Miltown meeting figures highly on bank holiday racing calendar

NOW almost five weeks into the coursing season, some leading fancies for Clonmel could emerge from  seven meetings on the menu over this coming holiday weekend. Among them will be Miltown Malbay who host their two-day fixture in Ballymakea Mór, Quilty on Saturday and Sunday.
Their attractive card has seven stakes, including the featured all-age dog and all-age bitch events.
A number of well-known greyhounds who made headlines last season will be going for more glory over the fine Ballymakea Mór stretch overlooking the Atlantic.
Among them will be Kyle Basil who has been installed as the 6/4 favourite by bookmaker Denny Gould to land the Miltown Malbay all-age dog stake. Owned by Michael Field, he won his trial stake at Galbally last season but surprisingly made a first-round exit to 33/1 shot Tullamoy King in Clonmel.
Another short-priced runner will be Moot Popint, trained by Michael O’Donovan, for Sir Mark Prescott, Newmarket. A trial stake winner in Cashel, he also failed to get past the opening round at the national meeting. He will be on the boards at 2/1.
Denny Gould will mark up Windfarm at 7/1. Trained by Pat Curtin for the Eustace family in Ennis, he was beaten in  the trial stake semi-finals in Thurles and Borris-in-Ossory last season.
Stay Focused, owned by Paddy Barrett, Derry and Tim O’Driscoll, Glanmore, Cork, who won the trial stake final in Miltown Malbay last season, is a 7/1 chance while Clune Hyland, trained by Maurice  Mullanney for the Scattery Syndicate from Killimer is quoted at 6/1. He was a reserve for Clonmel last season after winning the reserve at Killimer- Kilrush. George Gallery’s Cillown Noble is given an 8/1 chance.
The 2/1 clear favourite for the all-age bitch stake is the Michael O’ Donovan-trained Intense Focus, owned by Pat Daly Ballinhassig. Bred by Harry Findlay- Whytanardmoon-Mountain Guest-the Old Kilcullen trial stake winner of last season went to the second round of the Hotel Minella Oaks when beaten by Class Attraction.
Skellig Wave will be a 4/1 chance. Trained by Tim O’Driscoll and owned by Rosarie O’Driscoll, Glanmire, Cork, Skellig Wave was runner-up in Miltown Malbay and later qualified for Clonmel from Macroom. She also departed the scene in Clonmel after being beaten in the second round by Needham Time who reached the last day.
Another of the short odds at 3/1 is Finuge Molly, trained by Dan Brassil and a winner of her trial stake at the Miltown Malbay meeting. She went out to Kilpeacon Ambush in a first-round buckle at the national meeting. Also quoted at 4/1 is Cooga Ruby.
Other prices are 6/1 Lively Blonde and Scholar’s Dilemma, 8/1 Be My Baby, Gortglass Cindy, Wilton Millie and Aristo Roo, 10/1 Scattery Express and Squid of Inagh, who won the all-age stake in Miltown Malbay last year, Prolific Artist and Jeru Eile.
The Derby (32) and Oaks (32) trial stakes will be well contested ,judging by the quality of entries. Some well-known names appear in the line-up and one to watch in the Oaks could be Skellig Time who reached the semi-finals in Glin.
With three more stakes on the card, the Milltown Malbay fixture has a lot to offer. Hopefully, the weather will be kinder than last year.  The venue at Ballymakea Mór, put at the disposal of the club by Frank and Margaret Cleary, has proved to be an excellent and well-appointed venue in recent years.
The draw for the meeting made on Sunday night is Judge Bernard Gould: Slipper Richie Quinn.
Derby Trial stake (32). 1st quarter: Eoin Forever v Gurraun Rain; Derrylough Fury v Tromora Becks; Freedys Dream v Glin View Leanbh; Knockbrack Eoin v Coorheen Guest;
Second quarter: Forever West v Race Night Joe; A-Hoi-Hoi v Mariners Monach; Lurga Storm v Callura Bushman; Aristo Emperor v Woodifhecould.
Third quarter: Scholar’s Gold v Terrible Trouble; Venture Out v Tynwald Stuart; Ballymurtagh v Kerrycare Bet; Cillowen Bandit v Mullagh Entyre.
Fourth quarter: Disruptive Guest v Windfarm Brian; Calm Expression v Hopestown View; Denham Matt v Twenty Twelve; Fishermans Toll v Clonmore Master. Reserves(a) Avenue Ando; (b) Cork Hill Joe;(c) Woodpark Returns; (d) Go Alone.
