No Abu for Clare in Clonmel

AFTER a week that promised so much, Clare owners drew a complete blank at the national coursing finals in Clonmel.
Even in the consolation stakes there was no joy after Uptown Abu, owned by a syndicate including former Clare All-Ireland medal winners, Anthony Daly and Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin, was beaten in the final of the Keen Laddie Stakes for dogs eliminated in the Derby.
Then, the Gaisce Syndicate from Miltown Malbay were out of luck in the Kitty Butler Stake, when they were forced to withdraw Gaisce Mor (Bexhill Eoin-Rith Gan Gaisce) at the semi-final stage after the bitch was heavily coursed in the second round.
Trained by Gerry Holian, for members of the Rumour Has It Syndicate from Ennis, Clarecastle and Kilmaley, Uptown Abu enjoyed another bye run on Wednesday morning, before scoring a five-lengths semi-final win over Lixnaw Eoin.
In the top half of the stake, Donnellan’s Cross, owned by Mary Grace from Shannon and trained by Donie Duggan of Quin, was beaten by five lengths in the second round by Eoin Roger who, in turn, was beaten by two lengths by Dusty’s Blueboy in the semi-final.
Uptown Abu (Murty’s Blaze-Uptown Dilemma), was a favourite with the bookies going into the final and after shooting two lengths clear early on, it looked as if at least one consolation stake was destined for the Banner County.
However, Dusty’s Blueboy (Bexhill Eoin-Tullamoy Lady), owned in Carrigeen by Paudie McCarthy, had other notions and came storming through on the incline to take the decisive opening turn by two lengths.
Gaffney Ranger, owned by Noel Ryan of Knockalough and Drogheda, went out by two lengths to the Westport-owned Ardmore Butch in the semi-final of the TA Morris Stake.
Owned by David Hoban, Ardmore Butch (Loughbo Butch-Ardmore Rhythm) went on to claim the €2,500 winner’s prize money when coming from behind to win the final in a just-up decision from Vacume Cool Dude (Berxhill Eoin-Vacume Blonde), owned by Dermot O’Sullivan, Cork.
The final of the Boylesports.com Derby was won by Go Home Hare (Wallace Green-Inallherglory), trained by Dessie Kerrigan for members of the Mel Syndicate from Glin.
One of the leading fancies for the Derby before coursing, the East Donegal trail stake winner won the final by a long distance from the favourite, Blueview Sam (Murty’s Gang-Foxhall Rio), who appeared to be injured.
Owned, bred and trained by Brendan Farrelly of Mullingar, Dale Róisín (Eoin Rua-Two Car Trap) sprang a major surprise when a three-length winner of the Greyhound and Petworld Oaks, getting the flag from Emma’s Goldrush (Murty’s Blaze-Uptown Dilemma), owned by members of the Goldrush Syndicate in Golden.
Marie Field, Patrickswell was doubly represented in the Classic Club Champions Stake by Kyle Ranger (Matt Hyland, Ballyorgan) and Kyle King (Kyle James-Ballybeg Fancy). Kyle Ranger was declared the winner after Kyle King was withdrawn.
In the bitch equivalent, the Grace Bruton Memorial Champion Bitch Stake, the honours went to Abbeyfeale owner Maurice Collins when Portinard Nine (Trajectory-Four Options) beat pre-coursing favourite, Class Attraction (Judical Affair-Moonveen Ellen), owned in County Cork by Elaine Guiney by five lengths.
The cold, gloomy weather matched the mood of the Clare contingent at Powerstown Park on Monday when two of the county’s leading lights for Clonmel glory made their exits in the very first round of the classics.
Though going to slips with the much-fancied Solid Monk in the desperately competitive third quarter, there was a lot of confidence in the Clare camp that Uptown Abu would survive and go on and give the Boylesports.com Derby a fair old rattle for trainer, Gerry Holian and members of the Rumour Has it syndicate.
When the dogs left the slips, it was looking good for Uptown Abu in the red collar. He was in front from the start, was two lengths clear midways but then tragedy struck as he went off line to give the advantage to the Solid Monk, who won the straight run to the escape by three lengths. It was cruel luck for all the connections of Uptown Abu.
The first Clare-owned dog into action in the Derby was Indepub, owned by Murty McMahon from Ennistymon and trained by Pat Curtin.
Also in the red collar, Indepub was second-best away from slips and the Liscannor qualifier never got to grips with Ballymore Bob, who got the first turn by a length.
