Windfarm Eiscir on track for third cup

THE connections of Windfarm, Eiscir have targetted the Ennis-Clarecastle coursing meeting this weekend for the third cup win of the season for their fawn dog. Already a silverware winner at the Regional and Killimer-Kilrush, he will start even-money favourite at the well-appointed Manus venue to collect more points on his Clonmel mission.
His biggest danger in the top half of the 16-dog stake could be the Jerry Griffin-trained Sound Pistol, who reached the last eight in the Boylesports.com Derby, when beaten by Central City, the eventual winner. This season he was beaten in the New Ross final and reached the semi-finals at the Limerick City fixture. He will start second favourite at 2/1.
In the bottom half, the one to watch should be Pay Me (3/1), already a cup winner at Mitchelstown and a finalist in Fermoy.
It looks like being a Windfarm Eiscir-Pay Me final with the Pat Curtin-trained fawn, owned in Ennis by Claire Eustace, getting the nod.
The all-age bitch stake looks a more open affair with a few nice runners in the field. The first name out of the hat, Olieán Mystic, could  well have a say in the final outcome.  She is owned by Tradaraee Coursing Club president, Sean Meehan and trained by his son, Gerry in Kiskeam, County Cork. She reached the final of the John Murray Memorial All-age Bitch Stake (16) at the Tradaree meeting but was beaten two lengths by the West Clare-owned Job Done trained by Pat Curtin for young Cathal Meaney, Tullabrack. Another big runner in this top half is Volga Daisy, winner of the all-age bitch stake at Liscannor for Athenry owner, Bridie Scully. However, she goes to slips with the 2/1 favourite, Omera, who was beaten in the Listowel final and  also featured in Miltown Malbay where she qualified for the semi-final but did not run on the second day.
The fancied runners in the bottom half of the draw are Glenbeg Lucy (5/2), Macco’s Pride and Baby Sasha, both at 5/1.
With time moving on, the race for places in the Clonmel Classics is heating up. The line-up for the Oaks Trial Stake (32) at Ennis-Clarecastle includes a number of well-known names, ensuring there will be plenty of action and excitement before the winner is known. The 5/2 favourite is the Cree-owned Jeru Melody, a litter sister to Jeru Canendish, a Derby trial stake winner at Borris-in-Ossory for Jenna and Ruth O’Donoghue. A 4/1 chance is Akalla, runner-up at Killimer-Kilrush.
The Reserve Derby Trial Stake (24), which has also attracted a good class field and the favourite here at 3/1 will be Murty’s Time owned by members of the ATM Syndicate from Clarecastle. Also fancied will be Rathmeehan Steel, a brother to Jeru Cavendish and Tromora Hogie.
The Fourth of July Inter-club Stake (8) adds more colour to the fixture, which also includes the working members’ and surplus working members’ stake.
The fine Manus venue, placed at the disposal of the club by the McInerney family, has been good to Ennis-Clarecastle. It is a field, which lends itself to good coursing and given  reasonable weather conditions, it should be another good coursing weekend.
Coursing starts on Saturday and Sunday at 11.30am and the officials in charge will be Bernard Gould, judge and Denis Crowley, slipper.
The full  draw, made in Navin’s, Clarecastle on Sunday night, is HJ Murphy Memorial All-age Dog Stake (16). Top half: Sound Pistol v Venture Out; Scattery Harry v Star Chaser; Denham Matt v Gally’s Bridge; Kilbeacanty Joe v Windfarm Eiscir.
Bottom half: Upourdat v Knockbrack Eoin; Pay Me v Aristo Prince; Kilpeacon Ash v Cillowen Bandit; Forever West v Him Over There. Reserves (a) Corheen Guest (b) Luath Legend.
Coote Family All-age Bitch Stake (16). Top half: Oileán Mystic v Slip Away; Lively Blonde v Lowland Deuce; Clonmore Windy v Job Done; Volga Daisy v Omera.
