Michael J O'Donovan's Ryhope Beach clinched victory in The Shelbourne Open 600 Final on Saturday night, delivering a stellar performance with a winning time of 32.23. The packed Shelbourne Park witnessed an exhilarating race as the son of Droopys Sydney – Calzaghe Jan claimed the €15,000 prize for owner Alison Bandurak.
Kyanite Kate, trained and owned by Frank Harvey, set the pace throughout the race. Despite her strong performance, Ryhope Beach chased her down, finishing just half a length behind at the second finishing line. Liam Dowling's Ballymac Gizmo followed in third place, six lengths behind the leaders.
In another thrilling event, Robert Gleeson's Droopys Metaphor secured victory in The Retired Greyhound Trust A0 525 Final, representing the Newmarket Racing syndicate. With a bright future ahead, Droopys Metaphor crossed the finish line first in 28.36, claiming the winner's prize of €2,500 as the 6/4 favourite. Owen McKenna's Lets Go Bubbles finished second in the race.
Sarah Kinsella, spokesperson for Greyhound Racing Ireland, commended Ryhope Beach's victory, emphasizing the deserving nature of the win and the significant €15,000 prize for owner Alison Bandurak. With an enthusiastic crowd filling the Dublin venue, Kinsella highlighted the upcoming events, including the Champion 550, the Islandbridge 350, the Spring Derby final, and more, promising another thrilling weekend for greyhound racing enthusiasts. Stay tuned for all the action!