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Stephen is Fantasy champ

Stephen Stokes, Tipperary Town is the new name on the Roll of Honour for the Sporting Press Fantasy Coursing competition. In what was one of the most exciting finishes to the competition in it’s 29 year history, Stephen came from a nice bit off the pace to claim victory in the very last course of the season. Although he had both finalists in the Irish Cup he needed Gigantor (pictured) to claim the all important 100 points.

Coming away from Patrickswell on Sunday we knew that two of the selections we had previewed for the Sporting Press before the Irish Cup were probably in the money. Eddie Breen, Dundrum, Tipperary was the highest placed on the leaderboard with Gigantor so he was gone to 895 points. We also knew that Dan O’Donoghue, Millstreet, had risen to 900 points courtesy of Ballymac Zena. However what we didn’t know until we pushed the button on Monday morning to update results was if anyone close enough to Eddie & Dan had both Gigantor & Ballymac Zena. It turns out there was someone because our revised leaderboard now showed Stephen Stokes on 915 points and the winner of our first prize of €4000. Dan will receive €1250 and €500 goes to Eddie.

In our separate Fantasy Coursing for Charity competition Ballymac Zena ensured that David McGrath, Balscadden would stay in front to claim the €1000 for his chosen charity. This prize is very kindly sponsored by an anonymous friend of coursing.

Sincere thanks to everyone who took part in both competitions. We are looking forward to our 30th Fantasy Coursing competition already and of course now is the time to make note of the greyhounds which caught your eye as potential Champion Stakes & Irish Cup winners for next season.

Finals Day at Irish Cup

She was such a lady that she would have wished to remain neutral but if Una O’Sullivan, in whose memory this season’s Irish Cup was run, had been made to choose a winner it would surely have been Gigantor. A greyhound which was regularly schooled on the O’Sullivan gallop in Co Kildare and which also won the All Age Cup when Old Kilcullen staged their annual meeting for the first time on the O’Sullivan lands last December. No doubt Una was looking down on her family today as they presented the beautiful perpetual silver Cup to owners Paul Horig & Bridget Byrne and Sallins, Co Kildare based trainer Michael Murphy. For Paul & Michael it was their second Irish Cup in three years. However whilst Paul followed the success of Berlin Station via twitter in the Bahamas back in 2022, he was present in Patrickswell this weekend to enjoy it all. Also present was winning nominator and joint owner Bridget Byrne who was following in the footsteps of her late husband Patsy who took the Irish Cup home in 2008 & 2009.

A son of Newinn Wonder – Laurina, this litter comrade of 2023 Boylesports Derby winner Masonbrook Ger was himself unlucky to meet Ballymac Major in RD1 of last season’s Derby and indeed his first round this weekend was not inspiring. However once this big dog warmed to the task he was absolutely brilliant and a most worthy winner of coursing’s oldest Classic.

This season’s Irish Cup will also be remembered for the performance of Ballymac Zena, attempting to bridge a 62 year gap since Simply Terrific did the Oaks/Irish Cup double and 55 years since Tom Hayes won the triple crown of Derby/Oaks/Irish Cup in the same season. It was not to be but she lit up the stands today especially when getting the better of warm favourite Aristotle in the semi-final. She matched Gigantor for most of the way in the final also but the few extra turns in RD3 possibly took their toll.

Mon Petit (Newinn Wonder – Shalefiedwillow) came in from the reserves on Friday in the Patsy Byrne Select Bitch Stakes and this pup continued the great success of owner Sir Mark Prescott & trainers Michael & Mark O’Donovan (Tipp Town) at this meeting. Things didn’t fall right for her in trial stakes all season but this was her time to shine and in the final she upset the more fancied Zauberflute.

There was a great local win in the Dick Fitzgerald Irish Purse when the Boherlode Syndicate (all members of Limerick City coursing club) cheered home their pup Boherlode Bomber, in what was another upset against Coole Yeats. Boherlode Bomber which won a Reserve Derby TS at Macroom is a member of the very successful Blades Of Hope – Mulcahys Peak litter.

The Lennon family, Kilkenny were unlucky with Lemon Mozart in the Purse but had ample compensation in the Bill Chawke Irish Plate when Cut The Turf (Ballymac Best – Tilly The Tank) proved himself a very worthy favourite. Owned by the Castletroy Tank Syndicate and trained by Denis & Tom Lennon, this Walsh Cup winner had the measure of Pasatiempo in the final.

