Fairytale ending to coursing season

HAVING witnessed the great uncertainties of  the coursing game after coming away empty-handed from the national meeting in Clonmel, Clare owners experienced a huge  turnabout in fortune when  landing a historic double at the Irish Cup meeting at the Limerick Race Course near Patrickswell last weekend.
As well as bringing another JP McManus Irish Cup title across the Shannon to County Clare, they also won the Patsy Byrne Select All-Age Bitch take to signal a fairytale ending to the coursing season for the Banner County.
Central to the great occasion were members the O’Donoghue family from Cree and the Hehir family and members of the Gaisce syndicate from the Miltown Malbay area.
Owned by eight-year-old Jenna O’Donoghue, Ballinagun, Cree, and trained by West Clare native, John Browne, Jeru Cavendish (Sienna Steel-Jeru) was an exciting and popular winner of the Irish Cup (64) worth €80,000 to the winner of which €8,000 goes to the winning nominator, Dick Spring, Tralee, the former, Tánaiste and Labour Party leader.
Gasice Mór (Bexhill Eoin-Rith Gan Gaisce) was fancied from the start to have a big say in the outcome of the Patsy Byrne Select All-Age Bitch Stake and she hardly put a foot wrong on her way to an easy win in the final. Trained by Gerry Holian, Athenry, bred by Brendan Hehir of the Gaisce syndicate, Gaisce Mór was nominated by Mossie O’Driscoll. The stake was worth €10,000 to the winner, €2,000 going to the nominator.
The double more than compensated for the disappointments at the national meeting at Clonmel where Jeru Cavendish made a second-round exit in the Boylersports.com Derby and Gaisce Mór was surprisingly beaten in the first round of the Oaks and had to be withdrawn from the semi-finals of the Kitty Butler Stakes after a long hunt with Naughty Lady.
A trial stake winner at Borris-in-Ossory, Jeru Cavendish was one of the outsiders for the Irish Cup and was available at 33/1 before coursing. His first task on Friday morning was to overcome the challenge of another puppy, Crafty Denso, and he got through with the loser going off line. His odds were reduced to 20/1 after that win.
After two more runs on Saturday, he was on the boards at 6/1 after having a few lengths to spare in his runs against Dresden Call (20/1 before coursing) and Arise Sir Mark (33/1 before coursing).
In the top half of the card, the Pat Curtin-trained, Windfarm Eiscir, owned in Ennis by Clare Eustace, was improving after each round. The four-time cup winner was in action early on Saturday when he went to slips with the Gerry Holian-trained Star Chaser in the first quarter. The outcome was a four-length win for the fawn who was always in front. He faced a hard task on Saturday morning when he came up against one of the big favourites Kyle Ranger (9/1 before coursing). Again showing great early foot, Windfarm Eiscir had a length on the recent Champion Stakes winner and after eliminating the puppy, Lixnaw Eoin, was in with a very good chance on the final day.
The odds for the quarter-finals were 2/1 Killimor Matey and Chelsea Speed, 3/1 Whitestone Rai, 6/1 Windfarm Eiscir, Smart Touch and Jeru Cavendish, 8/1 Drumcrow View and 10/1 for the Brannig Riobamba, the Miltown Malbay cup winner.
Windfarm Eiscir and Drumcrow View were the first into action and the Clare-owned dog was well in control with the loser going off line. Killimor Matey, a 7/1 chance before coursing on Friday, continued his strong challenge when leading all the way for his two-length win over Champion Stakes qualifier Whitestone Rai.
In the bottom half, Jeru Cavendish and Smart Touch, another puppy, went to slips for a place in the semi-final. Jeru Cavendish opened up a five-length lead but both were off line and called back to slips. The interval was delayed for 15 minutes for the re-run, which resulted in Jeru Cavendish again powering in front. However, both appeared off line again but the judge waved the white flag in favour of the Clare-owned brindled when two lengths in front in a straight run.
Before the re-run, Chelsea Speed disposed of Brannig Riobamba by three lengths.
Jeru Cavendish was still the outsider at 5/1 at the semi-finals stage when other odds were evens Killomor Matey, 6/4 Chelsea Speed, 5/2 Windfarm Eiscir 5/1.
Windfarm Eiscir now faced the favourite, Killimor Matey in the first semi-final. He looked well on his way for a place in the final after establishing an early lead of three lengths but in the straight run, the favourite got closer and closer and eventually went clear to win by three lengths. This was the end of the road for Windfirm Eiscir, who went out in style before being retired after a great coursing career.
