Wonder-ful Fantasy result for Sean

Sean Doyle from Ennis has been a great supporter of the Sporting Press Fantasy Coursing competition over the years and usually is never far away from the business end of things. Once again this season his name figured prominently on the leader-board from early on. However even he must have had some regrets about including Ahamore Wonder (pictured) in his selections when it came to mid-December and the Lixnaw greyhound had only five Fantasy points amassed for reaching the semi-final in Edenderry. Few would have predicted that within the next seven weeks he would win two Cups, a Kevin Smith Champion Stakes and bring his Fantasy points total to 185. His success at Clonmel on Tuesday coupled with that of Blades Of Honour propels Sean into the lead on 810 points with the Irish Cup & Select Bitch Stakes yet to come. Last season’s winning score was 805 and we have to go back to Marie Field in 2010/11 to find a higher one (840 points). Luckily for John Maher he had three Champion Stakes semi-finalists (Long John Silver, Shine A Diamond & Share The Dream) as well as the Grace & Matt Bruton Champion Stakes heroine so he stays very much in touch with Sean and possibly pinning his hopes on Kyle Steel in Patrickswell. John Healy of Killaoe had a very good Clonmel too, picking up 190 points thanks to the aforementioned Blades Of Honour, Long John Silver & Share The Dream but also the Kevin Smith Champion Stakes runner-up Granard Bolt.

Our Fantasy Coursing for Charity competition has really tightened up with now only five points separating the top three. Brian Arnold had the best Clonmel as Blades Of Honour is in his team but by picking up 40 points with two semi-finalists each, Mary Nolan & Frank Kieran have hung on resolutely to their lead.