Coolavanny Wendy makes full use of draw to take Unraced Stake prize at Clonmel

Coolavanny Wendy, owned by Mark Lowther, caused a minor upset when winning the Red Mills and Track Supporters’ Club Open Unraced Stake on Saturday night at Clonmel.

The Fraser Black-trained dog was the best-drawn runner in the race and made full use of his position to secure an all-the-way victory in the five-dog race, in the absence of Razldazl Tierna.

While the son of Premier Fantasy and former Oaks runner-up Cabra Millie flashed out and ensured himself a clear path down the outside, odds-on favourite Boylesports Duke met resistance as he moved right on the run-up.

The sole wide seed turned in front of Airmount Tess, with the favourite recovering to turn in third place.

The leader moved some three clear to halfway, but the chasing Airmount Tess was bumped as Boylesports Duke assumed the chase position.

Five lengths separated the leader and the chasing favourite as they raced to the third turn, and the pace-setting Coolavanny Wendy galloped relentlessly to cross the line with three and a half lengths to spare, in 28.35.

The Twomey family, Midleton, has enjoyed a fine run at the southern tracks in recent months, and that hot streak extended to Shelbourne Park when Witches Belle landed the final of the Joe Dunne Memorial Puppy Stake on Saturday night.

The strong-running bitch, owned by Edel Twomey, turned close and raced little more than a length off the pace being set by Riverside Oscar as they raced down the back.

With Droopys Roddick and Droopys Tee in trouble, the race was between the front two as they raced the final bends.

The leader railed well turning into the straight, but Witches Belle is very strong over this trip and powered down the outside to score by a length and a half, in 28.78.

The first round of the Best Car Parks Gold Cup took place at Shelbourne Park, and it began with a real thriller from which the Pat Buckley-trained Lenson Panda emerged a narrow victor.

Juvenile Derby runner-up and Gain Select Stakes winner Hee Haws Sheriff once again showed sensational early pace to go clear but Lenson Panda produced a terrific effort to get up on the line for a short-head victory in 28.49, with the strong-running Borna Sounds just a head further back.

Geoff Parnaby’s Tarsna Havana posted a brilliant time in the second heat, when leading all the way to deny favourite Lenson Sanchez.

A litter brother to Leger winner Skywalker Rory, he came out under the bars and was nicely clear into the turn.

In a race which quickly developed into a match, the leader stayed strongly but had just half a length to spare over Lenson Sanchez, in a flying 28.17.

Proud Graham rode a couple of early bumps before moving clear to take the third heat from Burgess Tadhg, in 28.39.

The fastest time of the night came in the fourth heat, in which Slippery Fred made all the running to beat Fair Taxes by a length and a half, in 28.09.

Highview Event was prominent early and pulled away late to win heat five in good style, posting 28.54, while Toolmaker Scot led from the second bend en route to a smooth victory over Burgess Four, in 28.51.