Tag Archives: coursing

THE local qualifiers may not be as numerous as other years but there is nonetheless a strong challenge for honours at the 93rd National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel on Saturday, Sunday and Monday next. Clare has two representatives in the BoyleSports Derby and a total of six interests in the Horse and Jockey Oaks. With a reduced team, trainer Pat Curtin has high hopes with the Kilcreevin-Ballymoate qualifier Roquefort Teddy in the Derby and Mad Decision in the Horse and Jockey Oaks. Owned by the Windfarm Syndicate of Michael Eustace (Ennis) and County Galway men Jonathan Newell and Gerry Hughes, Roquefort Teddy is one of three big names bred by Sharon Sexton of Mullagh. In the draw at the Horse and Jockey Hotel near Thurles on Friday night, he was not particularly  lucky as he came out of the hat with a tricky first round opponent in the 10/1 shot Silent Whisper, the Galway-Oranmore qualifier. Clareabbey Flyer (33/1), winner of the Miltown Miltown stake for …

THE Clare contingent will travel with a fair degree of confidence to the National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel this week-end, with some worthy representatives in the classics. Pride of place goes to Kilmihil, with three runners representing the parish at Powerstown Park. A lot of attention will also be focused on Mullagh native, Dr Paddy O’Kelly, whose unbeaten and Gerry Holian-trained Reikers Iskand (Adios Alonso – Blades of Glory) is second favourite for the Boylesports Derby. He won a good trial stake at Westmeath United and his prospects have been given a huge boost since then by winning the Corn na Féile puppy stake at Abbeyfeale, an event regarded as a good barometer for Clonmel. The favourite is his litter brother, Blades of Fire (6/1), also trained by Gerry Holian. He is owned by Mary Guiney (Rathkeale). The draws were made in the Horse and Jockey Hotel, the sponsor of the Oaks, on Friday night last. Out of the hat …

CLARE’S representation in the National Coursing Meeting at Powerstown Park, Clonmel this weekend has been greatly reduced through the forced withdrawal of Redzer Ferrari from the Boylesports Derby, Mad Moment in the Horse and Jockey Hotel Oaks, Windfarm Ivy in the Grace Bruton Champion All-Aged Bitch Stake and Roquefort Barney, who was first reserve for the Kevin Smith Champion Stakes. Redzer Ferrari picked up an injury at the weekend, much to the disappoinment of joint owners Pat Reddan (Killaloe) and Brendan Maunsell (Abbeydorney). He won his ticket at the Newcastlwest meeting but taking his place in Clonmel will be the runner-up, Scattery Alonso, trained by Dan Brassil for members of the Scattery Syndicate from Killimer. In the first round of the Derby, Scattery Alonso goes to slips with Nemos Django, who was a winner at Roscommon. However, Pat Reddan and Brendan Maunsell still have Redzer Green in the Derby. The Miltown Malbay qualifier meets the New Ross winner, Jet Stream, …

THIS weekend’s National Coursing meeting at Clonmel is expected to attract a big Clare contingent. Noticeable for the 2014 meeting is the amount of qualifiers that have changed hands, among them being Blueview Barney, a Derby runner and Turbo Julie in the Oaks, both now trained by Clareman Pat Curtin. The Derby runner is now known as Roquefort Barney (Murtys Gang-Foxhall Rio) and is owned by the Windfarm syndicate of Pat Curtin, Michael Eustace, Ennis, and Galway men Gerry Hughes and Jonathan Newell. Bred by Damian McHugh, the Kilcreevin-Ballymoate qualifier is drawn in the third quarter and comes up against the Borrisoleigh qualifier, Cuban Ando, in the first round. The name of Wheres Cranny (Murtys Blaze- Rock Music) went into the Derby draw in Clonmel on Sunday night and he came out of the hat in the second quarter against the Edenderry qualifier Central Investor, owned by Brendan Duffy, Derry. However, because of a toe injury a big doubt hangs over …