Oaks trial stake (32) 1st quarter: Omera v Job Done; Aristo Princess v Kylea Snowflare; Have We Six v Tentstown Mag; Woodpark Blaze v Lismadine Lake.
Second quarter: Shauna’s Angel v Eighty’s Eire; Miss Rua v Fawn of Inagh; Shanakyle Bexie v Gentstown Break; Ballyegan Eye v Cooga Aoife.
Third quarter: Mariner’s Glen v Lorchill Loveit; Dromelihy Mac v Tullabrack Gift; Scattery Diva v Lischane Flash; Is That You Mikie v Lowland Deuce.
Fourth quarter: Winword Flash v Wood Smokey; Radisson Lass v Clogher Road; Breska Beg v Skellig Time; Claureen Moon v Windfarm Daisey. Reserves (a) Clonmore Windy (b) Wake Up Saunders (c) Rihen Blitzen (d) Rinnwood Call.
Miltown Malbay all-age cup (16 all-age dogs) 1st half: Navins For Sure v Ballycasey; Swing Ash v Kyle Basil; Beyond Gaise No Fool; Tarmac Bertie v Clune Hyland.
Second half: Fishermans Scoby v Moot Point; Cillowen Noble v Milesian Son; There Goes Jojo v Windfarm Eiscir; Stay Focused b Upsetter. Reserves (a) Kilferagh (b) I Say So.
Miltown Malbay all-age bitch stake (16 ). 1st half: Squid of Inagh v Wilton Millie; Lively Blonde v Callura Chico; Intense Focus v Prolific Artist; Rosie Josie v Jeru Eile.
Second half: Finuge Molly v Scattery Express; Be My Baby v Gortglass Cindy; Skellig Wave v Scholars Dilemma; Aristo Roo v Cooga Ruby. Reserves (a) Go For It Manik (b) Ningaloo Maxie.
Two Course Duffers Stake (eight dogs and bitches) Drimeen Butcher v Knockbrack Yeaman; Josh’s Jewel v Los Hervideros; Tullyglass Pride v Cailín Oran; Road to Tulla v Matt Bird. Reserves (a) Sheer Fantastic (b) Donaill Ashlacca.
Members’  Stake (16 one course, dogs and bitches) Spruce Solo v Barefoot Batt; Pro Bono v Burnpark Sparky; Danema Leisure v Gifted Ivy Hill; Master Slick v Barred For Life; Amsterdam Ted v Shyan Patch; Toberachuinne v Manus Cheatnut; Clonlaheen Wish v Drimeen Mariner; Knockdine Diva v Go For It Polka. Reserves (a) Tullyglass Ace (b) Roadstone Flyer.
Tom O’Halloran Stake (8) West Galway v Riheh Bawn; Dan Paddy v Murphy’s Surprise; Dunbar Tanner v Knockdine Dream; Ceann Dubh v Gypsy Madam. Reserves (a) Mines Scholes (b) Scattery Flyer.
Harecatcher’s  Stake (16 one course, dogs and bitches) Clonreddan Mikie v Riheh God; Ballymakea Boy v Danema Blues; Tullerboy Mike v Malbay Razor; Sharon’s Deal v Rith Gan Crouch; Rumble King v Sharon’s Trucker; Breeze Zephyr Miracle Woman; Rith Faineach v Malbay Mischieve; Dalcash Sarah v Dunsallagh Ace.
First brace in slips Saturday (11.30am) Sunday (11.30am).
Order of running: first day twice through derby, oaks, all-age bitch and all-age dog: second day start with two course duffers, members stake and complete card.
Tromora Darkie (Matt Hyland-Denham Darkie) owned by K Hogan, Quilty, won the final of the Oaks reserve trial stake (24) at the Edenderry coursing meeting last Sunday. In the final, she beat the Rathkeale-owned Gifted Miss (Bexhill Eoin-Fever Pitch) by one length.
Members of the ATM syndicate, Clarecastle  were out of luck when their Murty’s Rerturn (Murty’s Blaze-Milton Magic) was beaten in the final of the Derby trial stake (32) at Lougrea on Sunday.
However, Ennis publican, John Quinn did have a winner at the same meeting when  Athlacca Amber (Murty’s Blaze-Southside Piff), which he owns with Ger Mahony, Loughrea, won the Masonbrook stakes for two course duffers.