Bottom half: Macco’s Pride v Kylea Snowflake; Baby Sasha v Woodpark Blaze; Glenbeg Lucy v Windfarm Swift; Cillowen Rhythm v Rith Blitz. Reserves (a) Gifted Miss  (b) Quarrymount Tess.
Oaks Trial Stake (32 bitch puppies). First quarter: Shanakyle Kate v Woodpark Diva; Shandangan Laura v Forshestheone; Tip the Blaze v Pass Her Diva; Miss Curis v Rinnwood Maggie.
Second quarter: Come Home Early v Spin’s House; Brickhill Rose v Larchill Millie; Aristo Catinahat v Las Elvac; Flashy Talent v Mustgonow.
Third quarter; Quarrymount Joy v Awe and Wonder; Missing Bex v Lone Diva; Calypso Katie v Scattery Rose; Chapter v Duarigle Abidal.
Fourth quarter: Ler Maggie v Cillowen Sunset; Fisherman’s Aimee v Clare Woman; Mona Margaret v Akalla; Jeru Melody v Radharcnadtoonta. Reserves (a) Listellick Mist (b) So Foolish (c) Breska Sam (d) Butterbox.
Reserve Dog Trial Stake ( 24). Top half: Doonbeg Melody v Morning Murt; Ballyrua v Donnellan’s Cross; Wood Hyland v Kind of Style; Ivory Rock v Adventure Seeker; Elwick Ragtag v Castle Jack; Rathmeehan Steel v Maxi Rebel.
Bottom half: Colina Hydro v Burnpark Alfie; Mahonburg  Magic v Brazing King; Murty’s Time v Kayla’s Jacko; Forever a Legend v Janey All Star; Derrylough Sea v Tromora Hogie; Rockmount Joe v Vanatupa. Reserves (a) Liscahane Tomboy (b) Shanakyle Matt (c) Woodpark Gang (d) Cillowen Force.
Fourth of July Inter-club Stake (8) Kilcorcoran Manu v Astons Diamond; Glitter Breeze v Rogers Crystal; Caisleán Brian v Good Slick; Brickhill Frank v Runway Sally. Reserve Shift Ivy Hill.
Working Members’ Stake (16) Killerk Sammy v Kilatal Chimes; Chance Ivy Hill v Gort For It Johnny; Sue’s Rocket v Rogers Supreme; Drimeen Brownie v Manus Hero; Blaze Ken v Cahercalla Risk; Mine Ruso v Burren Monarch; Follow the Money v Croysola; Clonfeigh Jewel v Mahonburg Blaze. Reserves (a) Sioux City (b) Inagh Hydrogen.
Surplus Working Members (10) Bunnow Scatty v Congrigg Harry; Clonmore Joe v The Boat Man; Rockmount Eskimo v Boherash Torpedo; Clonlaheen Wish v Manus Fantastic; Drimeen Mariner v Shifting Sands. Reserve Barntick Lass.
Order of running: Saturday: start with a twice through the Reserve Derby Trial Stake, Oaks Trial Stake and once through All-age bitch, All-age dog and Working Members’ Stakes. Sunday: Start with Surplus Members, Working Members, Inter-club, Reserve Dog, Oaks, All-age Bitch and All-age Dog Stakes.

Derby qualifier
CLARE qualifiers for the Clonmel Classics are thin on the ground so far. However, there was a Clare winner from the recent Borris-in-Ossory meeting where Jeru Cavendish won the Derby Trial Stake (32).
He is trained by John Browne for Cree twins, Jenna and Ruth O’Donoghue, daughters of South Clare Coursing Club stalwart, John O’Donoghue. In the final, he beat Kyle Gaisce, owned by Marie Fields, Patrickswell, by four lengths.
Sixmilebridge native, Gerry Meehan, Kiskeam, County Cork was again out of luck when his Oileán  Smile (Bexhill Eoin-Beautiful Smile) was beaten in the final of the Oaks Trials Stake (32) at the Doon meeting last weekend. She was also beaten in the Mitchelstown final.