Fastest time of day Prince

3 year and 8 months old and records 28.49 (fastest time of day). The Prince story keeps going on. Showing his old early pace he cleared the corner and away he went to win by 5 lengths. This was his 19 career win from 80 starts. Amazing................ Martin and Ginge have done a great job with the dog keeping him fresh of which we are most grateful.

Best Weekend of the Winter

Sadly I won't be over for the best weekends coursing as I have a prior engagement down in London to celebrate fellow syndicate member Ray's birthday. For me Lixnaw has everything, top class entry of dogs, a quality field, facilities, loads of local dogs that I know well and 5 star hospitality. It won't be the same in the Hammersmith Travel Lodge. The success of the meeting year on year is dependant on the many hours the lads put in to the field, club and hares.

In previous years I have had a runner in the local with Zig Zag Heraito(reached Semi Final) and ZigZag Pirate who was just beaten in the Final last year. The Pirate is now owned and trained by Batty Heaphy. Despite Batty's endless hours of training I don't think even he can get the Pirate to beat Jobys Gladiator in the first round of the All Aged Cup. Should he do the impossible he could well meet Owen Mckenna's Catunda Ashmore who reached the Derby Semi Final last year in Clonmel. Also in the Cup are Bigdanstheman, Daleroad Champ and Flowonlovelyriver all owned by the Lixnaw lads.

In Derby I'll go for Tomdickandharry but it looks very tough with 64 dogs in the Stake. In the Oaks I'll chance Eshway Laura and Farneys Alice.

Lets hope all the dogs come off sound and the weather stays kind.

The Razor Returns

Razor Ashmore the 2007 Derby Winner returns to action this weekend at Freshford in the all age stake. Also appearing is the 2007 winner Micro Mover. The best coursing weekend of the season is at Lixnaw kicking, oh what a meeting. I will preview that in a separate article.

Last weekend's preview threw up the new Derby Favourite in King Saunders who romped home at Milltown Malbay. The Pat Curtain trained pup is now just 10/1 for the Derby. Of the others marked down, the best we did was Racoon reaching the Quarter Final before going down to runner up To The Point. Castlemartyr proved his well being when winning the Island Cup at Island. It looks like the coursing dog of the year as another great year ahead of him.

Avenue on Track

Avenue Guide returned to action tonight at Monmore. Needing the run he showed some nice early pace before blowing up on the run for home. He was beaten by 2 lengths in 29.75. I'm sure he will be back to winning ways soon. The Prince is out tomorrow afternoon on the BAGS. I think he could also need the run but you never know.

Nice to Lance's Icemaid Snapper (29.69 FTON) and Brutus (29.71) win their heats at Coventry last night, both are now in Sundays Final which is over 625 metres. It was nice to see my eye for the pups is still there as Farloe Tico landed the odds at Nottingham on Monday night.

Weekend Ahead

More well bred pups take to the field this weekend and the one that catches the eye and appears to be flying at home is King Saunders at Milltown-Malbay. King Sanders is a full brother of last weeks Derby Stake winner Fullerton. He is out of Droopys Saunders x Fiery Mary daughter of Fiery Lucy that bred Castle Pines and Droopys Caesar. I'm sure connections will have an eye on Eshwary Valley (Ashmore View x Eshwary Girl), the full sister Itellyouruby won the Oaks Stake at Edenderry last weekend. The local lads of Lixnaw will be heading to Castleisland where coursing dog of the year makes his reappearance in the Cup. The Derby Stake looks very tough on the advanced card and breeding I'd suggest Raccoon, Bexhill Bolt or Shines Rocket in the dog stake and Vacume Glideaway or Mountain Angel in the bitch stake.

I don't tend to check the track results daily anymore due to time allowances. I did catch the St Ledger Semi Finals to see Iceman Brutus sadly eliminated behind the ever so impressive Bubblt Totti. He must win with a clear run on Tuesday. Farloe Tico caught my eye in the Puppy Competition up at Nottingham and looked to be a massive price at 8/1 for an improving pup going the right way.

Credit Crunch ..........................My Arse

My final thoughts on the weekend was how much the credit crunch had effected the coursing clans of Kerry. We worked out that over 350,000 euros had been spent by the owners of the dogs and bitches in the Oaks and Derby Stakes. With a sapling averaging over 1,000 euros with rearing, training and entry fees all on top you can't knock the committment to reach the hallowed ground of Clonmel. The pub on Sunday night was rammed with locals drinking as if it was being given away.

Early Success for the Kerry Boys

As the coursing season swings in the full season it was nice to see the dogs that have been catching the headlines in the Sporting Press. In the first week at Ballyheigue Lixnaw lad Donal O'Connoll won All Aged Bitch with Speckled Wood (Ran up Bitch Trial Stake in Lixnaw last year), Mark Ryall(reared the Prince) won the Duffer with Bigdantheman and Johnny O Keefe landed the Cup with Daleroad Champ. Over the weekend we attended the meeting at Abberdorney. Whilst the coursing was great it was no where is the class of the Lixnaw meeting. The success of the lads of Lixnaw continued when Fullerton (Droopys Sanders x Fiery Mary) won the Derby Trial Stake in great style. The dogs is owned by a local syndicate including Pawdie Lyons. Needless to say we had a few on Sunday night. I didn't quite get Pawdie local tipple of Brandy and Red. My head was booming enough on Monday morning just on the whiskey. Fingers crossed Fullerton gets to Clonmel in one piece and shows his best form. The photographs are of Paddy's 1927 Derby Trophy (White Sandhills) and the 1987 Irish Cup Trophy (Im Only Saying) both of which he bred.