Sevenforseven, a track bred bought for Liz O’Dwyer, Co Carlow CC, as a 50th birthday present, proved himself well able for the winter game also with a great win over Fox Country in the Kyle Invitational Champion Working Members Stake. Remarkably the son of Broadstrand Bono & Swift Cigarette had no issue with running up the testing stretch four times today making it a memorable occasion for Liz, husband Paul and family.

And so concluded a most enjoyable three days. The hares were top class but they had to be with the prevailing ground conditions and no doubt no one will be more relieved than the Co Limerick CC working members that the meeting came to a very successful conclusion today. Congratulations to them and to all our winners and PG we will do it all again in 2024/25.

Irish Cup 2024

Day 3 will start 12 noon

Please note the Day 3 action at Patrickswell will get underway at the later time of 12 noon.

IRISH CUP SPORTING PRESS

This week’s Sporting Press (now available Online and in shops) is a must read before you head to the Irish Cup on Friday. Eight full pages of Previews, Form Guide, Super Six selections, Betting & photos from the draw. Last season’s Irish Purse winner Drive On Lesley is the most popular selection for the inaugural running of the Una O’Sullivan Memorial Irish Cup and is the current bookies favourite at 4/1 followed by last year’s Dublin Coach Irish Cup winner Cool Spirit at 5s and 2023 Oaks winner Ballymac Zena at 6s. The shortest price pup is Spartan King at 8/1.

Irish Cup Draw with Nominators


UNA O’SULLIVAN MEMORIAL IRISH CUP 2024



NoNominatorDogNoNominatorDog
First Quarter




1Lady Ana JohnsonBallymac Cuinas2Tony ReddanDaniels Lad (p)
3Matt FeheneyShuffleupanddeal (p)4Liam & Noreen LiddyMr President
5Berkie & Patsy BrowneBallymorris Gold6Colin & Mairead WallaceSpartan King (p)
7J Bennett & GreggBoherlode Bomber (p)8Leo WalshMontpelier Hulk
9Tim O’DriscollDrive On Lesley10Pat HorganLemon Mozart (p)
11John WilsonCareer Break12M O’Donovan KillaloeParty Tom
13Sir Mark PrescottFollow Me Now14Liam & William Riordan Glencarwaterfall (p)
15Fr. John FitzgibbonCatunda Lauren (b)16K Murphy & D MagnoneMoscow Station (p)
Second Quarter




17M. O’Donovan TipperaryCue Club (p)18Gerry HughesDonaghmore Jack (p)
19Raymond SmithBucket Deal (p)20Tomas CoolahanCatchthemush
21Luke KilcoyneKerry Craft (p)22John BoyleBoylesports Team
23J Cunningham & Mce JacksonCapitol Trend (p)24Una O’SullivanIntrinsic Yank (p)
25Brian & Laurence JonesVlad The Lad26Tadg SullivanBrindle Mozart (p)
27Catherine & John MurphyCatunda Zeus28Susan GarrahyMungos Ritual
29Diarmuid O’ConnorNewhall Magic30Ned & Tommy RelihanAdvisory
31Bridget ByrneGigantor32John & Niall DoolanHeaderball (p)
Third Quarter




33Tony QuinnLahard Timmy34Mike MannCoolree Hendrick (p)
35Dermot O’Shea Pasatiempo36Brendan DuffyCentral Focus
37Mary FitzgeraldExpress Razor38Brian MurphyBallymac General
39Pat SavageFingal Devito40Michael Spillane BantryLochbo Milo (p)
41John EganSammy Tiger (p)42Eamonn KielyBanba Be Wilder (p)
43Peter O LoghlenPossiblesolution44Pat BurkeDrafted Third (p)
45Murty & Ciaran McMahonOneinthebarrell46Michael Spillane KillarneyCut The Turf
47Pat Pyne & Patsy MyersKingcormac Shine48Gavin JohnsAristotle (p)
Fourth Quarter




49John & Alan TroyWoodpark Eagle50Noel CollinsO’Gradys Beach
51Liam & Patrick MannBarrack Blitz (p)52Paul HorigBerlin Station
53Marie FieldConfident Erin (p)54Charlie & Gerry ChawkeRossmore Grace (p)
55Nora RaleighCoole Yeats56Vincent PurtillCapablanca (p)
57Brendan MatthewsCool Spirit58John FlynnCrew Beans
59Mark & Ailish DilgerKilkeale Gold60Bobby O’ConnorMr Chairman
61JP ShawComeonovernow (p)62Liam DowlingBallymac Zena (b)
63Michael HorganCertain Sure (p) 64Brendan FarrellyFlying Ryan (p)

