Good conditions and good running at Ennis-Clarecastle

AFTER the disappointment of having to postpone activities  for a week because of the hard ground, members of the Ennis-Clarecastle club got through their rescheduled  fixture with flying colours at Manus on Sunday and Monday last.

The combination of improved weather conditions and precautionary steps taken by the club allowed for the meeting to go ahead. And while the weather remained cold, conditions were good and there was some excellent coursing, especially over the second day.
It was a good meeting for Abbeyfeale trainer, Jerry Griffin, who won the all-age dog stake with Connacht Cup hero, Brazing Serpent and the Oaks trial stake with Kilcummin Lady. Con Guiney took the all-age bitch stake with Class Attraction and Jimmy Normoyle from Doonbeg kept the Clare colours flying by taking the reserve Derby trial stake with his reserve runner, Denham Matt.
After two rounds of the all-age dog stake on Sunday for the HJ Murphy and Ryan Memorial Stake, the Jerry Griffin-trained Brazing Serpent (4/5) and Bluebird Boyo (5/4) trained by Dan Brassil, were the big favourites.
Brazing Serpent (Tullamore-LeighShadow) got off to a good start on Monday when beating Splodge ( 5/1) by two and a half lengths. In the all West Clare clash, Los Hervioderos (5/1) accounted for Upsetter by two lengths, while in another third round buckle Cerrunos (5/1) saw off the challenge of Vacums Vegas (4/1) by just over a length. Bluebird Boyo had a three-length advantage on Lightfoot Lad to qualify for the semi-finals.
Everything went according to plan in the semi-finals with Blazing Serpent getting the first turn when two lengths in front of the West Clare-owned Los Hervideros in the first semi-final. Bluebird Boyo claimed a spot in the final when seeing off the Loughrea-owned Cerunnos by five lengths.
In an exciting final, there was little between the pair but Brazing Serpent then drew clear by a length to claim victory  for members of the Pistol Knight syndicate and add to his Connacht Cup win. Members of the winning syndicate are Jerry Griffin and three English owners. The winning junior nominator was Jack McNamara.
The Con Guiney-trained Class Attraction (Judicial Affair-Monveen Ellen) collected more valuable points for Clonmel through her win in the Coote all-age bitch stake (16). A winner in Carlow and runner-up in Castleisland, she was fancied to go all the way at this meeting and after one round on Sunday, she was on the boards at 4/5 on Monday with the Miltown Malbay winner, Skellig Wave at 6/4. But when the pair clashed in the second round, Class Attraction was in the better position as they headed towards the escape and she got the flag to advance. 
The Kilmallock-owned By Mistake also survived in the top half by beating Cailín Oran.
Survivors in the bottom half were Burnpark Sadie who beat La Madrina and Missing Hyland who had a bye through the absence of George Gallery’s Cillown Icon.
Semi-final prices were 4/7 Class Attraction and 2/1 By Mistake, Burnpark Sadie and Missing Hyland.
Class Attraction came through her semi-final bout with By Mistake, getting the first turn  after going a length and a half into the lead.
For a long way, there was nothing between the West Clare pair Burnpark Sadie and Missing Hyland in the second semi-final. However, the hare swinging to the right favoured Missing Hyland who got in by half a length to get the first turn. The pair were worked hard before the hare went home.
In the Cork-Clare final, Class Attraction took the honours when beating Missing Hyland owned in Cooraclare by Breda Falsey, by one length. The winner is owned by Elaine Guiney, Meelin, County Cork and the winning junior nominator here was Brian McNamara.
After putting in two rounds in Glin and Loughrea, the Jerry Griffin-trained Kilcummin Lady (Castle Pines-Billa Óg) caught the eye in the opening two rounds of the Oaks Trial Stake (32) on Sunday. So much so that she was the money-on favourite for the second day. Other prices were 2/1 Cillowen Rhythm, 4/1 Scattery Flyer, Maytime Primrose and Woodpark Blaze, 5/1 Rith Blitze and Crafty Sorgo, 6/1 Baby Sasha. Cillowen Rhythm just above survived the challenge of Rith Blitze; five lengths separated Kilcummin Lady and Scattery Flyer: the locally owned Baby Sasha got a half length on Crafty Sorgo while Maytime Primrose beat Woodpark Blaze by one length in a straight run.
Semi-finals prices 1/2 Kilcummin Lady 6/4 Baby Sasha 2/1 Cillowen Rhythm and Maytime Primrose.
In the opening semi-final heat, Kilcummin Lady continued her all conquering run with a three lengths advantage over Cillwen Rhythm, while three lengths was also the winning margin for Maytrime Primrose in the second semi-final heat.
There was no turn in the final in which the Jerry Griffin-trained Kilcummin Lady, owned by Lar Collins, Kilcummin and Gerry Lovett, Lixnaw, opened up a lead of four lengths on Maytime Primrose, trained by John Scully, Athenry for Margaret Scully, Athenry and Mary Scully, Galway.
