All-Age Cup for young Cooraclare owner

Tullabrack, Cooraclare owner Cathal Meaney will have happy memories of the Tradaree coursing meeting as he came away from it last Sunday as winner of one of the major stakes. His Job Done upset the odds to win the all-age bitch stake and it was a proud occasion for him and the Meaney family when presented with John Murray Memorial Cup.
Trained by Pat Curtin of Ballgodoon Stud, Monard, Job Done deprived Tradaree Club president Sean Meehan, whose Oilean Mystic was beaten in the final.
Rock Music at 2-1 and Windfarm Swift and Clogher Road, both at 5-2, were the pre-coursing favourites for the all-age bitch stake (16). Other prices were 4-1 Adios Ventia and Cooga Aoife; 5-1 Highland Glow; 6-1 Maccos Pride, Have We Six, Woodpark Blaze; 8-1 Oilean Mystic, Pixie Lou Lou, Kerrykil Lass; 10-1 Fawn of Inagh, Lowland Deuce, Oilean Lilo, Job Done.
The odds were upset in the first few courses, Maccos Pride beating Adios Venetia by one length, Oilean Mystic having half a length on Rock Music, Pixie Lou Lou disposing of Have We Six by four lengths and Highland Glow ending the chances of Cooga Aoife, who picked up an injury, with a three-length advantage.
Fawn of Inagh was impressive in her fourth-length win over Lowland Deuce, Kerrykil Lass caused another upset when putting out local hope Woodark Blaze by four lengths while Oilean Lio was another who upset the formbook with a three-length win against Windfarm Swift while Job Done survived for the second day by beating Clogher Road by one length.
Prices on the second day were 6-4 Kerrykil Lass; 5-2 Oilean Mystic; 3-1 Job Done; 7-2 Pixie Lou Lou, Oilean Mystic; 4-1 Maccos Pride, Highland Glow; 6-1 Fawn of Inagh.
In the first of the quarter final buckles Oilean Mystic came from behind to beat Maccos Pride by two lengths, Highland Glow got the better of Pixie Lou Lou by three lengths, Fawn of Inagh impressed again by putting out the 6-4 favourite Kerrykil Lass by four lengths while Job Done advanced at the expense of Oilean Lilo, winning by two lengths.
At the semi-finals stage, Highland Glow was the new favourite at even-money to win the cup for the second year in succession for Ballina owner Jimmy Donovan. Other prices were 6-4 Job Done, 3-1 Oilean Mystic and Fawn of Inagh. However, Highland Glow made a semi-final exit when Oilean Mystic was a two-length winner while five lengths separated Job Done, the winner and Fawn of Inagh in the second semi-final.
Job Done (Windfarm-Larkspur Flash) remained unbeaten when getting two lengths ahead of Oilean Mystic (Droopys Caesar Oilean Dancer) in the final. The winner was nominated by Sean Stack and the runner-up was nominated and trained by Sixmilebridge native Gerry Meehan, a son of Sean Meehan.
Sixmilebridge was also deprived of a win in the final of the Olde House a-l age dog stake (16) when Pat Holland’s Luath Legend was beaten by Cool Storm, owned in Castleisland by John O’ Sullivan and his sister, Margaret Nelligan.
Windfarm Eiscir was all the rage before coursing and was installed as the even-money favourite to win his second cup of the season for trainer Pat Curtin and Ennis owner Claire Eustace.
However, his challenge did not last long as he was put out in the first round by the 8-1 chance and West Clare-owned Danema Blues.
Other first-round winners were Soapy Eyes, who came in as a reserve to beat Ole Gunner (10-1) by half a length; Cool Storm (6-1) who beat Fows Bow (10-1) by six lengths; Carrigmore Heart (8-1), who had one length on Kyle Tanyard (3-1) and the locally owned Millbridge Eoin (12-1), who beat the 3-1 chance Venture Out by half a length.
Five lengths was the winning distance for Kilcastle (10-1) when beating Forever West (8-1); Luath Legend (8-1) was four lengths faster than Aristo Prince (4-1) and Cillowen Bandit (6-1) had a length to spare when beating Carols Pass (7-1).
Cool Storm, Kilcastle, Luath Legend and Cillowen Bandit were all on the board at 2-1 on Sunday morning with 4-1 available for Danema Blue and Carrigmore Heart and 6-1 for Soapy Eyes and Millbridge Eoin. Soapy Eyes was the first qualifier for the semi-finals when scoring a two-length win over Danema Blues. He was followed by Cool Storm, who went a length clear of Carrigmore Heart.