Full Draw for 2024 Irish Cup Meeting


Una O’Sullivan Memorial Irish Cup
        Ballymac Ciunas         v   Daniels Lad
        Shuffleupanddeal        v   Mr President
        Ballymorris Gold        v   Spartan King
        Boherlode Bomber        v   Montpelier Hulk
        Drive On Lesley         v   Lemon Mozart
        Career Break            v   Party Tom
        Follow Me Now           v   Glencarwaterfall
        Catunda Lauren          v   Moscow Station
        Cue Club                v   Donaghmore Jack
        Bucket Deal             v   Catchthemush
        Kerry Craft             v   Boylesports Team
        Capitol Trend           v   Intrinsic Yank
        Vlad The Lad            v   Brindle Mozart
        Catunda Zeus            v   Mungos Ritual
        Newhall Magic           v   Advisory
        Gigantor                v   Headerball
        Lahard Timmy            v   Coolree Hendrick
        Pasatiempo              v   Central Focus
        Express Razor           v   Ballymac General
        Fingal Devito           v   Lochbo Milo
        Sammy Tiger             v   Banba Be Wilder
        Possiblesolution        v   Drafted Third
        Oneinthebarrell         v   Cut The Turf
        Kingcormac Shine        v   Aristotle
        Woodpark Eagle          v   O Gradys Beach
        Barrack Blitz           v   Berlin Station
        Confident Erin          v   Rossmore Grace
        Coole Yeats             v   Capablanca
        Cool Spirit             v   Crew Beans
        Kilkeale Gold           v   Mr Chairman
        Comeonovernow           v   Ballymac Zena
        Certain Sure            v   Flying Ryan
        Reserves
        Happenstance
        Ashmore Range
       Rubicon
       Rushview Wolf
      
        Patsy Byrne Select Bitch Stakes
        Morfontaine             v   Up Tempo
        Tiktok Tilly            v   Ballymac Nano
        Marvelous Mover         v   Macha Razor
        Shanmoyle Jess          v   Donaghmore Leia
        Boherlode Hope          v   A Cookie God
        Rushview Pebbles        v   Zauberflute
        Caherelly Nelly         v   Meenagh Mystery
        Seanies Digger          v   Crafty Magello
        Windfarm Madam          v   Burning Love
        Gooleen Magic           v   Boherlode Zoey
        Pink Lemonade           v   Doomore Diva
        Thatsthestorynow        v   Honest Attempt
        Hunters Peak            v   Good Penny
        Still Derramore         v   Arctic Heiguer
        Putanotheroneon         v   Central Dolly
        Lady Wild               v   Ill Do It
        Reserves
        Mon Petit
        Barrack Hazel
        Askthemac
        Glouner Robyn

        Kyle Invitational Champion Working Members
        Zari Roxy               v   Onehoportwo
       Thisisthelife           v   Barna Pinchback
        Caherelly Sky           v   Joans Ace
        Chutehall Rambo         v   Sevenforseven
        Wizards Sleeve          v   Glenfircal
        Grannys Jam             v   Glanmore Jake
        Toems Flyer             v   Ya Well
        Mystery Master          v   Hand Of Spring
        Killacolla Hope         v   Bankhouse Lad
        Ever So Fullon          v   Couldbedeone
        Headleys Mozart         v   Tubbercurry Riki
        Fox Country             v   Burton Port
        Reserves
        Andthenshesaid
       Octane Cora

Day 2 at Irish Cup

There is plenty of dual representation in the last eight of the 2024 Una O’Sullivan Memorial Irish Cup. Owners Paul Horig and Gavin Johns have two runners each as does trainer Liam Dowling (owns/trains Ballymac Zena & trains Boylesports Team for Derby sponsor John Boyle). The field is completed by owner/trainer Brendan Matthews (Glencarwaterfall) & Con Guiney (Ballymac General). Maurice McCarthy & Michael Murphy are the men in charge of training Paul Horig’s two, Happenstance & Gigantor, whilst Paudie Lyons and Thomas O’Donovan have charge of Aristotle & Capablanca respectively for Gavin Johns. Bridget Byrne is joint owner with Paul in Gigantor and Brian Duffy is joint owner with Gavin in Capablanca.