With prospects of a first-ever all-Clare final eliminated, it was now left to Jeru Cavendish to fly the flag for the Banner County. However, he was at a great disadvantage after his extra run and beating Chelsea Speed in the second semi-final seemed to be a step too far. The fact that he was now in the red collar was a further disadvantage because of the line taken by a good number of hares over the three days. Nonetheless, it was Jeru Cavendish who showed the way from slips to overcome all obstacles and hold out to win by a length. It was a performance, which baffled the most seasoned of coursing followers. Now the 33/1 chance on the opening day was in the final and looking good.
What was to follow further confounded doggie people. Still showing no ill affects of his extra run, Jeru Cavendish was smartly away from slips to lead early. The gutsy performances, which brought him this far, were again to the fore as he went on to dominate the final with six lengths to spare. It was time for the famous Banner shout to be heard for the second time at the meeting as Gaisce Mór had won earlier on.
It was a great time all round for the Jeru Cavendish team but another disappointing one for the Killomor Matey (Bexhill-Eoin- Graigue Cascade) trainer, Gerry Holian, who has yet to win an Irish Cup.
For trainer John Browne, it was a momentous occasion. A member of the well-known Browne family from Leitrim in the Kilmihil parish, he has been living in Ballyea near Ennis since 1993 and after the Clonmel experience, he had Jeru Cavendish in peak form for the Irish Cup challenge.
After the final, he thanked Ballyea neighbour, John McInerney who allows him the use of his land to gallop dogs. He said that when coming home from the national meeting, he knew Jeru Cavendish was not right. Since then, he gave the dog some breathing space. He did not do too much with him, just concentrating on a few gallops.
He said the dog came off lame after his second-round run in the puppy stake at the Corn na Féile. The injury put them back some weeks and Clonmel came too soon for them.
Since Clonmel, he was concentrating on bringing the dog back to the form, which won him his trial stake at Borris-in-Ossory. He was hopeful going to the Irish Cup and was of the opinion that if Jeru Cavendish avoided the fast dogs early on, he would be harder to beat as the cup progressed. He described the 2012 Irish Cup winner as a “tough dog”.
This view was reiterated by John O’Donoghue, Ballinagun, Cree, father of Jenna, who was the proudest person at the Limerick Racecourse after being presented with the Irish Cup. As well as being the owner of Jeru Cavendish (Sienna Steel-Jeru) she and her twin sister, Ruth, bred the new Irish Cup Champion.
Describing the events at the conclusion of the Irish Cup meeting as unbelievable for County Clare, John O’Donoghue was quick to lavish praise on John Browne, whom he described as very good handler.
The Cree man also referred to the fact that stud dog Sienna Steel and Jeru, owned by his twin daughters, remain on in  Ballinagun, Cree. The South Clare Coursing Club stalwart spoke about Sienna Steel winning the Ballymena Trial Stake for four years. Jointly owned by his uncle, the late Brother Fabian, Cork, he reached the semi-final of the derby when beaten by Razor Ashmore, the eventual winner. The following season was an exciting one for Sienna Steel, winning the Connacht Cup, runner-up for the North Kerry Cup at Ballyduff, winning the South Clare Cup at Cooraclare and going on to reach the semi-finals of the Irish Cup.
John remarked that his first trial stake winner came after being 19 years involved in coursing.
Going to this year’s Irish Cup meeting, he said he was not too confident as regards the chances of Jeru Cavendish. Nonetheless, like trainer John Browne, he felt he stood some chance if he could repeat the form, which won him a trial stake and qualification for Clonmel.
Boavista, the last Clare winner of the Irish Cup in 2006, also involved another Cree man, Dinny Gould, as well as Vinny Jones, the actor and Pat Curtin, trainer, also from West Clare.
Indepub, owned by Murty McMahon, Ennistymon, was beaten in the first round of the Irish Cup on Friday morning. He was slightly in front from slips but Champion Stakes qualifier Whitesone Rai, soon took over to win by four lengths.
A first-round winner in the third quarter was Gaffney Ranger, owned by Noel Ryan from County Meath and a native of Knockalough, Kilmihil. He was beaten, however, in the second round by Arise Sir Mark.
In the Cú Cuchulainn Bar Inter Club Champion Working Members’ Stake (24) Chance Ivy Hill, owned by Noel Hehir, Inagh and representing Ennis- Clarecastle Coursing Club and the Killimer-Kilrush Coursing Club representative, Wood Kylie, owned by Carl Maguire, Killimer and Adrian Ennis, did not get past the opening round.
The stake was won by the Knockgraffon-owned Under Achiever (Ballymas Ruso-Miss Shauna) who beat the Rathkeale-owned Hey Sal (Bexhill Eoin- Mucky Hannon) by six lengths in the final.
Kyle King (Kyle James-Ballybeg Fancy) owned by Marie Field, Patrickswell, and nominated by the Countess of Dunraven and Lady Ana, won the Bill Chawke Irish Plate for dogs beaten in the second round of the Irish Cup. In the final, he had three lengths on the Rostrevor-owned Ashmore Master (Bexhill Eoin-Carrick Sam) in a straight run.
