Now that the Christmas meetings have been completed (a very well done to all concerned) our attention turns to Abbeyfeale for the next two days, Friday & Saturday. They are celebrating their 100th Anniversary at Abbeyfeale but of course this meeting has really taken off since the 1971/72 season when the committee changed their All Age Cup into a Puppy event with preference for Clonmel qualifiers. It is now firmly established as a very important pre-National Meeting trial and Reikers Island, Silent Whisper, Annual Fergie & Ballymac Zena are recent examples of Corn Na Feile Puppy Stake winners which went on to classic success at Clonmel. Once again the entries for both of this season’s puppy events at Abbeyfeale include qualifiers which are at the head of the betting market for the Derby and Oaks in February so we can expect plenty of talking points as we go through the rounds. A few years ago the current committee reintroduced a Corn Na Feile All Age Cup to the programme and they have been rewarded with an outstanding entry for the 2023 renewal. Most likely it is the first time ever that the four semi-finalists from the previous season’s Derby turned up in the same Cup. So let’s have a quick look at the three feature events.
CORN NA FEILE DERBY
At first glance this stake has a very ‘Ballymac’ look to it and certainly the three Liam Dowling runners will be hard to beat. Sports & Ciunas went into every notebook for the Derby after qualifying at Castleisland & Abbeydorney respectively. Kyleson won the Galway & Oranmore TS at Glin in good style but did make an early exit afterwards in the Munster Cup at NCW. The biggest threat to the Ballymacs in the top half is undoubtedly the Ballyduff qualifier Cuban Bruce and his expected second round meeting with ‘Sports’ could be one of the courses of the meeting. In the bottom half where the finalist will have the benefit of a semi-final bye, the Glin form will be very much on show. It wouldn’t be a huge shock if A Noble Friend which took the Mitchelstown qualifier after running-up to Navalny at Glin proved best. He was clocking marginally faster than both Navalny & Ballymac Kyleson in the early rounds at Ballinagoul. However, by virtue of having possibly the easier passage through the early rounds we will give the nod for outright success to Ballymac Ciunas.
CORN NA FEILE OAKS
The betting suggests that Ballymac Tag will go at least two thirds of the way of emulating her kennelmate Zena which accomplished a Castleisland / Abbeyfeale / Clonmel treble last season. However there is huge confidence behind a number of runners in this stake and she will have to be very special to come out on top. Her first big battle will probably be in the second round against the highly regarded Westport qualifier Crafty Magello. Awaiting the winner of this buckle is likely to be Zauberflute, a daughter of Laurina, which won many admirers at Freshford and since then was spotted doing a very good trial. Lady Wild (Tradaree) is another one to note in the bottom half. At the upper end of the draw, the first round pairing of Montpelier Aya (Westmeath Utd) & Good Penny (Crohane) should produce a thrilling course and Arctic Heigeur (Listowel) & Annual Hoppe (Ballinagar) won’t be short of support but the Miltown Malbay qualifier Empirical could be a surprise packet. It would be folly to oppose Ballymac Tag but this could be a very exciting renewal.
CORN NA FEILE ALL AGE
With 11 points already to her name Barrack Bubbles is probably guaranteed her place in the Champion Bitch Stakes but is a very interesting runner in the top quarter. This top half though is dominated by the course between 2023 Boylesports Derby winner Masonbrook Ger and Floating Hego. The latter is very difficult to beat in early rounds so this could be the buckle of Day 1. Should ‘Ger’ progress it is hard to see him not being in the final. Things are a tad more complicated in the bottom half. Connections of Drive On Lesley were a bit shocked to see the ease at which Tree Top Tyson went past him in the Tipperary Cup at Kilsheelan. They will be expecting to reverse the result if they meet here in Rd 2. Below them there are questions marks over the current form of Derby r-up Ballymac Major and the well-being of Derby semi-finalist Barrack Boru (not seen since early exit at Glin) but if either or both produce their ‘Clonmel’ performances we are in for one thrilling competition. It might be too obvious or just wishful thinking but we will predict a repeat of last season’s Derby final between Masonbrook Ger & Ballymac Major with the same outcome.
Corn Na Feile All Age
Cobra Melody v All Glamour
My Littlecoconut v Barrack Bubbles
Bodens Hulk v Steel Mill
Floating Hego v Masonbrook Ger
Tree Top Tyson v Sheeraghs Dream
Catunda Zeus v Drive On Lesley
Lower The Blade v Ballymac Major
Well Road Crafty v Barrack Boru
Reserves
Toplight
Corn Na Feile Puppy Derby
Capablanca v Ballymac Sports
Montpelier Merlo v Cuban Bruce
Ballymac Ciunas v Carrowkeal Jerry
Shuffleupanddeal v Banba Be Wilder
Navalny v Ballymac Kyleson
A Noble Friend v Carrowkeal Snowy
Reserves
Corn Na Feile Puppy Oaks
Arctic Heiguer v Ballymac Nano
Montpelier Aya v Good Penny
Annual Hoppe v Self Taught
Marvelous Mover v Empirical
Lady Wild v Boherlode Hope
Zauberflute v Hunters Hope
Scans Diamond v Ballymac Tag
Linden Panache v Crafty Magello
Reserves
Still Derramore