It wasn’t looking too good for the pups but they bounced back today and now make up 3/8 of the field as we head into Finals Day. Indeed Aristotle is almost certain to be the new favourite and like the last two Irish Cup winners Berlin Station & Cool Spirit he too reached the third round of the Derby before heading to Patrickswell. Aristotle had a third round bye as he was due to meet another of Gavin’s runners and it is very possible that he will meet Gavin’s other runner Capablanca (pup) in the semi-final because both Ballymac General & Ballymac Zena got more than enough to do today and looked tired coming off this afternoon. It was a pity to see Zena so hard worked because the 2023 Oaks winner was thrilling all present with her early pace.

In the top half of the draw Boylesports Team is back where he was 12 months ago and running better than ever but needs to beat his quarter-final hoodoo (bowed out in Derby & Irish Cup at this stage last season). Back in December the All Age Cup at Old Kilcullen’s lovely new field at Moorhill was run in memory of the late Una O’Sullivan and was won by none other than Gigantor. It could be written in the stars that his third silverware of the season (also won at Balbriggan) will be the Una O’Sullivan Memorial Irish Cup.

One of the stories so far has been the performance of the bitch Happenstance which is chasing a first career win. She came in from the reserves yesterday and has outrun her fancy odds every time. She did get a nice few turns this afternoon but so too did the Matthews pup Glencarwaterfall so it will be a case of which comes off the bench the best in the morning. Indeed it will be difficult for the bookmakers to price up the Irish Cup until they actually know if all eight runners are going to slips.

In the Patsy Byrne Select Bitch Stakes Zauberflute gives Gavin Johns & Paudie Lyons a big chance of a double here tomorrow. It is all pups in the top half and the draw has paired the two John Flynn runners Up Tempo & Marvelous Mover in the first quarter-final. Both of them were at the business end of the Oaks a few weeks ago. The half is completed by Crafty Magello which also reached the Oaks quarter final. Honest Attempt and Mon Petit make it six pups in total and they are joined in the bottom half by Boherlode Zoey (an Oaks quarter finalist last season) and Ill Do It which won the All Age at East Donegal on New Year’s Day. Mon Petit is the only one of the eight that has no stake success to her name but connections have a great record at this meeting.

Day 1 at Irish Cup

The first day of the 2024 Co Limerick CC meeting featuring the Una O’Sullivan Memorial Irish Cup saw one previous winner nicely through to the second round and another heading home. There were wins also for last season’s Oaks, Irish Purse & Irish Plate winners and it certainly looks at this early stage as though the older brigade may have the edge in this year’s renewal.

Making his first public appearance since November 2022, Berlin Station showed all the signs that he retains the class which saw him win the Irish Cup as a pup in Feb 2022. Rumours that reigning champ Cool Spirit had a setback in training prior to the event meant his just-up defeat at the paws of the unfancied pup Ashmore Range was not as big a shock as it might have been.

The honour of fastest clock of the day goes to Boylesports Team which reached the quarter-final of both the Derby and Irish Cup last season but surprisingly picked up no silverware in his second season (yet). Just one spot behind him was the 2023 Oaks winner Ballymac Zena. Both should have a big say in their respective quarters as should their former kennelmate Ballymac General, now with Con Guiney, in the third quarter. He is of course an Irish Cup semi-finalist himself from 12 months ago.

The first quarter could come down to a buckle between the Irish Plate & Purse winners from last season (Montpelier Hulk & Drive On Lesley). Others to catch the eye today were the litter brothers Mr President & Mr Chairman and Vlad The Lad. There was also a remarkable run from the bitch Happenstance which came in as a reserve in the very first course and ousted one of the better fancied pups.

Of the 30 pups which ran in Rd1 only 13 remain and you can make that 12 as Donaghmore Jack will unfortunately be a non-runner tomorrow in the second quarter. As to whether any of the younger brigade will still be involved in the business end of things on Sunday is difficult to say but much will depend on how any of the runners handle the soft ground conditions over the next few rounds.

The Patsy Byrne Select Bitch Stakes looks like a very competitive affair with some good runs today from pups which ran well in the Oaks earlier this month but also from All Aged bitches such as Donaghmore Leia, Windfarm Madam, Doomore Diva and Central Dolly. The betting on this stake before coursing tomorrow should be very interesting.

