Clare owners draw another blank at national meeting

CLARE owners drew a blank at the national coursing meeting in Clonmel at the beginning of the month and they also failed to collect any silverware at the Irish Cup meeting at the Limerick racecourse near Patrickswell last weekend.
There was an anti climax to the final fixture of the 2010-2011 coursing season when there was no final of the JP McManus Irish Cup worth €80,000 to the winner. Derby favourite Derby Pines (Castle Pines- Caoimhes Susie) trained by Brendan Matthews, was declared the winner after the Michael O’ Donovan trained Moot Point (Matt Hyland-Miss Preston) was withdrawn after a heavy hunt in the semi-final.
This was the second Irish Cup win on the trot for Newry legend Matthews who was also successful in 2010 with Bexhill Brian. Derby Pines was a 7/1 chance before coursing started on Friday.
The first Clare-owned dog into slips on Friday was the George Gallery-trained Colossal Storm (33/1) but he made a first round exit at the hands of Cool Storm (50/1) who beat him by three lengths.
The Ennis trainer fared better with first reserve runner Him Over There who was called in through the absence of Wallace Chief. Owned by an Ennis syndicate, Him Over There beat Claddagh Night by two lengths in a straight run.
The Clonlara-owned Aristo Emperor was a non-runner in the third quarter in which Pat Curtin-trained Windfarm Eiscir (20/1) survived for the second day with a one-length win over his litter brother, Small Bit Gone (Bexhill Eoin-WindfarmLady), who was a 25/1 chance.
The Killaloe-owned Highland Harbour (50/1) was also in action in this quarter but Caesar Music (14/1) survived with three lengths to spare.
Sixmilebridge native Gerry Meehan was represented by his Oilean Fantasy (66/1) but he appeared to be one of a number of dogs which went of fine and hwas beaten six lengths by Tubbermartin ad(40/1).
Conditions were excellent over the weekend and the crowds were bigger for  the second round of the Irish Cup on Saturday. Derby Pines was now the clear favourite at 4/1 with Moot Point at 14/1.
Him Over There (50/1) gave a gutsy performance but just failed to get the better of  Marie Field’s  Kyle Basil(7/1).
Windfarm Eiscir (12/1) put in another round when wining by one length in a straight run against  Ballyfeard Boy(201).
For his afternoon third round run, Windfarm Eiscir was 7/1 but his gallant effort ended here when beaten by Caesar Music (7/1) who led all the way for a five lengths win.
The first round of the Patsy Byrne all age bitch stake also got underway on Saturday when market leaders were Class Attraction and Newinn All Inn, both at 3/1.
Pat Curtin had Windfgarm Swift (7/1) in the line-up but she departed the scene early on when beaten six lengths by the eventual winner, Tullamoy Queen (16/1).
The O’Donovan family from Killaloe also had a first round casualty with their Highland Glow (20/1) who was beaten four lengths by Kingsmill Pearl (12/1).
Oilean Fantasy and Highland Harbour also contested the Woodlands Hotel Irish Purse for greyhounds beaten in the first round of the JP McManus Irish Cup but both got no further than the first round.
Him Over There was the only Clare runner in the card for the final day. He competed in the Bill Chawke Irish Plate for dogs those beaten in the second round of the Irish Cup. He showed great stamina when coming from behind to beat Sandyman Bolt on Saturday. He was paired with Lisloose Eoin on Sunday but was behind from slips and was beaten two lengths.
The eventual winner was the Gerry Holian-trained and Noreen McManus nominated Kilpeacon Ash (Bexhill Eroin- Moon To) who won the final by six lengths from the Strabane owned Likely Treble (Manic Mover-Stop Yawning).
Betting for the quarter final of the Irish Cup on Sunday was 2/1 Derby Pines and Caesar Music, 3/1 Drive on Guest, Tynwald Stuart, 4/1 Killimnor Matey (p)6/1 Moot Point, 10/1 Kerry Calling.
Derby Pines led all the way to beat Kyle Basil, the Champion Stakes semi-finalist, by two lengths Killimor Matey overcame the challenge of Drive on Guest by the same margin. Five lengths separated Caesar Music (the winner) and Kerry Calling while Moot Point had a four lengths advantage over Tynwald Stuart.
In the first semi-final Derby Pines held on by a length a one length to beat the puppy Killimor Matey but Moot Point had a surprise win in the second semi-final against Caesar Music. Moot Point was two lengths clear for the first turn but the pair were brought downfield by the hare for a very long hunt and Moot Point was withdrawn from the final.
The final of the Patsy Byrne Selected All Age Bitch Stake (32) went to the Fr Dunne owned Tullamoy  Queen (Tynwald Smokey-Tullamoy Lady) who led the puppy Why Tanyard Ash (Bexhill Eoin-Why Tanyard Jane) in the final by six lengths.