English Derby favourite Droopys Roddick (Droopys Jet-Droopys Start, Apr 13) signalled his well-being with an impressive win in the heats of the Joe Dunne Memorial at Shelbourne Park.
Pat Buckley’s brindle trapped well but was outpaced to the turn by Riverside Oscar who took a length lead. As they raced along the backstraight Roddick began to close. He made his challenge on the outside around the third and fourth bends before hitting the front on the run-in. He eventually crossed the line with two and a half lengths to spare over Graham Holland’s runner-up in 28.32.
The first leg of the Droopys double was instigated when the Robert Gleeson trained ‘Tee’ (Loughteen Blanco-Droopys Cyclone, Feb 14) made it four wins from six outings with a storming finish. At trap rise, Lantau Champ took up the running from Clares Rocket who soon went second. Rocket took up the running off the second bend and went two clear. Droopys Tee moved into second but was still a couple of lengths adrift coming around the last two bends. But a powerful late run saw Tee get up to win by a head in 28.53.
Draw: 1) Riverside Oscar, 2) Clares Rocket, 3) Droopys Roddick, 4) Witches Belle, 5) Lantau Champ, 6) Droopys Tee (W)