Bereavement Notice

Our sincere sympathy to Tom Mulcahy (Charleville CC and long serving ICC Executive Member) on the death of his brother Con, Tournafulla, Co Limerick.

Con’s wife Kay, son Con jnr, daughter Sinead, grandchildren and his other brothers Paddy, Philip & Jack are also in our thoughts and prayers.

Reposing at Harnett’s Funeral Home, Abbeyfeale on Friday, Feb 23rd from 5.30pm to 8.00pm. Requiem Mass at 11.00am on Saturday in St Patrick’s Church, Tournafulla followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

May he Rest in Peace.

Irish Cup Order of Running

CO LIMERICK
The 113th running of the Irish Cup
Limerick Racecourse, Patrickswell

Friday, Saturday, Sunday 23rd, 24th & 25th February

Judge: Paul Horan 

Slipper: Richard Quinn jnr 

Start 11.30am all three days.

Friday: Once through Una O’Sullivan Memorial Irish Cup. Once through Patsy Byrne Select Bitch Stakes & Dick Fitzgerald Memorial Irish Purse (after interval).  

Saturday: Twice through Irish Cup. Once through Select Bitch Stakes & Irish Purse (before interval). Once through Bill Chawke Irish Plate and Kyle Invitational Champion Working Members Stake (after interval).

Sunday: Start with Champion Working Members Stake, Select Bitch Stakes, Irish Purse, Irish Plate, Irish Cup and back to Champion Working Members Stake before first interval. All semi-finals after first interval.

CLASSICS CLUB results

Congratulations to all our winners in this season’s Classics Club draw. By a remarkable coincidence Members 129 and 130 won the two top prizes of €10,000. We will be in touch with all our winners next week regarding payment of prize-money.

Draw 1 on the Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks

Winner €10,000

Ballymaccallaway Member No. 129 Daniel & Eimear Roche, Banteer

Runner-Up €3,000

Up Tempo Member No. 443 Michele Brennan, Gorey

Beaten semi-finalists €1,000 each

Marvelous Mover Member No. 26 Ml Sweeney & Dave Killeen, Glin

Lockbo Sophie Member No. 773 Amy Moloney, Roscrea

Beaten quarter-finalists €500 each

Macha Razor Member No. 563 Ennis Clarecastle Coursing Club

Atlantic Sunset Member No. 95 Michael Malone Snr, Kilcock

Lasting Beauty Member No. 596 Frank Browne & Davy Reynolds, Mornington

Crafty Magello Member No. 434 Tomas O Murchu & Pat Coman, Tipperary town

Draw 2 on the BoyleSports Derby

Winner €10,000

Ballymac Sports Member No. 130 Paul Dunleavy, Tuam

Runner-Up €3,000

Moonlight Mayhem Member No. 71 Gerry Flynn, Belfast

Beaten semi-finalists €1,000 each

Light Brown Member No. 312 Martin Galvin, Ballinclogher

A Noble Friend Member No. 31 Siripan Paewkasem-Thailand, Kent

Beaten quarter-finalists €500 each

Ballymac Kyleson Member No. 534 Peter Tegerdine, Kent

Music Blaring Member No. 70 John Kelly, Latlurcan

Lineroad Santos Member No. 305 AJ & Cillian Kavanagh, Ballybrophy

Tonevane Togo Member No. 200 Mike O’Connor & JP Ahern, Abbeyfeale

Draw 3 on Callaway Kennels Kevin Smith Champion Stakes

Winner €2,000

Ballymac Major Member No. 347 Kevin Murphy & John Long, Newcastlewest

Runner-Up €500

Tree Top Tyson Member No. 170 Micheal O’Brien & Tom Houlihan, Ballyduff

Draw 4 on Grace & Matt Bruton Champion Bitch Stakes

Winner €2,000

Barrack Alice Member No. 175 Denis Keane & Battie O’Connor, Gneeveguilla

Runner-Up €500

Ballymac Pippin Member No. 619 Peter Scales & Friends, Liscannor

Draw on Stockproof Fencing T.A. Morris Stakes

Winner €1,500

De Clinic Cure Member No. 90 Joe & Seamus Murray, Duleek

Runner-Up €500

Magical Fionn Member No. 648 Nenagh Coursing Club

Draw on Dublin Coach Kitty Butler Stakes

Winner €1,500

Magical Amelie Member No. 178 Neil Carey, Cahir

Runner-Up €500

Montpelier Aya Member No. 127 Peter Edwards, Belfast

General Notices

TIPPERARY

Please note the correct date for the draw for the Tipperary & Dist CC meeting is Sunday 11th February at 6.00pm. The meeting which will feature a Champion Puppy Stake and Champion Bitch Stake takes place at Galbally on Saturday, Sunday 17th & 18th February.

