to open her account in the event when making all to land the £3,000 final of theultimatetipster.com Sandy Lane Sprint over 253m at Oxford.
Trained by Maxine Locke for the JR Racing Syndicate, Beaming Isla was sent off 8/1 in a market dominated by Jazzy George (5/4F) and Avarua Lake (11/8) but once again pinged the lids to steal an early march.
The 'big two' both paced up well but Beaming Isla was not for catching this time and kept on well to beat Avarua Lake by half a length in 15.04sec (-15) with Jazzy George just a neck back in third.
28/03 - Oxford: bet365 Hunt Cup - Resonate
RESONATE took first bend command on her way to an authoritative success in the £10,000 final of the Category One bet365 Hunt Cup over 650m at Oxford.
The first battle she won was for favouritism as, having lost that position to heat conqueror Powerhouse Duke during the week, she was backed in from 5/2 to head the betting at 2/1 at the off.
The Other Winx was first to show when traps opened but just failed to clear fast-up duo Powerhouse Duke and Java Joan at the bend whereas Resonate enjoyed a clear run out wide and swept in to the lead.
The race was basically over as a contest at that point and Resonate, whom Hutton owns as well as trains, galloped on powerfully to beat staying on outsider Remember Betty by over two lengths in 39.64sec (-30) with long-time second Java Joan a neck away in third.
