Draw not unkind for Clare dogs

With the exception of the all-age stakes, the draw for the national coursing meeting in Clonmel next week has not been too unkind to Clare owners.
Windfarm Eiscir, trained by Pat Curtin of Ballygodoon Stud for Ennis owner, Clare Eustace was unlucky in the draw for the Classic Club Champion Stakes as he came out of the hat with the well-fancied Kyle Basil, representing the Field family from Patrickswell. Kyle Basil was the top qualifier for the Champion Stakes with a total prize money of €9,500.
Although Windfarm Eiscir came in at the bottom of the list, anything is possible as far as the East Donegal and South Clare cup winner is concerned and a first round upset cannot be ruled out.
In the Grace Bruton Memorial Champion Bitch Stakes (8) the Paddy Marrinan (Miltown Malbay) owned and trained Atlantic Ashmore has a first round date with Class Attraction who won cups in Carlow and Ennis-Clarecastle and ran up for the final in Castleisland. She is drawn in the top half which also includes Kingsmill Pearl (second to qualify) and Needham Time, who reached the final of last season’s Oaks but was withdrawn because of a shoulder injury.
The first Clare-owned dog drawn in the Boylesports.com Derby (64) was Knockbrack Eoin owned by Michael and Killian Nestor, Miltown Malbay. The Galway-Oranmore qualifier has a first round date in the first quarter with Droopys Babs, who is owned in Portlaw and who came through the Old Kilcullen fixture.
The Clonlara-owned and Gerry Holian-trained Aristo Emperor (the Miltown Malbay Coursing Club representative) is drawn in the second quarter against the Bantry-owned Lo Bo Blake who qualified at Roscommon. One of the big names for the Derby, Handball Henry, is also drawn in this quarter.
Derby favourite, Derby Pines, will start his campaign from the fourth quarter as will Murtys Return owned by the ATM syndicate from Clarecastle. Murtys Return meets the Kerry-owned Pistol Knight in the opening round.
The second reserve for the Derby is Jimmy Normoyle’s Denham Matt who won the reserve final at Ennis-Clarecastle; sixth reserve is Liath Legend the Cappoquin reserve winner for Pat Holland, Sixmilebridge while the West Clare owned Danema Blues, is listed as ninth reserve.
In the Greyhound and Pet World Oaks (64) Windfarm Swift (known as Flagfield Swift when she won the Ballymena qualifier) now represents Pat Curtin and Michael Eustace, Ennis and she is drawn in the third quarter with Snowy Express (Glanworth qualifier). In the same quarter, Clogher Road (Alphonsus Tubridy and Dr Paddy Kelly, Mullagh) meets the Ballymena-owned Dunsilly.
Fourth quarter runners are Tom Fitzgerald’s (Parteen) Ocean Tolula who goes to slips with the Balbriggan representative Dale Navi while Johnny Quinn’s Cooraclare qualifier, Woodpark Blaze, comes up against the Galway and Oranmore qualifier, Taka Drawn.
Third reserve is the Quilty-owned Tromora Darkie and Tradaree winner, Derheen Deluxe, is fifth reserve.
Coursing starts on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 11.30.