HONOURS EVEN ON NIGHT TWO OF THE J.P & PAULINE RYAN MEMORIAL LIMERICK OAKS

Peter Farrell

The J.P & Pauline Ryan Memorial Limerick Oaks has delivered a series of high-quality performances over the past fortnight and, for the second consecutive week, identical winning times were recorded, underlining just how competitive the event remains heading toward next weekend’s semi-finals.

On this occasion, Badly Behaving and Youandme Babe shared top billing on the clock, both runners bouncing back from second-place finishes in round one. By contrast, impressive opening-round winners Magical Poppet and Lennies Madge had to settle for minor honours.

Badly Behaving arrived as the reigning Galway Oaks champion and, having been outclassed by Lennies Madge in round one, produced a sharp response to make every yard count for Shaun Conway and the St-Patricks-Valencia-Syndicate. Well drawn in trap three, she broke brilliantly to lead on the run-up and held a three-length advantage into the back straight. Magical Poppet edged past Arrow Twirl at the opener to give chase, but the daughter of Ballymac Cashout–Ballymac Cams continued to set a ferocious gallop on the approach to the three-quarter mark. Sent off at 4/1, Badly Behaving looked on course for another career success and, although Magical Poppet closed all the way to the line, the leader held firm by a length and a half in a brisk 28.50. Arrow Twirl and Kacies Beauty filled the remaining qualifying positions.

BABE BOUNCES BACK

Those figures were matched in heat three as the Paul Hennessy-trained Youandme Babe improved on last week’s effort with her trademark late surge to record a thirteenth career victory.

Owned by Paul Hynes, Youandme Babe went to traps a 7/4 chance in a five-runner contest, but Ridgemount Sky flew from trap four to take a commanding early lead. Lennies Madge, meanwhile, missed the break out wide and trailed the field around the opening bend. Ridgemount Sky held a seven-length advantage down the back, yet the powerful finishing kick of Hynes’ runner always kept the outcome in doubt. Halving the deficit at the three-quarter mark, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout–Jaytee Pearl closed rapidly and swept past the gallant leader approaching the final bend to score by a length and a half. Lennies Madge again caught the eye with a strong late run for third, two and three-quarter lengths back, while Burgess Bonnie secured the final qualifying berth. The time, as mentioned, was an identical 28.50.

HOPE REMAINS UNBEATEN

In the opening heat, Magical Hope maintained her unbeaten record in the stake as Patrick and Donal Guilfoyle’s runner brought up a twelfth career win.

An off-the-pace winner in round one, Magical Hope again had to overcome adversity after missing the break from trap five, before showing rapid improvement in the early yards to move second behind Ballymartin Neady. Drawing alongside the leader entering the back, she struck the front but was soon challenged by the improving Rossa Abi approaching the sprint boxes. Rossa Abi looked a major threat but checked her stride around the penultimate bend, allowing the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat–Magical Poppy, the 6/4 favourite, to assert again. Staying on strongly up the Limerick hill, Magical Hope held Rossa Abi by one length in 28.75, with Ballymartin Neady and Whizzing Annie also progressing.

BUCKO LANDS NOVICE STAKE

On the undercard, Tyrap Bucko (7/4) landed the €1,200-to-the-winner ON2 525, maintaining a flawless start to his career for owner David Carroll.

Successful in his earlier heats in 28.93 and 28.94, he again dipped under 29 seconds, coming from off the pace to complete a hat-trick of victories. Drawn in trap three, ‘Bucko’ broke only moderately but turned in a handy position, two lengths behind Boozed Wish in trap two. The leader looked vulnerable approaching the closing bends as Carroll’s charge edged ever closer, and the son of Dromana Bucko–Tiermana Jetty struck the front inside the final 25 yards, surging past the long-time leader to score by a length and a half in 28.97.