Windfarm Eiscir beaten at final hurdle

It was almost business as usual for Windfarm Eiscir as he went about trying to win his third cup of the season to guarantee a return trip to Clonmel for another shot the Champion Stakes. But it all went horribly wrong at the final hurdle at the Ennis-Clarecastle coursing meeting last weekend when his connections had to be satisfied with the prize for runner-up.
As Windfarm Eiscir and Pay Me reached the halfway stage there was nothing to indicate that the Ennis-owned fawn would come out second best. Windfarm Eiscir was in control with a three-length advantage and on his way to another win for trainer, Pat Curtin and Ennis owner, Claire Eustace. But at this stage, he checked when going unsighted and Pay Me, trained by Michael O’Donovan for the Jammy Dodger syndicate from Dromina, shot into the lead. While Windfarm Eiscir got back on line, it was too late and Pay Me (Bexhil Eoin-Uptown Smurf) had three lengths to spare in a straight run. It was big step nearer Clonmel for Pay Me, who had already won in Mitchelstown and Waterford
Before coursing, they bet: 5-4 Sound Pistol, Windfarm Eiscir; 2-1 Pay Me; 4-1 Gallys Bridge, Kilpeacon Ash; 5-1 Star Chaser; 8-1 Kilbeacanty Joe, Aristo Prince, Cillowen Bandit, Him Over There; 10-1 Upourdat; 12-1 Scattery Harry; 16-1 Denham Matt, Knockbrack Eoin, Forever West.
The opening round on Saturday produced no surprises with Windfarm Eiscir, (even money) Sound Pistol and Pay Me, both at 6-4, still the market leaders on Sunday morning. Other prices were: 3-1 Gallys Bridge, 4-1 Star Chaser and Kilpeacon Ash, 6-1 Him Over There, 8-1 Upourdat.
Sound Pistol secured a semi-final slot when beating Star Chaser by one length but it was closer between Windfarm Eiscir, the winner, and Gallys Bridge. A length-and-a-half separated Pay Me, the winner, and the Miltown Malbay-owned Knockbrack Eoin and in a short slip Kilpeacon Ash, owned by Noreen McManus, had a length-and-a-half on Him Over There. However, in the long hunt, Kilpeacon Ash appeared to pick up an injury and was an absentee for the semi-finals.
Windfarm Eiscir was in control in the first semi-final by two lengths and while Sound Pistol, trained by Jerry Griffin for members of the Pistol Syndicate, came closer as they headed towards the escape, the Ennis-owned fawn had done enough to advance. Pay Me had a bye run in his semi-final.
The meeting ended in dramatic fashion with the HJ Murphy and Ryan Memorial Cup going to the connections of Pay Me.
The final of the All Age Bitch stake (16) for the Coote Cup brought a welcome and deserved change in fortune for trainer Gerry Meehan of Kiskeam and Sixmilebridge. Beaten in two trial stakes finals this season and runner-up with Oilean Mystic at the Tradaree meeting, he made the welcome breakthrough at Ennis-Clarecastle with Oilean Mystic, who he trains for his father, Sean, who is president of the Tradaree Coursing Club.
Before coursing, bookmaker Dinny Gould had Omera, owned by members of the Dream on syndicate in Newcastlewest, the 5-4 favourite with Glenbeg Lucy at 3-1, the Liscannor winner Volga Daisy at 4-1, the West Clare-owned Job Done, who won the Tradaree all-age event at 5-1, as was Cillowen Rhythm and Maccos Pride and Oilean Mystic. Other prices were: Baby Sasha 6-1, Woodpark Blaze and Windfarm Swift 8-1, Slip Away, Clonmore Windy and Rith Blitz 10-1 and Lively Blonde and Kylea Snowflake 12-1.
All the big names came safely through the opening round on Saturday, after which the Dan Brassil-trained Omera was still topping the market at 4-6 with Windfarm Swift (2-1), Oilean Mystic and Job Done (4-1) and Maccos Pride and Woodpark Blaze (6-1) and Lively Blonde (10-1).
Oilean Mystic and Lively Blonde were the first pair into action, Sean Meehan’s brindled coming through with two lengths to spare. Two lengths was also the winning distance for Omera when eliminating Cathal Meaney’s Job Done. In the bottom half, Johnny Quinn’s Woodpark Blaze went out to Maccos Pride while Cillowen Rhythm accounted for Windfarm Swift.