Saplings and Pups for Sale

Whilst over I viewed all the local pups. The legendry Paddy Flaherty had three litters for sale for the track. If any of the listed take your fancy give him a ring. All are reared in the real Kerry countryside and are always hunted well. Paddy has an endless list of people wanting him to rear pups for him. He normally has to refuse but there are are number of both track and field championships who have been reared there. The place is steeped in coursing history.

Anyway back to the pups :-

Droopys Kewell x Along Came Molly (28.97, 28.86 Tralee) October 2007 - Totally untried
2 dogs, pick of three

Droopys Kewell x I'm Only Sal (Proven dam, held track record) June 2008 - 3 dogs 3 bitches

Westmead Jo x Gab a Granny (Spit the Bill x Golf) - Full sister to Iflookscouldkill, broke four track records) 3 dogs 3 bitches

Contact 087 9038806 or 087 27777721

Come on now Raymond

There is no time that's wasted when you are away in Kerry. No sooner as I'd arrived we were out driving down deserted water logged lanes collecting Black sallys for the hares. The hares like nothing better than a "Sally". They strip them bare, it's unbelievable. The picture show Ray and Paddy loading the truck up with the branches. I can confirm that the Kerrymen have never heard of a Risk Assessment. The blade on the cutting tool ensured you kept your distance!!! After the first day of coursing we helped drive the hares in for worming and checking. It was like a military operation. It does not matter about your background every one helps. Mike Mckenna owner of College Causeway, Killahan Phanter and Droopys Noel was driving them down to us at the bottom part of the run. Ray had his own technique that he assured us was well practised. It involved consistently tripping over the fence, shouting oh shit and waving his 1970's style bomber jacket. I was not totally convinced but then again it was working.

Kerry Sire Talk

When going over to Ireland I always find it fascinating to hear the latest views of all the latest sires. Whats going and whats not. It was interesting to hear that Droopys Maldini is not rated at all. There were a number of poor early litters in the area and gossip being gossip it flies round the dog community. They were of the opinion the pups were heartless! Must say those I have seen in the UK mopping up competition after competition certainly project a stud dog that is flying. I noticed that his stud fee had even increased to 1200 euros. It's a funny game we are all so mad about!! A couple of years ago Hondo Black was doubted but just look at his offspring. He can throw early pace and stayers. The sire I'm trying to follow is Yeah Man given one of ours pups is off him. With 170 offspring on the ground I was hoping he would have thown a bit more. Don't get me wrong he has thrown Puppy Derby Finalist Droopys Miller and a number of nice pups. I noticed Droopys Snowdrop fly on Sunday in the Newbridge Oaks. This bitch looks like one to follow I think. At the coursing I met up with James O'Connoe who bred Jameson our pup. From what he has heard from the litter there is a nice bitch who is schooling very well, one dog with a syndicate who are happy, another one just kennelled up which leaves ours. Fingers crossed !!

Hare Husbandry

I'm just back from Ireland where I spent the weekend having a weekend of doggie action. Most of the weekend was spent outside so I'm totally shattered since returning home this afternoon. The weekend kicked off on Friday evening when I joined the gents of Lixnaw Coursing Club trying to catch hares in the Kerry countryside, about 30 minutes from Tralee.

We left the cars as dusk approached and set a series of nets at well positioned points. The lads were very professional in their approach to the whole evening. They had equipment to ensure they could see well when the moon went in behind the clouds.

It was very bizarre walking the waterlogged fields in the pitched black of the evening just a mile from the sea. Between the four of us we mangaed to catch four hares, a good nights work. The hares are looked after with the utmost care. The lads had a proven technique that seemed to work very well. There was one very clever hare who managed to give us a slip despite our efforts to track him down. The hares caught were taken to the enclosure at the coursing field.

Prince Back on Winning Trail

The Prince scorched round Monmore on Saturday in 29.02 (+10) winning by 5 lengths at 4/1!! Sadly I was away in Ireland but he showed some nice early race and also stayed on very strongly.

This was his 18th win from 79 starts. He was starting to worry he may be losing he pace and that age may be finally be catching up with him. Whilst he continues to enjoy his racing we will keep him going.

Well done to Martin and the lads.

Jameson October Update

Finally, just settled up with Paul for Jameson. He has plenty on his plate with a young baby girl (Sarah), a recovering wife and plenty of pups to school, feed and gallop.

The bill takes him from 6/8 to the 26/11 which is around the time when he will start schooling. In reality he will start schooling may be a fortnight before that depending on what way he is shaping on the gallop.

The breakdown is as follows :-

8 Weeks rearing @ £20
8 Weeks preparing for Schooling @ £25
Registration Fees @ £25

Total Due £385

Paul will get a picture of Jameson on the gallops this weekend. Some of the dogs have the cough and it is contained. It’s warm and wet which are the conditions for it.

The first Yeah Mans will be very useful but will lack early pace. They have only had sprints to date so will have to see what they do over 4 bends but they have huge raw pace.

Our next payment is due on the 25^th October. Payable as normal please. We have a small pot building which will hopefully take care of transports costs when we have them. I’ve spoken to Lance the Iceman to expect an arrival early in the New Year!!!! If you need the bank details again then please mail me. (LF can you settle up before your 6 month holiday)

Jameson Update

Jameson is progressing well out with Paul in Northern Ireland. He is a very leggy type of dog who we can't rush. He was taken to the track at Lifford last week to be marked up and let him hear and watch a couple of trials. He was very keen to take part which is a good sign.

Paul will continue with his home work and take him for his first handslip trial in about 6 weeks.

Good Night Out

A good night was had by all 19 members and guests on our annual syndicate night out at Monmore. It was great to see every one and meet with friends old and new.
The Prince tried hard but could not make the most of his drop in grade. Next time, perhaps!!