Heiress brilliant in Juvenile win, Holland lands another Kirby title
A monthly video record of the major SIS UK and Irish races run during 2025 with accompanying reporting.
05/04 - Shelbourne Park: BresBet Easter Cup final - Hopes Teddy
HOPES TEDDY credited Pat Buckley with a third win in the Classic when taking early control to claim the €25,000 BresBet Easter Cup final over 550 yards at Shelbourne Park.
Sent off the 13/8 favourite, Hopes Teddy came away racing along with Randolph Scotts and Barefoot On Song, the eventual winner already in front well before a trouble-marred first bend.
Hopes Teddy's semi-final conqueror Da Bold Falcon was in the wars and forfeited all chance, while kennelmate Hawkfield Blue lost his action.
Up front, Hopes Teddy was making the best of his way home and was never threatened as he scored by three lengths from Randolph Scotts in 29.61sec with Barefoot On Song half a length further back in third.
Buckley had previously landed the Easter Cup with Droopys Noel in 2009 and Knocknaboul Syd in 2021.
19/04 - Limerick: Con & Annie Kirby Memorial final - Faypoint Ranger
FAYPOINT RANGER completed a brilliant unbeaten run through the event to claim the €80,000 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial final over 525 yards at Limerick.
Trained by Graham Holland for Patricia Flanagan, the 4/6 favourite trapped marginally behind Pain Barrier on his immediate inside but had that rival's measure well before the opening turn where he cut across Sole Mio to rake total command.
Having been forced to check and cannon into Pain Barrier, Sole Mio went hard after Faypoint Ranger but the result was never in any doubt as the Holland dog came home four and a half lengths to the good in 28.05sec with Bubbly Charger another four lengths back in third.
The winner was crediting Holland with a third victory in the Classic in just four years following the victories of Swords Rex in 2022 and Clonbrien Treaty 12 months later.
19/04 - Oxford: bet365 Hunt Cup final - Hogans Hawk
HOGANS HAWK, deposed as favourite just before the off by semi-final conqueror Ballymac Maggie, proved the market wrong in emphatic style to win the £10,000 bet365 Hunt Cup final over 650m at Oxford.
Trained by Seamus Cahill for Alf Ashe, first round standard-setter Hogans Hawk was by no means brilliantly away from the inside berth but paced up really well to lead before the first turn.
Once ahead, the outcome was never in any doubt as she comfortably repelled the mid-race challenge of Burrows Eclipse, going on to beat strong-finishing duo Alright Patricia and Millridge Tanic by two and a half lengths and five plus in 39.44sec (-15).
20/04 - Towcester: Time Juvenile Championship - Proper Heiress
PROPER HEIRESS, backed from 4/1 into 10/3, produced a stunning performance to beat a field for the ages in landing the £10,000 Time Juvenile Championship over 500m at Towcester.
Trained by Mark Wallis for the MWD Partnership, Proper Heiress was extending his own winning run to six while ending odds-on Bockos Diamond's at 15 although the Irish Derby champion more than played his part in ensuring the contest lived up to its billing.
The break was crucial with Proper Heiress leaving traps just fractionally behind Droopys Plunge whereas Bockos Diamond was flat-footed by the exceptional standards he had set in recent trials.
Soon in front, Proper Heiress found a fast-up Bockos Diamond on his shoulder rounding the first couple of bends and that is the way it stayed until the turn for home where the Wallis dog fully asserted.
At the line, he was just over two lengths clear of a rallying Droopys Plunge in recording 28.62sec with Bockos Diamond tiring on his seasonal return more than a length back in third.
20/04 - Towc: BetGoodwin & JR Racing Maiden Derby - Hello Diego
HELLO DIEGO credited Irish trainer Paul Hennessy with a second successive victory in the event by outstaying long-time leader Ballybough Nutz to land the £10,000 BetGoodwin & JR Racing Syndicate Maiden Derby final over 500m at Towcester.
For much of the of the Category One contest it seemed that Ballybough Nutz had slipped his field, taking early command on the inside and capitalising on the Hennessy-trained favourite Lennies Desire completely fluffing his lines at the start.
However, the powerful Hello Diego had also broken well and, although shuffled back to fourth round the first two bends, he stayed within striking distance.
Up front, Ballybough Nutz was digging in to hold off the challenge of Burrows Charm but Hello Diego was in full flight by three-quarters and mowed the leaders down on the run-in.
At the line, he was a length to the good of Ballybough Nutz in a very smart 28.97sec with Lennies Desire doing a huge amount of running himself to take third.