For the semi-finals, Omera was now at 1-2; Maccos Pride was 2-1, Cillowen Rhythm 5-2 and Oilean Mystic at 3-1.
The first of the semi-finals produced another of the big shocks of the meeting with Omera going out to Oilean Mystic in a very tight buckle. They went stride for stride up to the end with Oilean Mystic just getting the nod before they reached escape.
The second semi-final was another thriller and in a straight run Maccos Pride just overcame the challenge of George Gallery’s Cillowen Rhythm.
The final was another exciting affair with little between Oilean Mystic and Maccos Pride, owned by William Costelloe, Kilmoyley, County Kerry. It was another just-up verdict with the flag going in favour of Oilean Mystic (Droopys Caesar-Oilean Dancer).
Awe and Wonder brought some consolation to the Kerry contingent when winning the Oaks Trial Stake (32) and the George Gallery Memorial Cup. Before coursing Awe and Wonder was available at 5-1. The 2-1 favourite was Larchill Millie, a semi-finalist at Galway-Oranmore and owned by Michael O’Donoghue from near Loughrea and trained by Paddy O’Donoghue of Loughrea and formerly of Ennis. Other short prices were: 3-1 Shandangan Laura, Calypso Kate, Akalla, 7-2 Lone Diva, 4-1 Come Home Early, Ariston Catinahat, Cillowen Sunset, Mona Margaret and Jeru Melody. A non-runner was Ann Heffernan’s Flashy Talent and was replaced by Listellick Mist.
Among the short odds to bite the dust in the opening rounds on Saturday were Shandangan Laura (beaten in round one by Shestheone), Come Home Early (also beaten at the same stage by Spins House), Aristo Catinahat (beaten one length in the opening round by Las Elvac), Cillowen Sunset, who was beaten by Ler Maggie and Akalla, who was a second-round casualty to the West Clare-owned Jeru Melody.
Larchill Millie (even money) and Awe and Wonder (5-4) were the market leaders on Sunday with 2-1 Jeru Melody, 5-2 Chapter, 4-1 Forteshestheone, Mustgonow and Fishermans Ammie and 6-1 Rinnwood Maggie.
In the first buckle it was a half length between the winner, Forseshestheone, owned in Shannon by Gerry Cooney, and Rinnwood Maggie, owned in Galway by Michael Corcoran and Des Flaherty and it was also tight enough in the finish between Larchill Millie, the winner and the Rathkeale-owned Mustgonow. The Cappawhite-owned Chapter was an unlucky loser to Awe and Wonder while Cree twins Jenny and Ruth O’Donoghue were eyeing a place in the semi-final when their Jeru Melody appeared to have done enough to go on but the judge raised some eyebrows when he waived the flag in favour of Fishermans Aimee in a straight run.
Now the 4-5 favourite, Awe and Wonder booked a place in the final after seeing off the challenge of the Kilkee-owned Fisherman Aimee (Joe Harte) by just half a length. It was more clear-cut in the other semi-final with Larchill Millie winning by three lengths in a straight run.
It was another straight-up run in the final with Awe and Wonder (Bexhill Eoin-Chubbys Accord) getting the Clonmel ticket by two lengths from Larchill Millie (Kingsmill Dynamo-Larchill Lil). The winner is trained by John Flynn in Tarbert for members of the Flynn syndicate.
The reserve Derby Trial Stake (24) looked a fairly open affair with odds in favour of Murtys Time (3-1), Adventure Seeker, Rathmeehan Steel, Burnpark Alfie, Janey All Star, Tromora Hogie, Rivermount Joe and Vanatupa. Morning Murt was a non-runner and was replaced by Liscahane Tomboy.
After the opening round on Saturday, Brazing King and Vanatupa topped the market leaders at 2-1 with Burnpark Alfie a non-runner. Donnellans Cross was four lengths faster than Doonbeg Melody; Adventure Seeker beat Wood Hyland by half a length; Castle Jack was three lengths faster than Maxi Rebel while Brazing King had a bye run. Janey All Star led Kaylas Jacko by four lengths and a length-and-a-half separated Vanatupa, the winner, and Tromora Hogie.
Survivors from the following round were Donnellans Cross, who beat Adventure Seeker by half a length; Castle Jack, who had a length advantage on Brazing King and Janey All Star, who survived a very tight run against Vanatupa.
Donnellans Cross and Janey All Star were the even-money favourites for the semi-finals, with Castle Jack at 6-4.
