ENNIS-Clarecastle Cousing Club members are hoping for improved weather conditions to allow their meeting  go ahead in Manus this Saturday and Sunday.
The meeting was due to take place last weekend but on  Thursday, the club had no alternative but to postone it for a week because of the hard ground conditions. They are hoping for improved weather conditions to allow them hold the meeting on Saturday at 11.30am and Sunday \t 11.30am. The original draw will stand.

Clare dogs excel on the Galway track

IN recent weeks, the Johnny Maher-trained Rathkerry Lad has been showing definite signs of returning to his best form. This was further confirmed in Galway last Saturday night when he won the feature race, the final of the St Michael’s Football Club A4 525, much to the delight of the Kilmaley contingent.
There was a fairly even break to the race which saw the Gerry Reidy-trained Barntick Luke going off the even money favourite from trap two. By the time they reached the opening bend, there was less than two lengths between all six runners. However, by this stage, Rathkerry Lad was looking good and down the back, the son of Tyrur Ted-Burnpark Jenny was looking better. By the half-way mark, he had an advantage of three lengths and was still well clear as they came off the home bend. At the finishing line, the Rachel Maher-owned fawn dog had three and a half lengths to spare on the Mary Reidy-owned Barntick Luke to win the first prize of €1,600. The winner’s time was 29.36.
The Banner roar was also heard loud and clear when the chief suporting race, the final of the Glenamaddy GAA Club A3 525 was decided. The bookmakers installed the John McDonagh-trained Tyrur Paudi as the 5/4 favourite but on the run to the opening bend, the Donie Duggan-trained Manus Chestnut in trap two was in front by two lengths from Tyrur Paudie in the inside trap and Popsey Star in trap three. Manus Chestnut extended his advantage to three lengths passing halfway and despite losing some ground off the home bend, the son of Crash and Baby Jean withheld the late challenge of Tyrur Paudi to win by three parts of a length and in 29.42 for owner,Pat McInerney, snr, Manus, Clarecastle.
Clare runners were also to the forefront in the two semi-final heats of the GOBA sponsored A3 575.
The Beltra-owned Beltra Teeko made all the running in the opening heat to win by four lengths in 32.30 from the reserve runner, Knockdine Viva owned by Helen O’ Brien, Miltown Malbay.Third home was Dukes Bonnie.
The Myles Cummins-trained Snuggie Babe (Group Rooster-Christians Lady) went off the 4/5 favourite from trap two in the next heat. And when the race got underway, the favourite was smartly away to lead by one length from Grenanstown Lady in six and Frisco Rumble in one. Down the back, the black bitch owned by Breda Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus maintained her one-length lead and increased it over the last two bends to win an all-Clare finish by four and a half lengths in 31.77 from Frisco Rumble, owned in Shannon by the Spelman-Riordan-McDonagh syndicate. One length back in third place was the Michael Downes-trained and Janet Downes (Killaloe)-owned Reargrove Gent.
A great inside run towards the first bend paid dividends for Ballyhill Rush, owned by Master Darren Cooney, Broadford, in the second race of the night, an S4 graded 350-yard event. From this onwards, the son of Top Savings-Buckie Rose started to come out on top and at the line had an advantage of two and a half lengths on Starlight Legend. The winner’s clock was 19.58.
An A5 graded 525 race produced a 29.86 win for the Loughrea-owned Lady Denise. Third in the same race was Manus Honey, owned by John McInerney, Manus.
Clare trainer Donie Duggan had a winner in an A5 graded race with Captain Cheeky, owned in Shannon by Mary Grace. The 6/4 joint favourite made all the running from trap one and having overcome the early challenge of Thanksgiving, was well clear down the back. The son of Magical Captain- Cheeky Dreamer, railed well over the final two bends to set up a four lengths win in 29.74.
