BRILLIANT ACTION AT CLONMEL AS ROXANNE LANDS THE FEATURE

Peter Farrell

It was a big night at Clonmel on Sunday as the track hosted four sweepstake finals and the feature was landed in emphatic style as Imokilly Roxanne claimed the €2,500 to the winner John White Memorial Guys & Dolls 525.

Trained by Adam Dunford for Michael O’Driscoll, Imokilly Roxanne has amassed a terrific record thus far in her short career and she was bidding for a fifth straight victory when installed as the 8/13 favourite. Running from trap one, it didn’t take long for ‘Roxanne’ to set out her stall as she bolted from red to take the final by the scruff of the neck. Drifting to the middle of the track on the run-up, the daughter of Coolavanny Hoffa and Cunnigar Spice developed a three length advantage into the back and she flew down the far side to stop the sectional clock at an impressive 16.11. Showing no signs of any let up around the bottom two bends, Imokilly Roxanne stayed on in emphatic fashion as she crossed the line four lengths clear of longtime rival, Grant A Wish. The time was a fast 28.85 and there is a lot to like about this very consistent May pup.

TOMMY & BRIDGET MARY DUNFORD MEMORIAL BITCH STAKE

The first of the finals on offer was the €1,400 to the winner Tommy & Bridget Mary Dunford Memorial Bitch Stake and this was landed by Bushpark Mel, who built on a mighty impressive semi final victory.

Born To Perform was all the rage in this contest after her blistering 28.11 effort in the semis, however, Bushpark Mel was very impressive in her own right when landing her semi final contest and she went to traps as the 15/8 second favourite to prevail. In truth, once heading her market rival at traprise, the writing was on the wall given her powerful running style from halfway. Donning the red jacket, the Graham Holland-trained star, owned by the Upstairs-Club-Synd, broke with intent and paced up nicely to barge her way through at the opener. In doing so, the daughter of Malachi and Please Blossom drew clear of her rivals down the back, while posting a rapid 16.13 to the penultimate bend. Upping the ante of the final bend, ‘Mel’ was flawless in crossing the line with six lengths to spare over Daleroad Poppy in second. The time was a rapid 28.49.

JOHN WHITE MEMORIAL MARATHON FINAL

There was another handsome €1,300 on offer in the 790-yard marathon contest in race nine and this was landed in predictable style by the powerful Fashion Model, who franked her form from one-week prior.

Jointly owned by Paul Horig and Stephen Bourke, this lady looks to have found her calling over the extended distances and it wasn’t surprising to see her installed as the 3/10 jolly after going some seventy spots quicker than her nearest rival one week prior. Running from three, Fashion Model was the first to shop at traprise, however, was outpaced on the run to the opener by Brackile Roxy in one. That said, it didn’t take long for ‘Model’ to regain the incentive as she powered past her rival crossing the finish line for the first time. In doing so, the daughter of Good News and Coolavanny Chick quickly manufactured a three length lead and she was emphatic in pressing home her advantage to win by five and a half lengths from Brackile Roxy in second. The time was 44.52 and expect to see more from this lady throughout 2025 over six-bends.

MUSTANG SEALS DOUBLE FOR HORIG & BOURKE

Indeed, it proved a fruitful night for the Horig/Bourke partnership as in the very next race, which was the Sporting Press A1/A2 550, Mustang Marydel made-all at huge odds of 9/1.

De Bono Lad was the one the punters came for in this contest as he went to traps at slender odds of 6/5, however, he never really got going as Mustang Marydel, in contrast, pinged out of five to lead. Showing a lovely turn of early speed to take a two length lead into the back, the daughter of Magical Bale and Mustang Kay Cee set a powerful gallop to the third and in truth, she never looked like surrendering her advantage. Swinging wide off the last, this gave Mayflower Sienna a brief chance of reeling in the leader, however, this was short-lived as the beautiful fawn powered up the home straight to win by a good half-length. The time was a swift 30.19.

THE MINELLA HOTEL AO/A1 525

The first of the one-off open events was landed in thrilling style by Tinahue Pappone as he made it back-to-back wins for owner John Fox.

A 2024 Laurels semi finalist, Tinahue Pappone went to traps as the 11/8 favourite to prevail but he walked from trap two to leave himself with plenty of work to do in order to land the spoils. In contrast, Chesterfield Pal bolted from the stripes to dictate proceedings, however, ’Pappone’ recovered brilliantly with a lovely turn of early speed to move into second. Chesterfield Pal set a blistering gallop down the far side and held a three length lead in stopping the sectional clock in a brisk 16.15. This contest was far from over, however. Tinahue Pappone was picking his spots in behind and when the son of Toker Forest eventually decided to go around the outside, he proved too strong on the run for home. Three in a line crossing the lollipop with Barefoot On Song also involved, Tinahue Pappone got the nod, by a short head, in 29.25.

THE TALBOT HOTEL AO/A1 550

After landing the valuable Bitch Stake prior in the evening, Graham Holland also landed the Talbot Hotel A0/A1 550 with his track specialist, Tempestade.

Owned by Larry Dunne, Tempestade has a real passion for Clonmel and last night’s victory brought his tally at the Suirside venue to six wins from ten starts. Generously sent to traps as a 2/1 chance, the jolly took a flier and paced up brilliantly to round the opener with a comfortable four length advantage. In doing so, the son of Droopys Sydney and Rural Aloha was already home and hosed barring incident and he continued his relentless gallop to cross the line with six lengths in hand over Lemon Ted in second. A very likeable performance from this consistent brindle, the time was a rapid 30.04.

THE BORN WARRIOR @ STUD OPEN 525

The big-priced winners kept on coming and in the Born Warrior Open 525, Its My World landed the spoils at double figure odds of 12/1.

Indeed, Thomas Keane’s tracker is an exceptional talent on his day and this is reflected by some stunning performances, not least his 28.49 winning run from back in October of 2024. However, few would have expected him to land the spoils after a couple of rough passages in his last few starts. That said, he tore up the script as he made full use of a plumb in trap one. Breaking well, the son of Pat C Sabbath excelled on the rails early on to take a commanding lead into the back and in truth, his rivals had no answer to Keane’s charge down the back. Staying on to secure a comfortable two and a half-length victory over Rosy Cross in second, the time was a good 28.89.

THE GPP IFR LASER 3300 OPEN 550

The last of the €1,000 to the winner one-off races was also landed by a big-priced winner as That’s It Jack got back to winning ways for the first time since a fine victory at Cork at Christmas.

This fellow is jointly owned by Liam Cahill and Tony Lacey and is top-class on his day, as shown from some stunning form around Limerick in the summer of 2024 when dipping under 31-seconds for the 575-yards. As a result, his starting price of 11/2 was a little bit of an insult despite the fact Yorkie Ollie occupied hot favouritism at odds of 4/5. That said, he was a little fortunate to turn the opener in a handy position after serious traffic, which put paid to the chances of Yorkie Ollie amongst others. It was Creative Ozzy that took the field into the back straight, however, it didn’t take long for That’s It Jack to hit the front given his powerful running style. Opening up in eye-catching style around the bottom two bends, the son of Malachi and Clongeel Mills quickly developed a four and a half length lead over Creative Ozzy as he stopped the clock in 30.18.