The Belfast-owned Ballyhill Seles (Ballymac Maeve-Baby Hazel) won the final of the Woodlands House Hotel Irish Purse (for dogs beaten in the first round of the Irish Cup) by four lengths from the Roscrea-owned Righttogowrong (Bexhill Eoin-Ready to Sleep).
While the Irish Cup ended on a high note for the Clare contingent, the meeting over the three days was disappointing with more than the usual number of dogs going off line. The Tralee and Limerick racecourses have not been the answer to Clounanna. Roll on Liscannor.

Gaisce Syndicate In
A Winning Mood
MEMBERS of the Gaisce syndicate from the Crosses of Annagh were in confident mood as they made their way to the Irish Cup meeting last weekend. They came, saw and conquered with their Gaisce Mór in the Patsy Byrne All-Age Select Bitch Stake ,bringing off  another important coursing win  for County Clare.
Her emphatic win matched the mood of the winning syndicate. However, its members were downbeat after the national meeting at Clonmel where they felt Gaisce Mór was going to bring them another Oaks title. They already won with Rith Gan Gaisce in 2005. However, in one of the big shock of the opening round of the Oaks, Gaisce Mór was sent crashing out after being narrowly beaten by Blazing Dilema.
Brendan Hehir from Miltown Malbay, who bred Rith Gan Gaisce and Gaisce Mór, put the defeat of the daughter of Bexhill Eoin-Rith Gan Gaisce down to the fact that she may have lost sight of the hare in a long slip.
No doubt this came as a big blow to the connections of Gaisce Mór but like the Phoenix, they rose from the ashes, had their confidence restored and their view was that the Patsy Byrne Select All-Age was theirs for the taking. As it transpired, Gaisce Mór raced through the stake in very impressive style to land the spoils for the West Clare syndicate.
One of the short prices before coursing on Saturday, Gaisce Mór started off her campaign by dispatching  reserve runner, Ballymore Polly, by a few lengths in the opening round. Ballymore Polly had substituted for the absent Álainn.
After a bye run in the second round, Gaisce Mór had reached the last eight and was the 2/1 favourite on Sunday with 3/1 Victoria Cushie (p) and Barrack Bimbo, 4/1 Rios Girl and Moorstown Mersey (p), 5/1 Carolina Crystal and Capetown Lucy (p).
Gaisce Mór advanced to the semi-final stage with a three-length win over Moorstown Mersey and she was joined by Rios Girl (who beat Barrack Bimbo by four lengths), Capetown Lucy, who accounted for Carolina Crystal and Gentle Angel who had a winning margin of two lengths on Cushie Victoria.
Gaisce Mór was now the 5/4 favourite for the semi-finals with 6/4 Rios Girl, 3/1 Victoria Cushie and 4/1 Capetown Lucy.
It was felt that Gaisce Mór would have more than enough to do to survive the challenge of the Paul Matthews-trained Rios Girl in the opening semi-final. However, she came through again with flying colours, having a length to spare. Two lengths was the winning distance in the second semi-final with Capetown Lucy knocking out Gentle Angel.
The Banner supporters were on their toes from an early stage in the final when Gaisce Mór raced in front from slips, took command for the rest of the trip and was in front by seven lengths for the first turn. It was a case of job done for Gerry Holian and the West Clare boys.
The winner was nominated by Mossie O’Riordan and members of the Gaisce Syndicate are Brendan Hehir (Miltown Malbay); Micheál Hehir (Annagh), Terry Hehir (Ahey Bridge), Johnny Sexton (Ahey Bridge), Michael Casey (Mullagh) and Tony Kavanagh (also from West Clare).
“We thought we would win the Oaks in Clonmel but we failed. That’s coursing,” said Brendan Hehir. “However, we were quite confident about our chances in the Select All-Age Bitch  Stake.”
He said they liked the way she won her trial stake at Killimer-Kilrush and at the end of the season, she repeated that form and lived up to their to expectations.
He pointed out that Gaisce Mór was reared in Leeds, Miltown Malbay, by Gerry Burke.
For trainer, Gerry Holian, it was another successful partnership with the Miltown Malbay owners. He was delighted the way Gaisce Mór performed and explained that Rios Girl in the semi-final posed the biggest danger.
He added that he was disappointed he did not win his first Irish up with Killimor Matey. However, he felt the dog was not right after his second-round win over Kyle King on Saturday.
Another Clare interest in the Select All-Age Bitch Stake saw Job Done just get the better of Jeru Melody  in the West Clare Derby. However, she went out in the second round after a rerun. The Parteen-owned Ocean Tolula was an early casualty, while Oileán Mystic, owned in Sixmilebridge by Sean Meehan, was a non-runner.