Exciting contests expected at West Clare meeting

THE O’Driscoll family from Glouthaune, outside Cork city, hope to make it another rewarding trip to West Clare next weekend when their Skellig dogs compete for the Aylevarroo all-age bitch stake at the Killimer-Kilrush coursing meeting.

On their last trip to West Clare, they came away with a magnificent double, Skellig Wave winning the all-age bitch stake and Skellig Time doing the business in the Oaks trial stake at the Miltown Malbay fixture.
Skellig Wave is the hot 6/4 favourite to succeed at Killimer-Kilrush and in the process add to her points for Clonmel.
Unlucky in Oranmore when going out to Tanyard Zara on the second day, Skellig Wave is given the nod to go all the way over the demanding stretch at Aylevarroo.
Her biggest threats in the top half could be the Kieran Browne-trained Burnpark Saddie, who was beaten in the Listowel Cup final recently, and Prolific Artist. However, the effort by Full Volume in reaching the semi-final in Mitchelstown must all be taken into consideration. Skellig Time, the Oaks qualifier, is given a 5/1 chance by bookmaker Denny Gould.
The final could be a repeat of the Miltown Malbay decider, as the Cree-owned Jeru Eile will be fancied to come out of the bottom half.
Third season dog, King Saunders, trained by Pat Curtin for Murty McMahon of Ennistymon, will have his second outing of the season. Reaching the semi-final in Glin, he has been installed as the 3/1 favourite to land the Gilligan McMahon all-aged dog stake in Killimer-Kilrush. He is drawn in the bottom half where the connections of Tipoka, Milesian Son, who was beaten in the Miltown Malbay final by Kyle Basil, and the Gerry Holian-trained Light Foot Lad, must also fancy their chances.
Lone Boxer, who won a trial stake last season in Listowel for his local owners and went on to reach the third round in Clonmel, is also among the short prices. He reached the semi-final in Limerick recently and looks the likely candidate to win the top half. However, the first dog out of the hat, the George Gallery-trained Colossal Storm, could well upset the odds. He has already won a cup this season from the Trim meeting and his connections will be all out to land a second cup.
The trial stakes are always very competitive in Killimer-Kilrush and judging by the quality of entries, this year should be no different. Both the Oaks trial stake and the reserve Derby trial stake have entries of 32 runners.
In all, six stakes will decided with the inclusion of the Members stake, Surplus Members Stake and the Hare Catchers.
Given favourable weather conditions, this popular fixture should live up to its high reputation. Reports from the club say the hares are top class and this was borne out by the success of the trials last weekend.
Coursing will be underway on Saturday and Sunday at 11.30am and Tony Reddan from Sixmilebridge will again be the judge. The slipper is Martin Glendon but the club is to continue with last year’s decision to give Anthony McNamara of the home club an opportunity to slip for some of the stakes.

Laois Cup winners
Jimmy and Jack O’Donovan from Killaloe brought home some silverware from the Borris-in-Ossory coursing meeting last Sunday when their Highland Harbour (Cillowen Harbour-Clodiagh Sun) won the Laois Cup (16 all-aged). In the final, Highland Harbour beat the Cappawhite-owned Profile (Ashmore View-Galbally Rose) by three lengths.
Ardyle, Sixmilebridge man Gerry Meehan, Kiskeam, County Cork reached the final of the Oaks trial stake (32) with Oilean Mystic (Droopys Caesar-Oilean Dancer), also at the Ballyduff coursing meeting. However, she was beaten by one length by the locally-owned Leigh Countess (Musical Times-Leigh Shadow).
Clare native Liam Garrahy was also represented in the final of the Derby trial stake (64) at the same meeting but his Hobson’s Choice (Bexhill Eoin-Coolree Jesse) was beaten by Auld Stock (Bexhill Eoin-Upstown Smurt), owned in Mitchelstown by Pat Norris and Michael Horgan.
Also at Ballyduff, the final of the Lowes Bar Surplus stake (8) was contested between the Ballybunnion-owned Fortfield Juno (Castle Pinnes-Bill aOg), who was the winner by two lengths and Sioux City (Judicial Affair-Rain Storm) owned by R Browne and K Ryan (Nottingham and Clare).