Edel Twomey’s Witches Belle (Droopys Scolari-Lemon Belle, Feb 14) was a 10-1 winner of the €5,000 Joe Dunne Memorial at Shelbourne Park.
The 61lb blue, who had only scraped into the final by a head, broke among the field as Riverside Oscar (T1) set the pace. He was pursued by kennelmate Clares Rocket (T2) who was moderately away but showed good early to loom upside favourite Droopys Roddick (T4) and pushed him wide at the first bend.
Oscar continued to dominate from Rocket with Belle showing great track craft to follow them out of the second bend. Going into the third bend, Belle and Roddick were closing on the two in front. Oscar cleared the bend with a lead as Belle moved into second and Roddick was forced to check.
It was all about the run home Belle pulled alongside on the run-in to get home by a length and a half in 28.78, with Roddick a further length back in third.
Larry Dunne’s Slippery Fred (Brett Lee-Steamy Windows, Mar 12) went within two spots of his personal best over course and distance with a 28.09 run in the heats of the Gold Cup.
Geoff Parnaby’s Tarsna Havana (Skywalker Puma-Tarsna Sal, Aug 13), a litter brother to Leger winner Skywalker Rory, could not have been more impressive when finding two spots on his previous best. He destroyed a top class field within yards of trap rise and although Lenson Sanchez was closing on the run-in, the winning margin was still half a length in 28.19.
Other winners: Proud Graham (28.39), Lenson Panda (28.49), Toolmaker Scot (28.51), Highview Event (28.54).
