Dez a National star as one Derby hero returns, another bows out

SHOTGUN DEZ completed an unbeaten run through the event to land the €12,500 final of the 2025 IGOBF National Puppy 525, the most valuable race at Shelbourne Park's Winter Racing Festival.

Showing fine early speed to lead, he looked in complete command at halfway although his Graham Holland-trained kennelate Beanos Yank did close slightly into the third turn.

However, the Pat and Molly Muldoon-owned Shotgun Dez was never threatened and came home three lengths to the good of a subsequently-disqualified Ballycowen Frank in 28.17sec, the runner-up having made contact with Beanos Yank close to the line.

Holland went on to land a double in the subsequent Championship races with Cheap Sandwiches and Faypoint Ranger, the first-named Irish Derby hero's 550 yards victory in 29.50sec the most notable after a brilliant tussle with Ballymac Setanta.

Sean Parker's Droopys Flare, the sole UK challenger at the Winter Racing Festival, produced a storming last-to-first performance to claim the Championship 750, the penultimate race on the card.

It got a little scrappy up front but that should not detract from the effort of Droopys Flare, who hit the front off the final bend and powered away for a four lengths victory over Ballymac Chantry, who suffered a troubled run throughout, in recording 42.51sec.

Racing concluded with a thriller as De Lahdedah, the 2024 English Derby champion, signed off a stellar career when holding Coosane Pickles by the minimum margin over 600 yards in clocking 32.22sec after which trainer Liam Dowling announced the winner's retirement.