Donnellans Cross went to the final when getting the turn by one length from Castle Jack and was joined by Janey All Star after her bye run.
There was another straight run in the final when Donnelans Cross (Matt Hyland-Cudhams Specks) edged out in front for a four-lengths lead on Janey All Star (Janey Macaroo-Ballinora Allstar), owned and trained in Kilmaley by Johnny Maher. The aptly named Donnellans Cross is owned in Shannon by Mary Grace, the former Mary Donnellan from Kilmacduane, Cooraclare. The winner is trained in Shannon by John Grace.
Inagh owner Noel Hehir won the Working Members Stake and Haulie Daly Memorial Cup (16) with his dog Chance Ivy Hill (Head Bound-Barntick Live), who beat the fawn bitch, Mahonburg Blaze (Murtys Blaze-Mahonburg Lass) owned by Ken Higgins, Inch, Ennis by five lengths in the final.
The beaten semi-finalists were Sues Rocket (Jerry Moloney, Ennis) and Cahercalla Risk (Tony Quinn and Sean Heeney, Ennis).
Jerry Moloney had better luck in the Surplus Members Stake (8), which was won by Drimeen Mariner (Bexhill Eoin-Mariners Town), who he owns with Noel Coote, Ennis. They won the final by half a length from Rockmount Eskimo (Bohereduff Light-Fandy) owned by Shane Flanagan, Rockmount, Ennis.
The Fourth of July Inter Club Stake (8) was cancelled.
Conditions were cold but dry on Saturday when the meeting produced some of the finest coursing seen in Clare this season. The crowd was treated to more exciting coursing on Sunday when heavy rain creased just before coursing commenced. There was one huge shower during the interval before the finals but patrons were able to find shelter under the tent, which provided refreshments during the two days. The timber pallets for viewing the action were also appreciated by patrons.
Before the finals, there was a minute’s silence in memory of club members who died in the past year, especially the late Tommie Brennan from Ennis, a past chairman and president of the Ennis-Clarecastle Coursing Club. A native of County Laois, he spent most of his life in Ennis, where he was a butcher for many years. He was a lifetime and keen supporter of coursing and the Ennis-Clarecastle club.

Oaks Trial Stake (32 bitch puppies) semi-finals: Larchill Millie beat Forshestheone; Awe and Wonder beat Fishermans Aimee. Final: Flynn syndicate’s (Tarbert) Awe and Wonder (Bexhill Eoin-Chubbbys Accord) 2l beat
M O’Donoghue’s (Loughrea) Larchill Millie (Kingsmill Dynamo-Larchill Lil).
Reserve Derby Trial Stake (24) semi-finals: Donnellan Cross beat Castle Jack; Janey All Star, a bye. Final: M Grace’s (Shannon) Donnellans Cross (Matt Hyand-Cudham Speckas) 4l beat J Maher’s (Kilmaley) Janey All Star (Janey Macaroo-Ballinaora All Star).
HJ Murphy and Ryan Memorial all-age dog stake (16) semi-finals: Windfarm Eiscir beat Sound Pistol; Pay Me, a bye, Kilpeacon Ash withdrawn. Final: Jammy Dodger syndicate’s (Dromina) Pay Me (Bexhill Eoin-Uptown Smurf) 3l beat C Eustace’s (Ennis Windfarm Eiscir (Bexhill Eoin-Windfarm Lady).
Coote All Age Bitch Stake (16) semi-finals: Oilean Mystic beat Omera; Maccos Pride beat Cillowen Rhythm. Final: G Meehan’s (Sixmilebridge) Olean Mystic (Droopys Ceasar-Oilean Dancer) just up beat W Costelloe’s (Kilmoyley) Maccos Pride (Bexhill Eoin-Blue Kanu).
Working Members Stake and Haulie Daly Memorial Cup (16 one-course duffers) semi-finals: Chance Ivy Hill beat Sues Rocket; Mahonburg Blaze beat Cahercalla Risk. Final: Noel Hehir’s (Inagh) Chance Ivy Hill (Head Bound-Barntick Live) 5l beat K Higgins (Inch, Ennis) Mahonburg Blaze (Murtys Blazse-Lahonburg Lass).
Surplus Members Stake final: N Coote and J Moloney’s (Ennis) Drimeen Mariner (Bexhill Eoin-Mariners Town) half a length beat S Flanagan’s (Ennis) Rockmount Eskimo (Boherduff Light-Flandy).