Nidge lives up to expectations

Although the quarter-finals of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks topped Saturday’s programme at Shelbourne, the greyhound most were looking forward to seeing was Droopys Nidge, who had produced the fastest ever debut in Ireland when posting 28.09 in the first round of the ECC Timber Champion Puppy Stake.

The pressure was on follow up and the Robert Gleeson-trained August pup, owned by William Hyslop, lived up to every expectation. The son of Westmead Hawk and Droopys Solange was sent off the 1-5 favourite to follow up, but there was just a moment of anxiety for punters and connections as he raced to the opening bend.

The favourite was forging ahead of Whisht A Mhic when cutting the corner and for one moment it looked as though there might be a clash. But, the pup really drove into the bend and that saw him around safely and well on his way to victory. Tyrur Nathan showed fine pace to get into second place late on but the race was long over as Droopys Nidge strode clear to a seven-length victory in 28.00.

Trainer Graham Holland had the two market leaders in the first semi-final and it was his Quick Blaze which came home in front, leading all the way for a three-length victory over Greenisle Legend in 28.56, with the winner’s kennel companion Elevenerife.

The Oaks line-up got a real shake-up, with a number of high-profile exits to go with the usual array of top-class performances.

Fastest of the round was that brilliant lady Borna Gem, who followed up her first-round victory with a typically strong display. In the absence of Champagne Jackie, from trap four, Ruairi Dwan’s bitch was sent off the 2-7 favourite from what looked an ideal draw along the rails.

The odds-on shot used that line to hold her position against early challenger Ten Four, and then scooted clear down the back for a three-and-a-half-length victory over Ridgedale Look, in 28.40.

Satin Jessie, trained by Neilus O’Connell for Eugene Sheehan, Mallow, had a tough-looking draw on the wide outside in the opening heat but the Southern Sprint winner is in the form of her life and made light of the potential problem by flashing out to the tune of a 1.97 sectional. She was never challenged as she strode to a two-and-a-half-length victory over the staying-on Jaytee Freddy in 28.53.

The same time was recorded by fastest first-round winner Shes A Terror in the very next heat. She, too, looked to have a tricky draw, in five, but the 4-6 favourite flew out and maintained a straight course to the first bend.

The Robert Gleeson-trained bitch raced middle around the opening bends and pulled right away to beat Lolos Ferrari by five and a half lengths. With differing degrees of misfortune, Sullane Fluffy, Droopys Muriel and Millies Tavern all failed to qualify.

Steely Passion, trained by Catherine Kerr, came from behind Dunclone Cannon to take the third heat in 28.77.

Aero Adele (formerly Razldazl Adele) produced a battling performance to take heat four for trainer Sally Williams. The 12-1 chance took a flyer from traps and led clear in the early stages. However, two-time Cork Oaks winner College Maybe showed terrific pace to take a narrow lead down to the third bend.

She could never shake off the early leader, who then battled back to score by half a length in 28.81. Limerick Oaks winner Coolavanny Pandy was one of the leading fancies for outright honours but found early trouble and trailed the field home.

Jaytee China was the last of the fancied runners to exit stage left, following what looked a very nasty tumble at the first bend. That came in heat six, where 7-1 chance Velvet All Jam, owned by Mike Buckley, Doon, made all the running to beat Lughill Isabel by a length and a half in 28.64.