Orla power wins at Shelbourne before the youngsters shine

04/04 - Shelbourne: Spk Bookmakers Easter Cup - Lemon Orla

LEMON ORLA (4/1) proved just too strong for favourite Lennies Tank to land the €30,000 final of the Shelbourne Park Bookmakers Easter Cup over 550 yards.

Lennies Tank had led from an early stage and looked in command when closest pursuer Lemon Hidalgo was forced to check at the second bend but Droopys Faithful and Lemon Orla closed him down along the back.

It was clear from three-quarters that it was race on with Lemon Orla railing into second entering the home straight as the leader swung wide.

The duo raced wide apart to the line with the evidence of the camera showing that Lemon Orla, trained by Tom O’Neill for TJ Lyons and Noel Crowley, had prevailed by a neck in 29.90sec.

Callaway Knegare stayed on late to claim third a further two lengths away.

Lemon Orla was purchased at the sales in Kilkenny in July 2024 for €3,700 on the bench and is now a Classic champion, while for trainer O’Neill it was a second Classic victory at Shelbourne in two years as he also captured the Shelbourne Open 600 last year with her litter-brother Ballyhooly Bruno.

18/04 - Limerick: Con & Annie Kirby Memorial - Bouncing Monarch

BOUNCING MONARCH produced a stunning record-breaking performance to land the €80,000 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial final over 525 yards at Limerick.

Sent off third favourite at 3/1 behind market leaders Bockos Gold and Ballymac Setanta, the Michael O'Donovan-trained dog never gave that duo or any of his rivals a look-in as he flew out of trap one to take early command.

A couple of lengths clear entering the back straight, he extended that margin throughout and came home fully seven lengths clear of dead-heating duo Ballymac Setanta and Ballycowen Frank, who could not be separated for second giving the last-named's trainer O'Donovan a share of the forecast.

Impressive as the performance was, the winning time topped it all with Bouncing Monarch stopping the clock at 27.77sec, six spots inside the previous track record set by Ballymac Danica.

Prior to being sent to O'Donovan for a Kirby Memorial challenge, owner Fradgley had himself trained the January 2024 son of Deerjet Sydney and Lemon Elsa to three Category One finals in England, the Nottingham Puppy Classic, Steel City Cup at Sheffield and Monmore's Winter Derby.

26/04 - Kilkenny: Champion Open Unraced - Carrick Becks

CARRICK BECKS, trained by Robert Gleeson for Thomas Glynn, was an impressive winner of the €13,000 Kilkenny Track Champion Open Unraced.

The August 2024 son of Doolin Duke and Droopys Beaufort did not open his account until the semi-finals but followed up victory at that stage with an emphatic performance in the decider.

He broke smartly from the inside trap before quickly asserting at the head of affairs and was a length clear by the turn.

He extended his advantage to around five lengths by the third bend and, although Grouchos Frank ran on strongly, Carrick Becks was never threatened as he came home two and a half lengths clear in posting 28.73sec.