The next pair into slips were the Carrick-on-Suir owned Windgap Lar and the South Clare reserve qualifier, Wood Hyland, who came in for the absent Charlemont Mills.
Owned by Carl Maguire from near Kilrush and Adrian Ennis of Killucan and Kilkee, Wood Hyland was trailing by two lengths at the halfway mark but then as they reached the steep part of the hill, he got his second wind and flew past Windgap Lar to get a hard earned and very exciting win by one length.
Gaffney Ranger, owned by Kilmihil parish native, Noel Ryan from County Meath was in action in the second quarter but he was under pressure from an early stage and went out by a length and a half to the Listowel-owned, Ballyblue Eoin.
The Cree-owned, Jeru Cavendish and Barrack Eoin met earlier in the season at Abbeyfeale, with Jeru coming out on top by a length. They met again in the fourth quarter of the Derby in Powerstown Park on Monday and again it was a very close affair, with Barrack Eoin having a very slender lead as they reached the start of the climb. In the tightest of finishes, Jeru Cavendish stuck his nose in front for the turn to repeat his Abbeyfeale win and earn the right for an appearance in the second round.
The crowds were big for the opening day and they were treated to some excellent coursing and the usual quota of shock results. On the board at 8/1 before coursing, Offshore Eoin was the clear favourite for the Derby at 3/1 after the first round.
There were high hopes that Gaisce Mor would survive the opening day and go on and give a good account of herself in the Greyhound and PeterWorld Oaks. However, members of the Gasice Syndicate must have been desperately disappointed after their Killimer-Kilrush qualifier, trained by Gerry Holian, did not come through the first day’s proceedings.
She was well tested by Blazing Dilemma but as they came to the steep part of the hill, Gaisce Mor poached a one-length lead and it was now looking better for her. It was thought that she would pull away from here but Blazing Dilemma was not finished yet and with a renewed effort just got the better of Gaisce Mor by half a length.
Sixmilebridge native, Gerry Meehan, Kiskeam, had a good start to the Oaks when Oilean Smile overcame Turn the Tide in a very closely contested buckle. It was stride for stride all the way and with the escape just in sight, Oilean Smile, trained by Gerry for his son Sean, went clear to win a straight up run by two lengths.
Jeru Melody had a fine opening round win for owner Ruth O’Donoghue, Cree and trainer John Browne. Giving a straight no-nonsense performance, she was always in command for her three-length success over Let Me Call.
The favourite, Fives Treasure handed out a first-round warning that she would not be easily overtaken. She gave a five-star performance in beating Lady Bomb with the fastest clock of the round.
The crowds were bigger on Tuesday, the weather was brighter and the meeting produced some of the finest coursing every seen at the venue. Throwing in a few shock results for good measure, all the ingredients were there for a great day’s coursing.
After his great run on Monday, Wood Hyland failed to repeat the performance. In trouble early on, he always trailed Ballymore Bob to the turn.
Jeru Cavendish came on the scene further down the card when going to slips with Cuine Boy. It was Cuine Boy who held a slight advantage for most of the way, going on to win by a length in a course in which there was no turn.
The big shock of the day was the second-round exit of hot favourite, Offshore Eoin, who went out to Skellig Wish, who had a long hunt the previous day.
In the Oaks classics, Oilean Smile was up against Uptown Angel in the second round on Tuesday. Giving another gutsy performance, Oilean Smile finally shook off the challenge of the Kilflynn qualifier to win by a length.
Jeru Melody was not so fortunate. While she was in front for a long time, she had no answer to the late challenge from Rios Girl, who won by a length.
The Banner County’s chances of a Clonmel classics win in 2012 came to a halt in the third round of the Oaks when Oilean Smile was always trying to make up ground on Oh Banba. She changed sides but Oh Banba remained in front for her length-and-a-half win.
The Miltown Malbay-owned Gaisce Mor was the only Clare-owned runner in the first round of the Kitty Butler Stake on Tuesday afternoon and had an easy win over Cloverhill Sandy.
Gaffney Ranger, owned by Noel Ryan, had a bye in the first round of the TA Morris Stake.
There were three Clare interests in the first round of the Keen Laddie Stakes. Donnellan’s Cross, who was a reserve in the Derby and was not called into action, had a tough tussle with Wise Call. Just half a length separated the pair, the flag going in favour of Donnellan’s Cross. It was the reverse for Murty McMahon’s Indepub, who was beaten by half a length by Loyal Land, while Uptown Abu enjoyed a bye run.