Top-class fields for Killimer cups

WITH very attractive fields for both the all-aged dog and bitch cups, there should be plenty of action and excitement in store for Killimer-Kilrush coursing meeting at Aylevarroo this weekend.

The draw in the top half of the Gilligan McMahon Memorial Cup for all-aged dogs (16) looks particularly interesting with Skellig Way and Hunters Glory the big names. They will probably clash in the second round on Saturday afternoon.

The market leader at 2/1 with bookmaker, Dinny Gould is Skellig Way, already a cup winner at Miltown Malbay for the O’Driscoll family from Glounthane, County Cork. Hunters Glory (3/1) is trained by Pat O’Connor for Kieran Culhane, Glin, who will be going for a hat-trick of cup wins this season to consolidate his place for Clonmel. He won the cup in Ballyheigue and followed up by taking the Fran Mangan All-aged Cup at Cappoquin on November 11. A clash between the pair would be one of the highlights of the meeting.

The ones to watch in the bottom half are Safe Hyland (4/1) a trial stake winner at Mallow last year; the Pat Curtin-trained Windfarm Eiscir (4/1); Eshwary Sea (6/1), who was also a trial stake winner last season for trainer, Dan Brassil and Northern Ireland owner, Gary Anderson; Ballymac Bex (6/1) and Star Point (8/1), who reached the final in Miltown Malbay for Paddy and Gary Egan from the Spanish Point area.

The Kilkee-owned She’s All Talk is installed as the 3/1 favourite to land the Aylevarroo All-Aged Bitch Stake (16). She is no stranger to this venue as she was runner-up for the Oaks Trial Stake here last season. She went on to reach the semi-final in South Clare.

She has performed quite well in her all-age career but luck has not been on her side, as she was beaten in three cup finals. She was beaten in the regional final by Barrack Becky, in Miltown Malbay by Skellig Way and at the Tradaree meeting by the Cooraclare-owned Job Done.

Owner, Cian Haugh and the Haugh family from Kilkee are hoping she will go all the way on this occasion and make up for earlier disappointments.

She is drawn in the bottom half, where her biggest threats should come from Meadow Star (4/1), who was beaten in the semi-final at Castleisland; Ruth O’Donoghue’s Jeru Melody (5/1), who won the trial stake at South Clare and the Clonlara-owned Aristo Catinahat (6/1), who has been a pretty consistent performer this season.

In the top half, the big name is the County Galway-owned Volga Daisy (4/1), who was beaten in the Limerick City final. The Cooraclare-owned Tullabrack Steel is given a 5/1 chance. It could finish as a Volga Daisy-She’s All Talk final with the verdict going to the Kilkee-owned fawn.

Both the Trial Stakes Reserve Derby (32) and Oaks (32) have also attracted quite a few familiar names and with the Harecatchers, Members and Surplus Members Stakes on the card, everything points to a great weekend at this popular meeting, which is boosted with its very testing Aylevarroo stretch.

Coursing gets underway on Saturday and Sunday at 11.30am and the officials in charge will be Tony Reddan, Sixmilebridge (judge) and slipper Anthony McNamara from Moneen, Killimer, who will be slipping for the second time in Killimer. He also peformed well at the Miltown Malbay fixture.

The draw, made in the Haven Arms, Kilrush on Sunday night is as follows:

Gilligan and McMahon Memorial Cup (16 all-aged dogs)
Top half: Skellig Way v Monveen Badger; Hunters Glory v Halsback; Clear Cascade v Shining Toby and Lismadine Leroy v Dromore Oak; bottom half: Eshwary Sea v Safe Hyland; Castle Jack v Rubber Bandit; Ballymac Bex v Star Chaser and Windfarm Eiscir v Star Point. Reserves: (a) Double Octave and (b) Halfway Bar.