Well-known horse trainer, Noel Glynn of Ennis and Spancilhill, was fancied to win the reserve dog trial stake (24) with Liscannor runner-up Da Gow (Ashmore View-Flow and Return). He was installed as the 4/6 favourite after the two rounds on the first day.
In the first run on Monday, Clonmore Master got the better of Keegan’s Hill by two lengths; Da Gow advanced at the expense of Fisherman’s Toll, beating him by one length and reserve runner Denham Matt was two lengths better than Rodgers Crystal.
Da Gow staked a place in the final when pulling clear by one length to beat Clonmore Master owned by Michael and Mary Kennedy, Ballynacally, while Denham Matt had a bye run in the second semi-final.
In one of the best buckles of the meeting Da Gow and Denham Matt were neck and neck for a lot of the way but in a very close finish, Denham Matt (Matt Hyland-Denham Hyland) won a just-up decision. The winner, who went to the semi-final at Killimer-Kilrush, is owned and trained in Doonbeg by Jimmy Normoyle.
There were popular wins in the two duffer stakes. The one who succeeded in the Haulie Daly Memorial Cup for working members (16 one-course duffers) was Kylea Snowflake (Cillowen Harbour-Fire of Inagh) trained by Colie O’Loughlin, Inagh for Inagh owners Seán Arthur and Irene Barry. In the final, Kylea Snowflake beat Danema Leisure owned by Paul Keating, Ennis and Kilmihil and Michael Lillis, Cooraclare by four lengths. In the semi-finals, Danema Leisure had a bye run through the withdrawal of Prefer Diamonds while Kylea Snowflake beat Clonmore Windy by one length.
This win was celebrated on the way home at the popular Halfway pub in Ennis where there were more celebrations to mark Mythical Tar (Boherduff Light-Coldwar Baby) winning the Surplus Members stake (8 one-course duffers) for owners John Keane of Ennis and Frank White, proprietor of the Halfway pub. The track dog Mythical Tar, trained by Tom Flanagan from near Ennistymon, had a three-length win in the final against Gofortitgirl owned by Liam Shannon from Ballynacally. The beaten semi-finalists were Rockmount Gearja and Manus Honey.
Due to circumstances outside the control of the club, the Fourth of July Puppy Stake did not take place.
The Manus venue, placed at the disposal of the club in recent years by the McInerney family, has helped the Ennis-Clarecastle club gain new status. And while the weather conditions upset the programme and forced the committee into a new date situation, the meeting was once again successful and enjoyable, one the club could be well satisfied with the end product.
Oaks Trial Stake and George Gallery Memorial Cup (32) semi-finals Kilcummin Lady beat Cillowen Rhythm; Maytime Primrose beat Baby Sasha. Final Lar Collins, Kilcummin and Gerry Lovett, Lixnaw) beat Kilcummin Lady (Castle Pines-Billa Óg) Mar) 4l beat Margaret Scully (Athenry) and Mary Scully’s (Galway) beat Maytime Primrose (Musical Lady-Glowing Times) May.
Reserve Dog Trial Stake and the Tosser up (24) semi-finals, Da Gow beat Clonmore Master; Denham Matt, a bye. Final Jimmy Normoyle’s (Doonbeg) beat Denham Matt (Matt Hyland-Denham Hyland)Jan j/u beat Noel Glynn’s (Ennis and Spancilhill) beat Da Gow (Ashmore View-Flow and Return) Jan.
Coote All-Age Bitch Stake (16) semi-finals Class Attraction beat By Mistake; Missing Hyland beat Burnpark Sadie. Final Elaine Guiney’s (Meelin, County Cork) beat Class Attraction (Judicial Affair-Monveen Ellen) one length beat Breda Falsey’s (Cooraclare) beat Missing Hyland (Matt Hyland-Fisherman’s Lucky).
HJ Murphy and Ryan Memorial cup (16 all-age dogs) semi-finals Brazing Serpent beat Los Hervideros; Bluebird Boyo beat Cerunnos. Final Pistol Knight syndicate’s (Abbeyfeale) fawn Brazing Serpent ( Tullamore- Leigh Shadow) one length beat Fr. David Gunn’s(Lisselton) beat Bluebird Boyo (Bar Time- Ballyegan).
Haulie Daly Memorial Cup for Working Members (16 one-course duffers) semi-finals Danema Leisure a bye, Kylea Snowflake beat Clonmore Windy. Final Seán Arthur (Inagh) and Irene Barry’s (Inagh) Kylea Snowflake (Cillowen Harbour-Fire of Inagh) 4l beat Paul Keating (Ennis) and Michael Lillis’ (Cooraclare) Danema Leisure (Trajectory- Pretty Touch).
Surplus Members Stake (8 one-course duffers) semi-finals Mythical Tar beat Rockmount Gearja; Goforitgirl beat Manus Honey. Final: John Keane (Ennis) and Frank White’s (Ennis) Mythical Tar (Boherduff Light-Coldwar Baby) 3l beat Liam Shannon’s (Ballynacally) Goforitgirl (Razldazl Billy-Drumquinn Lady.