Day 2 of the National Meeting is often described as ‘When the going gets tough and the tough get going’. This year’s renewal certainly echoed those sentiments with the usual mix of polished performances, shock results and fairy-tale journeys continuing to the final day of competition.
The shock withdrawal of Oaks favourite Tory Mischief was the talk of the ring prior to coursing this morning. Gerry Holian’s leading lady had lit up the stretch in the opening round and news of her absence had the bookie’s scrubbing the chalk in ferocious fashion. New favourites were made but in general, the ladies classic has a real ‘open‘ feel about it as we pass the halfway stage.
Tomorrow’s opening quarter final of the Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks will see Revello Del Toro in red against Unpocoloco. The latter owned by the Collins brothers, Sean & Padraig (Thurles), received a stern test from Lone Blaze in the third round but finished proceedings with a devastating turn of foot on top of the stretch to put the result beyond doubt. However, the Barry Lynch trained Revello Del Toro, will be fancied to prevail having set the standard in the opening quarter in both her courses today. Ballymac Mulan, who shares the head of the market with Eulogy at 2/1, was superb in both her contests today and looks to be made of stern stuff. Her fourth round opponent McCloskey Queen like’s nothing more than upsetting the odds and having claimed the scalp of Moyle Magic in Rd 2; Davy Graham’s lady will hold no fear.
Callaway Red is certainly pleasing the crowds with her devastating turn of foot up the famed hill. The Brendan Matthews & Denis Murphy owned bitch is giving lengths to her rivals over the opening yards but takes flight from halfway. She faces a real speedster in the morning however in Breska Starlight. Young Sam Doolan is getting a real good song from his charge and he will no doubt be hoping that a good start will put her in a good stead to withstand the big finish that her rival will bring. Da Unbelievable came through a titanic battle with NewInn Candy in Rd 3 and Fiona Wilmot won’t want this amazing journey to end just yet. She meets a leading player in Eulogy in the morning. Dan Brassil’s runner needed to be at her best to dismiss Tullamoy Class this evening and a continuation of the form might just give her the edge in this one.
Montpelier Magic was the big name absentee from this morning’s second round of the Boylesports Derby. In the opening quarter, Ballymac Hollow and surprise package Kerry Watch will battle it out for a place in the last four. Ballymac Hollow left it late to finally get the better of Challenger Deep but such was the manner of victory that Liam Dowling’s dog now sits with Cooga Magic on the market lead of 2/1. Kerry Watch has proved the big story of this year’s meeting thus far. 100/1 in the long odds book, the Sean Counihan & Charlie Farrelly owned runner has been a sensation. His early pace is remarkable and claimed his biggest win of the meeting in Rd 3 when beating Ashmore Express. Sparkplug Kerry for James Coss is another outsider who doesn’t read the script and is full value for his place in the last eight. He faces a stiff challenge in the second quarter final in the shape of Gone To Strand. The Newry-Limerick Syndicate owned runner has been going about his business in efficient fashion and will be strongly fancied to progress.
Corn Na Feile winner Five O Five continued his winning sequence and was particularly impressive in Rd 3 when beating Faraway Fields for Dan O’Connor. He takes on the game Ballinabola Cha in the third quarter and the Murphy’s from New Ross will be hoping there’s more to come from their Carlow qualifier. The final of tomorrow morning’s pairings looks the tie of the round. The ultra-consistent Moyle Alonzo extinguished the dreams of A Bitta Luck and this locally owned runner for the ‘Galloping Lads Syndicate’ will certainly proof a tricky opponent for joint favourite Cooga Magic. The latter has being the eye catcher of the field thus far in the Classic but will need to continue that level of performance to assure his place in the last four and keep the dream alive for the ‘Johnny McLoughlin & Cooga Syndicate’.
See Quick Results for Clocks and Betting.
Our photo is of Kerry Watch getting the better of Ashmore Express in their third round buckle this afternoon.