All-Aged Bitch Stake (16)
Top half: Volga Daisy v Larchill Millie; Smoking Hotshot v Missing Bex; McHugh Lass v Tullabrack Steel and Colina Punto v Parker Lady; bottom half: Meadow Star v She’s All Talk; Delightful Mark v Come on Vivinne; Swanky Amy v Jeru Melody and Aristo Catinahat v Spring Hawk. Reserves: (a) Parker Megan and (b) Jeneth.

Oaks Trial Stake (32 bitch puppies)
First quarter: Floral Dewdrop v Gorna Delight; Ballymac Vista v Georgeous Molly; Santas Suzanna v Callura Rain and Queen of Inagh v Jane Óg; second quarter: Deirdre’s Delight v Mountain Fancy; Late Graduate v Danagher’s Clio; Aristo Dawn v Razor Princess and Jeru Magic v Cable Electric; third quarter: Flushing Chick v Careful Ivy; Coshair Padi v Knockbrack Lucy; Clonmore Call v Fishermans Bezza and Skellig Tivoli v Danema Beag; fourth quarter: Dapper Dani v Promises; Bend Your Knee v Best Resort; Summerfield Emily v Yorkville River and Elegant Miss v Miss Tom Pa. Reserves: (a) Sunshine Sunny, (b) Crafty Armado, (c) Kineilty Jazz and (d) Lismadine Hannah.

Reserve Derby Trial Stake (32 dog puppies)
First quarter: Drimeen Bellagio v Sharp Dancer; Mr Moonbeam v Yolo; Yorkville James v Noisy Man and Inisheer Ri v Dromore Ash; second quarter: Anagran Razor v Fear Rua; Bitofanutter v Colina Ded Alo; Kilbeacanty Andy v Danaghers Magic and Goforiteoin v Dangerous Redhead; third quarter: Frontara v Shyan Bruce; Derrylough Hill v Scrapper Jayo; Karlsushe v Castle Zebo and Sligo Bullet v Safe Is On; fourth quarter: Small Drop v Clonmore Hunter; Burnpark Wallace v The Coachman; Brisla Star v Killerk Jewel and Drean Valley v Rookie Owners. Reserves: (a) Ivory Claw, (b) Callura Yank, (c) Morning Lazerous and (d) Rinnwood Lynskey.

Hare Catchers Stake (16 two-course duffers)
Derrylough Matt v Wood Rocky; Lismadine Hawk v Astons Diamond; Castle Call v Scattery Hog; Troy the Queen v Ivory Reef; Sharp Ash v Mixed Bag; Fitzler Vision v Glasheen Queen; Roadstone Lass v Scattery Cuckoo and Scobys Beaut v Clonreddan Bex. Reserves: (a) Smooth Cut and (b) Wood Twinkle.

Members Stake (16 one-course duffers)
Carhumore Ego v Jeru King; Pines of Inagh v Wood Pistol; Oursortofman v Mariners Matt; Derrylough Boy v Rogers Codger; Full of Foot v Mahonburg Magic; Malbay Bawn v Coolmeen Baby; Tromora Proof v Denim Diamonds and Dunsallagh Lisa v Glasheen Sally. Reserves: (a) Craggaknock Tango and (b) Ballynote Gift.

Surplus Members Stake (16)
Stranded in Hog v Scattery Shore; Fairhill Champ v Clune Topps; Milesian Spark v Shallee Rover; Gowerhass Cause v Doonbeg Phanter; Eighties Republic v Lismadine Lady; Rith Ur v Fitzler Express; Ashtown Bo v Derrylough Top and Coolmeen Queen v Ballykett Rascal. Reserves: (a) Liscahane Daddy and (b) Shanakyle Benny.

Order of running: Saturday (11.30am): twice through Oaks Trial Stake, Reserve Derby Trial Stake, All-Aged Bitch Stake and All-Aged Dog Stake. Sunday (11.30am): start with Members Stake, Surplus Members Stake, Hare Catchers Stake and complete card.