Bookies clean up at Clonmel

Kingsmill Dynamo, trained in the south of Wexford by Aidan Roche, raced to a decisive victory over Colina Damask in the final of the Boylesports Derby at Powerstown Park. The festival probably suffered it's worth weather for a long time. At times the slippers hut was not visiable!

Kingsmill Dynamo took on Galway giant-killer Colina Damask in the deciding buckle, but this proved an anti-climax when the Dynamo took control from the slips and led up by no less than five lengths.

Throughout the Boylesports Derby there were a succession of shocks. Three of the four-strong Matthews team made their exits at this stage and were joined on the sidelines by their kennelmate Wallace Green on Tuesday afternoon. Coolcastle Point took over as favourite after the third round, only to be withdrawn before the quarters.
He was replaced by King Saunders at the head of the market, but he in turn was upstaged by Colina Damask. Shocks were also a feature in the Hotel Minella Oaks and this classic ended with Fortuna, trained by Charlie Faul for Brigid Frank, upsetting the odds laid on Whimsical Lady when holding on by half a length from a short slip.

I selected five against the field in both competitions yet the furthest one went was the Quarter Final. I imagine there are some pretty rich bookies come the end of the week.

Swimmingly Well at Clonmel

Ray dropped me a text from Clonmel to say coursing was on but the visability was shocking. The rain they have had there in recent week is of record levels. This picture of the greyhound stadium, which is normally packed every night, was taken off one of the forums. Of my selections the following are still standing.
Derby - Wallace Green, King Saunders, Droopys Galvin and Fullerton.
Oaks - Cleanaway Smurf, Candles Dripping, Feora Time

Clonmel Coursing Preview

The heavy ground at Powerstown, Clonmel will test all the greyhounds that head for the ultimate test tomorrow. Heavy rain in the region has supposed to have made the ground seriously testing and the trainers will have to call on all their skills to keep there charges fresh. Brendan Matthews is seeking his 8th Derby win and has four runners ready this year. Three litters have dominated the season as I have written about from the very season. Carrick Sam and Fiery Mary have five of their litters in either the Derby or Oaks, whilst Uptown Smurf has four Oaks qualifiers. The betting ring will be full of people willing back their opinions to the hilt so here is my five against the field for both Classics.

Boylesports Derby

Wallace Green - Strongest form in the field, landed the Corn Na Feile after trial stake.
King Saunders - My tip from the start of the season, I'm hoping his poor run against older dogs was just an off day.
Droopys Galvin - Serious pace but need to come away from slips better.
Catunda Donie - Well backed by connection who reached semi final last year.
Fullerton - Owned by Lixnaw pal Paudie "Whisky and Red" Lyons, off colour at Christmas, meets the other Lixnaw dog in round 1.

Hotel Minella Oaks

Newinn Droopy - My tip from early season, will love the hill.
Uptown Smurf - Has an all age win on her CV, should go a long way.
Candles Dripping - A must for the portfolio, won a tough all age bitch at Newcastle West confirming Trial Stake promise.
Cleanaway Smurf - Turned form around after changing kennel, still on the upgrade.
Feora Time - A selection at 100/1, Ray tried to buy this girl at Christmas. Clocked some serious times, may just shake a few up.

This Years Oaks Winner is............

Dan Brassil's Tupele landed the All aged Bitch in Doon last weekend. Despite some serious weather the coursing was reported to be very good. Newin Droopy, another of the Droopys Saunders x Fiery Mary litter, seriously impressed when winning the Oaks Trial Stake. The length of the long field at Clonmel will only bring the best out of her. This weekends Cup at Newcastle West looks mouth watering. All in the hat are Johnny Casanova, Catunda Ashmore, Lochbo Butch and the Abberdorney puppy winner Fullerton. This is some test for a young dog. Fingers crossed he runs well and comes off sound. The current Oaks favourite Candles Dripping, winner at Westport, takes on all ages bitches. In the field are Multiblonde and Ballymac Julie. My special interest this weekend is with the Lixnaw based Herhairwasblack that runs in the Oaks Stake. Owned by the legendary Lixnaw Donal O'Connell, should they beat Patsy Bryne's bitch in the first round it could be a good weekend.

Bexhill Eoin on Top of Coursing Sires

Bexhill Eoin heads the sires table as we are now in the second half of the coursing season. Eoin now has 13 qualifiers whilst Matt Hyland is tucked in behind with 11. Here's the table :-
Bexhill Eion -13 , Matt Hyland 11, Droopys Ceasar 5, Judical Best 4, Multibet 4, Asmore View 3, Droopys Saunders 3, Janey Mac Aroo 3, Why Tanyard Moon 3, bar Time 2, Dual Type 2, Misty Hyland 2, Trajectory 2, Tullamore 2, Boavista 1, Court House 1, Digital 1, Mountain Guest 1, Murtys Gang 1, Tynwald Smokey 1 ans Volga River 1.