In the bottom half Kilcastle registered a two-length win when he went to slips with Millbridge Eoin and Luath Legend grabbed the remaining semi-final spot when getting the better of Cillowen Bandit by half a length.
Cool Storm was now  the ½ favourite with Kilcastle at even money, Soapy Eyes at 2-1 and LuathLegend at 3-1.
Cool Storm was first to book a place in the final when coming from behind to beat Soapy Eyes by three lengths. The second semi-final was a much closer affair, with half a length the winning distance for Luath Legend over Kilcastle.
The honours went to Castleisland when Cool Storm (Musical Times-Coolvanny Storm) went three lengths clear of Luath Legend (Bexhill Eoin-Great White) in the final. Cool Storm was nominated by Jo’ Sullivan and N Nolan and Luath Legend by the owner.
The Derby trial stake (16) went to Tournafulla when Barrack Own, owned by Shane Curtin, won a just-up verdict in a short slip. The beaten finalist was Fishermans Eoin, carrying the hopes of Barry Harte from Kilkee.
The pre-coursing short odds were Barrack Own and Tromora Hogie, both at 2-1. Other prices were 3-1 Foxhall Boy, Windfarm Captain and Rivermount Joe; 4-1 Nothing Upstairs, That Lad There, Tellmewhynot, Parker Harry, Harrys Time and Woodpark Royal; 6-1 Fishermans Eoin, Ratatat and Janey AllStar, 8-1 Derrylough Sea.
In the first buckle Foxhall Boy got through with a six-length win over Nothing Upstairs. That Lad There was the next winner when beating Windfarm Captain by four lengths. It was another four lengths for Rivermount Joe when beating Mahonburg Magic, who came in as a reserve for Thee Gow while Fishermans Eoin had five-length on Tellmewhynot.
In the bottom half there was a clash between the pre-coursing favourites and Barrack Own got off to a good start when beating Tromora Hogie by five lengths. Parker Harry had three lengths on Ratatat while Derrylough Sea advanced at the expense of Harrys Time, having two lengths to spare. In the final Derby buckle of the day, Janey All Star beat Woodpark Royal by three lengths.
After the proceedings of the first day, Barrack Own was now the clear favourite at even money, followed by 2-1 for That Lad There, Rivermount Joe and Fishermans Eoin; 3-1 Foxhall Boy; 4-1 Parker Harry and Janey All Star and 10-1 Derrylough Sea.
The George Gallery-trained That Lad There, owned by an Ennis syndicate, was the first winner on Sunday when beating Foxhall Boy by four lengths. Fishermans Eoin came out on top in his clash with Rivermount Joe. Barrack Owen continued his good run with a three-length win over Parker Harry while Janey All Star survived with a one-length win over Derrylough Sea.
For the semi-finals, Barrack Own was now the 1-2 favourite with That Lad There and Fishermans Eoin at 5-2 and Janey All Star at 4-1.
That Lad There held a slight advantage in the early stages of the first semi-final but Fishermans Eoin came through to win by half a length. It was more clear-cut in the second semi-final with Barrack Own opening up a two-length lead on Janey All Star.
In the short-slip final Shane Curtin’s Barrack Own (Bexhill Eoin- Crafty Talisto) won a just-up decision from Fishermans Eoin (Bexhill Eoin-Fishermans Lucky).
There was no final in the Oaks Trial Stake (16) after Lady Bombshell, owned in Bruff by Sean O’Riordan, was declared the winner. The other finalist, Sporty Chic, trained in West Clare by Alphonsus Tubridy, Mullagh, for his wife, Rita, was withdrawn after being injured in her semi-final win.
Pre-coursing prices gave an indication as to how open the stake was with 4-1 being quoted for Duarigle Abidal, Sporty Chic, Lass Elbac, Cillowen Swift, Unique Theory and Lady Bombshell; 5-1 for Elegant Duchess and Mayor Roberta; 6-1 Eightys Evita, Callura Skyline, Raithluirc Becky, Oilean Blonde, Aristo Catinahat, Notmydepartment and Ballykett Rascal and 10-1 Ler Maggie.
