Flags up as new coursing season starts in Liscannor

IT is that time of the year again when coursing dog owners get down to serious business for the months ahead. Harbouring dreams of achieving crowning glory at the national meeting or the Irish Cup fixture at the end of the season, they will take the first steps in that direction when the Liscannor and Kilflynn coursing clubs host the opening meetings of the 2011-2012 season this weekend.
With the awarding of the Hare Netting Licence well in time this year by new minister, Jimmy Deenihan, both Liscannor and Kilflynn have had ample time to prepare for their presentations and coursing enthusiasts are looking forward to a cracking start to the new season.
With the amount of rain that has fallen in recent weeks, Liscannor will be spared the task of watering the field. They reported eveything in order when they made the draw for their meeting in Liscannor on Sunday night.
The card will again feature all-aged stakes for dogs and bitches, derby and oaks trial stakes, as well as stakes for two and one-course duffers and a local workers’ stake.
Windfarm Eiscir made his seasonal debut at this meeting last year when reaching the semi-final of the McDonagh Cup for all-age dogs. He went on to win cups in East Donegal and South Clare and reach the final in Doon to qualify for the Classic Club Champion Stakes. Trainer Pat Curtin is hoping to do better this year by getting off to a winning start at Moher, where he will have a first-round date with Shadow Jaws, who as a puppy last season was beaten in the final of the Knockgraffon Open.
Bookmaker, Dinny Gould, who makes Windfarm Eiscir a 4/1 chance, is putting Rambling Donie, who failed to win a trial stake last year year, and East Donegal trial stake winner winner, Since Kyabram, as the market leaders at 2/1 and 5.2 respectively.
Others leading the charge in Liscannor will be Gypsy Rover (4/1), who won the dog trial stake at this meeting last season; Jimmy Normoyle’s Denham Matt (8/1), who reached the semi-final of the reserve derby trial stake at Killimer-Kilrush before winning the reserve final at Ennis-Clarecastle and Danema Blues (8/1), who won a trial stake at Macroom last year.
Quilty owner, Kathleen Hogan must fancy her chances of bringing home some silverware from Liscannor, as her Tromora Darkie will start among the favourites to win the all-age bitch stake (16). The daughter of Matt Hyland-Debham Darkie was prominent last season after winning at Edenderry. In Clonmel, she came in as fourth resrve for Exact Science and went on to have a proloinged run in the Greyhound and Pet World Oaks by reaching the last eight, before going out on the last day to Call Her Now, the eventual runner-up.
She will be on the boards at 4/1, as will George Gallery’s Cillowen Rhythm and Volga Daisy, who will be running on a familar ground, as she won the Oaks trial stake here last season for Claddagh owner, Bridie Scully. Volga Daisy was a first-day casualty to Leigh Countess at the national meeting and went on to reach the semi-final of the Spirit of Mischief Stakes.
Another at odds of 4/1 is Macroom trial strakewinner, Glanmore Susie, while Chelsea Lights is at 5/1 and Plough and Stars 6/1.
The Liscannor meeting will also feature two full derby and oaks trial stakes and some familar names will be hoping to get their hands on the first brace of tickets for Clonmel.
The Liscannor coursing meeting holds a special place in the Irish coursing calendar. Apart from being featured on the first weekend of each new season, the populartity that Liscannor enjoys is immense and attracts supporters from many parts of the country. Club members are looking forward to giving their usual warm welcome to Moher visitors over the weekend.
Coursing starts on Saturday and Sunday at 12 noon and Tony Reddan, judge, and Richie Quinn, slipper, will be returning as the officials in charge.
The draw is: McDonagh Cup (16 all-aged dogs) top half: Rambling Donie v Since Kyabram; Windfarm Eiscir v Shadow Jaws; Allaughuan Rover v Denham Matt; Him Over There v Gypsy Rover. Bottom half: King Tosca v Ballymore Timmy; Whitestone Eagle v Coorheen Guest; Mayor Impact v Danema Blues; Up Our Dat v Ballinveale Hero.
Reserves: (a) Pluck the Drake; (b) Crafty Valastro; (c)Mythical Tar; (d) Millbridge Eoin.
Derby trial stake (32) first quarter: Roger Bright v Windfarm Island; Bull Dozer v Spoil the Music: Gaelforce Wind v Glanmore Aidan; Siberian Legend v Kingsmill Exhile.
Second quarter: Bermuda Sam v Mohawk Mojo; Pumpkin Sandy v Shanakyle Matt; Sporting Aaron v Dechosach Meaig; Crafty Denso v Smooth Buster.
Third quarter: Beabuster v Aye Right; Drumbane Time v Wood Ruso; Chaboy v Woodfield King; Mohawk Bounty v Lotus Sid.
Fourth quarter: Indepub v Quango; Acres Charlie v Commentator; Chiltern Thorn v Capfield; Rhuta Catunda v Father Dougal.
Reserves: (a) For Jack; (b) Algapan Boy; (c) Duharra Hill; (d) Ardnari.
Oaks trial stake (32) first quarter: Ardnari May v Barrack Betty; Fishermans Aimee v Lochbo Cheeky; Breezer Lucy v Callura Sky Line; Foxhall Sandy v Dromulty Star.
Second quarter: Tilt Your Skirt v Glenfield Katie; Lady Officer v Windfarm Millie; Rinnwood Maggie v Jazi Blonde; Unique Theory v Lotus Elly.
Third quarter: Radharc na Dtonnta v Loud Killeen; Tromora Fawn v Volga Flow; Shifting Sands v Precious Daisy; Missing Blonde v Bunny Mary.
Fourth quarter: AbbeyglenMolly v Sandies Home; Car Road v Ashtown Smurf; Parker Mesan v Kilallon Again; Singil Striapach v Gortmelia Sweet.
Reserves: (a) Billistown Trap; (b) Ler Maggie; (c) Wood Kyle; (d) Shandangan Laura.
Clahane Stake (16 all-aged bitches) top half: Aghaburren Becky v Get Up Bexsy; Tromora Darkie v Cillowen Rhythm; Glanmore Susan v Latest Action; Callura Chico v Chyna Pet.
Bottom half: I Know That v Lowland Deuce; Volga Daisy v Chelsea Lights: Mariners Glen v Kylea Snowflake: Plough and Stars v Imagination.
Reserves: (a) Sack of Time; (b) Lotus Storm; (c) Sunny Weather; (d) Moonlight Queen.
Dr Lucas Stake (16 two-course duffers): Acres James v Petosterous; Fernpack Express v Neeron’s Raider; Parker Prospect v Chane Ivy Hill; Roger Crystal v Runway Patrol; Fawn of Inagh v Zoning Money; Inbound v Floras Hazel; Sioux City v Agiftfromhelen; Mahonburg Blaze v Kranky Mary.
Reserves: (a) Oranmore Marty; (b) Ratatat; (c) Lotus Tango; (d) Tip the Blaze.
Moher Stake (8 one-course duffers): Killdoo Gang v Consequential; Roger Supreme v Ballyhale Bertie; Runway Sally v Daybreak Kayleem; Parker Magic v Callura Steps.
Reserves: (a) Derrylough Sea; (b) Loughlea Sonya.
Local Worker Stake (4): Glenfort Lee v Undercover Rocky; Kineilty Orbsen v Bogberry Kitty.
The order of running on Saturday at 12 noon is twice through the derby trial stake and oaks trial stake and once through the all-aged dog stake and all-aged bitch stake. Sunday will start at 12 noon with the two-course duffers stake and complete card.