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
his chances of making it to Clonmel. Wheres Crany caused a big stir when he won the Galway-
Oranmore qualifier for Shane Flanagan, Rockmount, Ennis and Ennis publican Kieran Browne.
Also drawn in the second quarter is Wood Dynamo (Kings Dynamo- Ballymore Becks), owned by Carl
Maguire from near Kilrush and Mullingar native, Adrian Ennis. Trained by the West Clare man, Wood
Dynamo won his ticket from the Castletowngeoghehan meeting and has a first round date in Clonmel
with the Enniscorthy qualifier, Sunfire Nova.
Eshwary Leader, the 7/1 favourite, owned by Brendan Keogh and Simon Senyk in Kennardington,
Kent, came through the Abbeydorney meeting. He goes to slips with Go Conquer in the third quarter.
Second favourite, Needham Danger, owned by Brendan Matthews, Newry will meet Bernish Jet in the
opening quarter.
Ennis trainer, George Gallery is hoping to get a run in the Derby. Total Nutters , which he trains for a
syndicate whose members are from different parts of Ireland and England, is fourth reserve. He won
the reserve qualifier at the South Clare meeting.
Turbo Julie ( Johnny Casanova- NewinnModel) is 8/1 favourite with Boylesports.com to win the
Greyhound and Pet World Oaks. Now owned by the syndicate of Pat Curtin, Noel Hehir,Inagh; Dinny
Gould, Cree and his daughters, Tara, Karen and Sarah, she won her qualifier at Cappoquin when
owned by Mrs Carmel O’ Connor, Portlaw and trained by Michael Dunphy. Turbo Julie will meet the
Lixnaw owned and Abbeyfeale qualifier, Turning Pace, in the second quarter.
In the same quarter, Glowing Ambition ( Mafi Magic- Fingal Swagger), owned by Padraig Ward,
Spancilhill and Denis Torpey, Clarecastle will clash with the Nenagh owned Chubbs Vanilla. Glowing
Ambition won her way to Clonmel from the South Clare meeting.
Danganelly, Cooraclare owner, Doris Liddy, has high hopes of Simtam (Kyles James- Tullamoy
Duchess) doing well in the Oaks. Trained by Pat Conway, Limerick, her performance in winning the
Mooncoin qualifier was first class. In the first round on Clonmel she comes up against Flow On Jess,
the Macroom representative.
It looks like there will be another West Clare runner in the Oaks, Castle Tornado, owned by members
of the Never Go Home syndicate from Kilkee. Trained in Emly by Denis Hayes, the daughter of
March is On- Sarah Marys Bell is first reserve after winning the Cashel reserve ( 32). Owners David
McNamara, Kieran McGrath and Declan McDonnell,Kilkee are looking forward to a return journey to
Clonmel where they had a Derby runner in 2008, Stop and Stare.He went out in the first round and
afterwards reached the semi-final of a consolation stake.
Castle Tornado ran well in Cashel and was the one to beat at the quarter final stage. She went on to
contest the exciting all West Clare final in which she beat Knockbrack Queen owned in Miltown
Malbay by Killian Nestor.
The Clare connections of Colossal Force are also hoping to go to slips in Clonmel where he is first
reserve for the Classics Club Champion Stakes. Trained by Niall Warren,Kilmaley and owned by him,
his father Tom and Patricia and Leona Ryan, Ennis, she won a members stake this year before a cup
win in Dundalk.
Other Clare interests in Clonmel will be Oaks runners Abbeyglen Gra (Adios Alonso- Cillowen Gra)
bred by George Gallery Ennis; Duarigle Magic (Mafi Magic- Woodpark Rebel), bred by John Quinn,
Woodpark, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Ocean Hannalora (Kingsmill Dynamo- Ocean Tolua), bred by
Tom Fitzgerald, Parteen and owned by him when winning the Limerick City qualifier. She has since
been acquired by Brendan Keogh and Simon Senyk.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.