Day 3 at National Meeting

The 98th National Coursing Meeting concluded in Clonmel today with an historic treble for the Ballymac Kennels of Liam Dowling near Tralee, a very popular success for the Curtin family of Tournafulla and exciting finals to both consolation events resulting in wins for the Guilfoyles of Cloughjordan and joint owners Philip Enright (Abbeyfeale) & William Butler (Raheen).  

The short ante-posts prices offered for both Ballymac Sports and Ballymaccallaway proved wholly justified and indeed all those who availed of the Derby/Oaks double seldom had a moments worry over the three days. The litter brother & sister were just outstanding and the same can be said for their older kennelmate Ballymac Major in the Champion Stakes today.

The Dublin Coach Kitty Butler Stakes was a thriller with Magical Amelie holding off a determined Montpelier Aya. Congrats to owner/trainer Patrick Guilfoyle & his sister Sandra. Amelie bowed out of the Oaks on Saturday after a close call with Zauberflute.

Trainer Patrick O’Connor was strongly represented on Finals Day so it was great to see him on the podium after the success of De Clinic Cure in the Stockproof Fencing Products T.A Morris Stakes. The winner is jointly own by Abbeyfeale publican & renowned singer Philip Enright and William Butler (Raheen). He denied the Guilfoyles a double because the runner -up was Magical Fionn. Daniels Lad had got the better of De Clinic Cure in RD1 of the Derby.     

Barrack Alice proved a thorn in the side of the Ballymacs in the Classics Club Grace & Matt Bruton Champion Bitch Stakes, first putting out 2023 Oaks winner Ballymac Zena in the semi-final and then proving too good for Ballymac Pippin in the final. A winner of Cups early in the season at Kilflynn & Abbeydorney, the lay-off certainly did her no harm and she turned up at Powerstown Park today in fine fettle. Congrats to young Orna & Emily Curtin and their dad’s Shane & Niall who do the training.

Such was the class of this season’s Callaway Kennels Kevin Smith Champion Stakes that Ballymac Major had to beat an Irish Cup winner (Cool Spirit), a Derby winner (Masonbrook Ger who beat Major in the 2023 Derby final) and a Derby semi-finalist (Tree Top Tyson) on his way to victory today. The manner in which he won all three courses marks him out as one of the outstanding Champion Stakes winners of all time and certainly proves his love of the Powerstown stretch.     

It was a fourth Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks in six years for the Ballymac Kennels. This one was slightly different in that Ballymaccallaway ran in the names of Liam’s grandchildren Jack & Dean and joint owner Denis Murphy (Callaway Kennels). Many will also say she is the best of the four but that is high talk indeed following in the paw-prints of Enya, Floral & Zena. The gallant runner-up Up Tempo also saw first light of day in the Ballymac kennels, being a daughter of Enya, before being purchased by John Flynn and family who were themselves going for a third Oaks.

The screams of joy from Shane Dowling at the bottom of the field following the success of Ballymac Sports in the Boylesports Derby showed what it meant to Shane & his dad Liam to win a first Coursing Derby. They knew they had a good one coming but winning the Derby had been proving a bigger task than winning the Oaks up to today. He will of course be forever remembered as the dog with no tail but it certainly didn’t stop him and he won more admirers with every course he ran. Moonlight Mayhem for Basil & Bernadette Holian and trainer Kevin Marmion lost little in defeat and it will be a surprise if he is not back in the Champion Stakes in 12 months time.

It should be noted also that today’s Derby /Oaks double was also a double for Castleisland CC where both greyhounds qualified and Abbeyfeale CC where they did the Corn Na Feile double after Christmas, adding even more winners to the ‘Clonmel’ roll of honour at both Clubs.    

We will finish our piece by bestowing our final congratulations and thanks on all the team at Powerstown Park for producing outstanding hares which contributed to a most memorable National Coursing Meeting for 2024.