First-round survivors were Callura Skyline when beating Eightys Evita by one length; Raithluirc Becky, who had the same winning distance on Duuarigle Abidal; Aristo Catinahat, who had two lengths on Oilean Blonde and Sporty Chic, who had a two lengths advantage on Ler Maggie.
In the bottom half, five lengths separated Las Elac from Elegant Duchess; Notmydepartment had a one-length win over Ballykett Rascal: Unique Theory had two lengths on Cillowen Bandit and Lady Bombshell went through to the second day by beating Mayor Roberta by four lengths.
Lady Bombshell was the even-money favourite on day two with 5-2; Sports Chic, 3-1; Callura Skyline, Aristo Catinahat, Unique Theory; 4-1 Raithluirc Becky, Las Elbac and Notmydepartment.
First into action were Raithluirc Becky and Callura Skyline, with the former surviving by four lengths. Then it was the tune of Sporty Chic to dispose of Aristo Catinhat by four lengths while in the bottom half Las Elbac advanced with a two-length win over Notmydepartment and Lady Bomshell continued her way nearer the final by eliminating Unique Theory by two lengths.
Lady Bombshell continued to head the market at 4-6 for the semi-finals with Sporty Chic at even money and 3-1 Raithluic Becky and Las Elbac.
Sport Chic got the flag by two lengths in the first semi-final against Raithluic Becky but unfortunately in doing so injured her wrist and had to be carried from the field. In the second semi-final – now the final – Lady Bomshell was challenged all the way by Las Elbac but just edged in front to get the flag.Lady Bombsell (Wilton Time-Copahair Beauty) was later declared the winner, Sporty Chic (Matt Hyland-Best View) having to be withdrawn injured.
The first round of the Stephen Stack Memorial Working Members Stake (13) took place on Saturday but it was later decided to divide the stake between first-round winners, Timmy Keane’s Rigger Back Bob, McInerney and Kelly’s Ballyrua, Gerry Manley’s Confused Mark, Moloney and Cooney’s Killdoo Gang, Leo McNulty’s Bargain Bike, Liam Carroll’s Portdrine Queen and Joe Collins’ Shanakyle Bexie.
The meeting ended on a high note for the Tradaree Club, who were using the well-appointed  Lemenagh Beg venue for the second year. It won all-round praise from patrons, who remarked on improvements carried out to the field since last year. The very convenient site has been placed at the disposal of the club by Paddy Quinn and family.
Derby Trial Stake (16 dog puppies) semi-finals: Fishermans Eoin beat That Lad There; Barrack Own beat Janey All Star; Final: S Curtin’s (Tournafulla) brindled Barrack Own (Bexhill Eoin-Crafty Talisto); Mar j-u beat B Harte’s Kilkee  blue-brindled Fishermans Eoin ( Bexhill Eoin-Fishermans Lucky) May.
Oaks trial stake (16 bitch puppies) semi-finals: Sporty Chic beat Raithluirc Becky; Lady Bombshell beat Las Elbac. Final: S O’Riordan’s (Bruff) brindled Lady Bombshell (Wilton Time-Coshair Beauty) Feb declared winner, R Tubridy’s (Mullagh) fawn Sporty Chic (Matt Hyland-Best View) Apr, withdrawn injured.
John Murray Memorial All-Age Bitch Stake (16) semi-finals: Oilean Mystic beat Highland Glow; Job Done beat Fawn of Inagh. Final S Stack nominated C Meaney’s (Tullabrack, Cooraclare) brindled Job Done (Windfarm-Larkspur Flash) 2l beat G Meehan nominated S Meehan’s (Sixmilebridge) Oilean Mystic (Droopys Caesar-Oilean Dancer).
The Olde House All-Age Dog Stake (16) semi-finals: Cool Storm beat Soapy Eyes: Luath Legend beat Kilcastle. Final: J O’Sullivan and N Nolan nominated J O’Sullivan’s (Castleisland) brindled Cool Storm (Musical Times-Coolvanny Storm) 3l beat P Holland nominated P Holland’s (Sixmilebridge) brindled Luath Legend (Bexhill Eoin-Great White).
Stephen Stack Memorial Working Members Stake (13): Divided between first round winners T Keane’s Rigger Back Bob, McInerney and Kelly’s Ballyrua, G Manley’s Confused Mark, Moloney-Cooney’s Killdoo Gang, G Cooney’s Isshedeone, L Carroll’s Portdrine Queen and J Collins Shanakyle Bexie.