The Miltown Malbay-owned (Helen O’Brien and Michael Mahony) Nell’s Fantasy was first to show in an A4 graded race to lead by two lengths from Lismadine Road. As they came to the third bend, the lead was shortened and Scanton Express came into the reckoning in second spot. And close to home, Scanton Express came out on top to win the race by a length and a quarter in 29.55 from Nells Fantasy.Third place went to another Milton Malbay-owned runner, Knockbrack Yeman (Margaret Nestor).
Clare had the last say when the final race of the night went to the reserve runner, Carhugar Bobsie, trained by Michael Downes for the Clare Connectioin syndicate froim Quin. This was an A3 graded 525 in which Carhugar Bobsie saw off the challenges of Tobarachuine and Pals Redundant before taking a three-length lead down the far side. The son of Premier County-Blondie Lotto railed well over the final two bends on his way home to a two-and-a-half-lengths win in 29.29.This win was also greeted by another great Clare roar. The runner-up was Jules Flyer and third home was another reserve runner, O’Garney Belle, owned by Bernard Coffey, Sixmilebridge.
Excellent work by the staff ensured that racing took place in Galway Racing Stadium last Friday night.
Top of the pile in the 11-race programme was the A2 graded 525 and from the start the trap-one runner, Carol’s Contender was the one to watch. The daughter of Boherduff Light-Coldwar Baby took an early lead, had an advantage of three lengths down the far side and while Hatchet made a brave bid in the final stages, there was to be no denying Carol’s Contender who won  by two and a quarter lengths in 29.05 from Hatchet.Third spot was filled by Donail Atlacca, owned in Ballyea by Bridget and Shanua Nugent.
The second race on the card, an A9 graded 525, was more or less decided at the opening bend where Burnpark Sparky, owned by Mary Browne, Kilmihil, came storming through by the rail to move the rest of the field wide and opening up a four-length lead for himself. The son of Balintore Brave-Burnpark Kay lost ground close to home but still had a length and a quarter to spare from Larchill Lee (Michael O’Donoghue). Third home was the Clare-owned Mall Return (Michael Casy).The winner’s time was 29.66
The outcome of the next race, an S7 graded 350, created a second career win for Wilbrook Man (Prince Monalulu- Missouri Dame) owned in Ennistymoin by Mary Davoren. He led by two lengths at the first corner where the others crowded and he remained in front for the remainder of the trip for a two-and-a-quarter-length success in 19.86.
There was a shock result in an S6 graded 350 which was won by the County Tipperary-owned Lorra Hold On who paid €16.70 for a win in the Tote. He made all the runninng to beat Senahel Yeah Man (Joe Malone) by three lengths in 19.90. Third place went to Cyprus Nomad, owned in Shannon by Albert Burke.
Mine Cash, owned and trained by Frank Browne, Quin, set the pace in an S1 graded race but Chill the Jets railed well at the home bend to overtake the leader and win by half a length in 19.45.
Shannon owner, Seán McAllen also paid a visit to the winners’ arena after his white and fawn dog Astronomer’s Star (Find a Star-Creole Lark) was successful in an A5 graded 525. With the advantage of a fine run in the inside, he gradually came to terms with Peggy’s Laden and after the half-way mark started totake control of things. After rounding the home turn, he had an advantage of three lengths and while he was hard pressed by Lydia Micawber  in the final few strides he had enough in reesrve to hold out and win by one length in a time of 29.58.
There was another Banner County success in the following race, which was for A3 graders with the Frank Browne-trained Mine Hazel doing the business on this occasion. Owned by Mary Browne, the daughter of Hades Rocket-Jumeirah Jess survived the early challenge from the Noel Mullins-trained County Hurlers to take lead going down the back. She then romped home for a 29.12 win, beating Honcho Be Slick by seven lengths for her seventh career win. Third home was County Hurlers owned by Seán and Mike Mullins, Gort.
Brave Billy led on the run to the opening bend in th e final race of the night, which was for A4 graders. However, the reserve runner, Master of Chase, owned by Master Gary Cooney, Broadford, slipped through on the inside route to take control and run on for an emphatic three lengths win. The son of Crash- Emporio Lady had a clock of 29.62.