The weekend weather has left the formbook washed out with some bizarrely slow ‘fastest times’ this week.
None of which affected the star of the week for a third consecutive time, Ballykett Beauty who delivered the Shelbourne Marathon Final.
The other Shelbourne nomination goes to fastest Comerford Cakes semi winner Ballymac Beach.
At Cork, Skywalker Logan was outshone for the first time by Clonbrien Prince who won the fastest semi final of the 575 yard Slyne Memorial. Braveheart Bobby won the fastest semi of the Kingdom Derby at Tralee.
Finally, a couple of observations that you might have missed. First, Derry introduced the shortest race distance in Ireland, a 260 yard sprint. Second, the number of ageing runners still on the cards in Ireland, surely an indication of a dog shortage? The best example was Saturday’s meeting at Galway where, of the 11 races, three were won by 2014 whelps and two by 2013 whelps.
| CLONMEL | 29.38 | SMOKESTACK STAN | (Farloe Blitz-Affection, Jan 17) |
| CURRAHEEN PARK | 30.98 | CLONBRIEN PRINCE | (Confident Rankin-Mongys Rach, Jul 16) |
| DERRY | 16.93 | BURMA BUBBLE | (Ballymac Vic-Rampant Razzle, May 17) |
| DRUMBO PARK | 29.12 | BAYVIEW GERRY | (Greenwell Hulk-Across The Miles, Feb 17) |
| DUNDALK | 28.90 | BUCKOS AVA | (Skywalker Puma-Lemon Mel, Jan 17) |
| ENNISCORTHY | 29.21 | MAIREADS GRACE | (Laughil Blake-Winning Impact, May 17) |
| GALWAY | 19.53 | BORDER ELECTRIC | (Skywalker Puma-Borna Gem, Jul 17) |
| KILKENNY | 29.35 | LIKELY GIFT | (Droopys Cain-Luminous Flower, Mar 17) |
| LIFFORD | 19.42 | IZZYS RAINBOW | (Sparta Maestro-Izzys Girl, Jul 15) |
| LIMERICK | 28.91 | BLING BLING BOSS | (Premier Fantasy-Jogon Ruth, Oct 16) |
| MULLINGAR | 29.49 | KILCOONEY MAID | (Ballymac Vic-Doonalley June, Aug 15) |
| NEWBRIDGE | 17.72 | TALKITWALKIT | (Skywalker Puma-Cabbage, Jan 17) |
| SHELBOURNE PARK | 58.81 | BALLYKETT BEAUTY | (Kinloch Brae-Tiermana Hawk, Oct 15) |
| 28.73 | BALLYMAC BEACH | (Ballymac Vic-Rockaway Beach, Mar 17) | |
| THURLES PARK | 29.22 | BOHERNA MAX | (Chenzhou Boy-Free To Sky, Sep 16) |
| TRALEE | 28.34 | BRAVEHEART BOBBY | (Secreto-Leigh Fancy, Sep 16) |
| WATERFORD | 28.88 | MAD MASH ALEX | (Kinloch Brae-Groupie Doll, Apr 17) |
| YOUGHAL | 29.15 | BELINDAS COVER | (Tullymurry Act-Ardnacrusha Lady, Oct 16) |
