Holland and Hennessy bookend month to boost amazing records

01/02 - Clonmel: Rural Kennels Open Unraced Stake - Gaytime Clyde

GAYTIME CLYDE credited trainer Graham Holland with an incredible sixth victory in the past seven stagings of the event by landing the €6,500 final of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced Stake over 525 yards at Clonmel.

Kennelmate Newinn Spot, unbeaten going into the decider, was a hot 4/6 favourite but was fractious in traps and missed the break then immediately found trouble.

He did pace up well only to be forced to check at the opening turn as the Brendan O’Connell-owned Gaytime Clyde set sail for home.

Newinn Spot showed good middle speed to take second along the back straight but was a spent force off the last bend as Gaytime Clyde went away for a five lengths plus win in 28.60sec with the prominent early Skywalker Bruno rallying to just pip the favourite for second.

01/02 - Oxford: BetGoodwin Standard - Alright Twinkle

ALRIGHT TWINKLE, all the rage from an opening 4/9 down to an SP of 3/10, proved far too good for her rivals in the final of the BetGoodwin Standard over 450m at Oxford.

Trained by Dave Lewis for Darryl and Gordon Roome, the July 2023 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx had been just fastest in the heats seven days earlier when outstaying Newinn Bliss and, in the absence of that withdrawn rival, it was one-way traffic so far as the betting was concerned.

Jimmy One Shot led early but the writing was on the wall when Alright Twinkle turned close behind and so it proved as she led off the second bend then powered away to beat Jazzy Mia by almost three lengths in 26.65sec (-10), identical to her heat performance.

28/02 - Oxford: BetGoodwin Oxford Stayers - Resonate

RESONATE, one of three Kevin Hutton finalists and also owned by the trainer, landed an absorbing victory in the BetGoodwin Oxford Stayers over 650m.

Kennelmate Venetian Mick had been expected to lead but that role went to Chasing Rachel with Resonate close in behind.

It remained very much as you were until the field bunched at the fifth bend where Venetian Mick made his move although the outcome was Resonate asserting off the last.

At the line, he was a length to the good of Chasing Rachel in posting 39.38sec (-45) with favourite Venetian Mick having to settle for third ahead of Hutton's other finalist Jet Stream Jane who was detached early but powered home in fourth.

28/02 - Shelbourne Park: Tote Gold Cup - Coloursaregreen

COLOURSAREGREEN (17/2) credited trainer Paul Hennessy with a remarkable eighth victory in the 28 stagings of the event with a superb display to land the €16,000 Tote Gold Cup final over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park.

It was only a third career victory for the Brendan Cocoman and Ian Cunningham-owned son of King Sheeran and Magical Mary but always looked on the cards when he loomed up on the outside of favourite Solo And Go early in the back straight.

In truth, the pivotal moment came a little earlier when Coloursaregreen just clipped the back end of Solo And Go as he attempted to cut across from trap five, the lost momentum preventing the market leader racing clear.

Having gone on along the back straight, the Hennessy dog was always in charge and came home three lengths to the good of a gallant Solo And Go, whose finishing position stuck to the rails emphasised how tough a draw five was for him, in clocking 28.38sec.

Ballymac Siun was third, another length and a half away.