2 / 2 Crafty & Castle Strike

Last week's confident selections, Crafty Hugo & Castlemartyr, both won well and are now both well set for the Champion Stakes come February. Crafty Hugo easily added the all age stake at Knockgraffon, whilst Castlemartyr beat my good friend Johnny O'Keefe's Daleroad Champ in the Final at Rathkeale. News emerged on Tuesday that Hugo will not run again until the National meeting as he picked up a muscle injury in his hind leg. The Bexhill Eoin x Carrick Sam litter threw another Trial Stake winner last week. Wallace Rock gave Brendan Matthews his 4th Derby qualifier after winning the Trial Stake in Enniscorthy. He is just 25/1 for the Derby. Litter sister, Tess Durbiville was just beaten in the Oaks Stake at Balbriggan. One to keep an eye on come February is Maytown Matty. He won well at Rathcormac, his clocks were well above average and is also fast away from slips.

King Saunders at Kilrush

Derby favourite King Saunders (Droopys Saunders x Fiery Mary) takes to all age company this weekend at Kilrush. I'm sure his entry will guarantee a big attendance. There are two litters standing out this winter to date Bexhill Eoin x Carrick Sam Mar 07 and the Droopys Saunders x Fiery Mary's. The Carrick Sams litter has three Trial Stake winners qualified for Clonmel whilst this weekend see's comrades Tess Durbville contest the Oaks Stake at Balbriggan and Wallace Rock in Derby Stake at Enniscorthy. The Fiery Mary litter are going equally well and Tiny Mary is in the Oaks Stake at Knockgrafton and Newinn Droopy at Kilrush. The other litter I watching is a Bexhill Eoin x Uptown Smurf. This litter contains a seriously fast dog in Fingue Smurf. He was beaten an injured dog in the Final at Edenderry but could well storm back if 100% at Rathcormac. The two solid winners for the weekend are Craftyy Hugo and Castlemartyr, they are both expected to win in their respective Cup on the way to the Champion Stakes.

Half Time for Coursing

This Sunday will mark the half way point in the 2008/9 Irish Coursing Season. The meeting midweek at New Ross saw as tipped Droopys Galvin romp home in the Derby Stake. This son of the Droopys Saunders x Fiery Mary could well be lifting the Derby title in Clonmel. Last weekend saw Derby King Brendan Matthews land a double at Carlow. The local lads are heading to Ballyduff where it looks like winning will be very tough given the very wet weather. I'll have an eye on Call Biddy in the all aged bitch as I tried to buy her at the end of last season. In the Cup I'll he hoping Donal's Flowonlovlyriver runs well but he may meet the very well fancied Siena Steel on day 2. To try and pick out a couple in the Oaks and Derby Stakes is impossible.

Soup & Sandwiches

Postsrcipt for last weekend. News is also reaching me of a raw novice getting involved in North Kerry coursing circles Margaret (aka Mrs Ryall in waiting (6/4 from 20’s with Paddy Power for a ring to appear before Clonmel 2009)) who was seen sporting a very clean pair of wellies as she dished out the soup and sandwiches on the Saturday/Sunday isn’t it great to see a bit of glamour coming into the game!

I believe there was many uttering the eternal words on Sunday evening “………………another good man gone”! Only time will tell I suppose if Mr Ryall’s emphasis moves away from coursing in the coming seasons.

Lixnaw Report & Weekend Outlook

From what I have heard from the lads in Lixnaw and reading the Sporting Press the meeting at Gransha, Lixnaw sounds to have been of the highest order. Having personally witnessed some of the hare catching and the hare husbandry on the Saturday I was over 2 weeks before the meeting the boys seem to be surpassing themselves by the year. The hares were described as "brilliant"and the meeting was run off in record time. Crafty Hugo advertised his Champion Stakes when winning the O'Carroll-O'Connor Cup.Paddy landed both of the Duffer Stakes. The other local lads dogs didn't run so well on the Sunday after some promising courses on the Saturday(Pirate lost in 2nd round). Best of all was Tomdickandharry that reached the Derby Semi Final. Elsewhere Razor Ashmore missed his comeback leaving the opportunity for Micro Mover to win. I doubt if we saw the Derby or Oaks winner last weekend however I have noted that Bexhill Eoin has recorded 7 Trials Stakes winners over the two weekends.

My 3 to follow this weekend are the Drumbane Rock to win the Cup in New Ross. The Abbeydorney winner should make fitness count and qualify for the Champion Stakes. At the same meeting another of the Droopys Saunders x Fiery Mary litter called Droopys Galvin makes his debut and could be another one of the litter heading to Clonmel. My final fancy is for Eshwary Brae (Ashmore View x Eshwary Girl) at Cappoquin.

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.

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.

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.

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.