P2P.ie: Esme Shelby finished a promising second at Dromahane in December when finishing up just a short head behind Lady Shirocco. The daughter of Arctic Cosmos stepped-up notably from her eigth placed effort to Fresh Appeal on her debut at Boulta three weeks earlier. The five-year-old was never too far off the pace, progressing nicely in the last mile and after jumping the penultimate fence was gaining ground rapidly on the winner, however the finish line came too early forcing her to settle for second place. The bay mare is out of a half-sister to five-time track winner Herons Heir and given the attributes she has shown to date, she will not be waiting long to enter the winners’ enclosure.