Coursing – Fastest Year Ever?

Is it just me or did this coursing season just seem to fly by? Just looking through our ante-post book these are a few greyhounds that have attracted a nice bit of attention over the past few weeks.

In the BoyleSports Derby:

CRUSHERS OAK (Adios Alonso x Skellig Wave) – This Davy O’Sullivan owned runner is one of the biggest loser’s is our ante-post market so far this season. He ran out an ultra-impressive winner of his Derby trial stake in Nenagh back in November where he beat his kennel companion Blades Of Hope in the decider. This lad has it all, breeding, looks and has one of the best in the business behind him, the maestro from Athenry Gerry Holian.

His mammy Skellig Wave is bred in the purple (Matt Hyland x Rith Gan Gaisce) so he should relish the hill on the both sides of his family. Last year Wave threw the favourite for the oaks on Monday morning Heart Light. The form for this trial stake in Nenagh has really stood up as he beat three subsequent winners along the way, Feel My Pulse(Knockgraffon), Rory For Glory(East Donegal) and Blades Of Hope(Castletowngeoghegan). The money came for this dog not too long after winning his trial stake with the bulk of it going on at 16/1, the money didn’t stop there as he has been backed at all prices down to now top of the market 8/1. Moynihan’s pub in Clonmel will be rocking on Sunday night if this fellow is still standing on Monday morning.

SERENE ANGEL(Adios Alonso x Uptown Angel)– One of a very strong team for Tipperary Town trainer Michael J O’Donavan. He’s only a May puppy so there could be even more improvement in him. He won his trial stake independently in Listowel. John Boyle came into the office on the Monday morning after delighted with his win with Needham Danger in the cup but he told us he really liked the dog trial stake winner there and that he could improve a lot, he was proved right as the dog went on to take the Corn Na Feile in Abbeyfeale.

He wasn’t clocking far off Needham Danger in Abbeyfeale which told us he was a runner to be reckoned with in Clonmel. Some shrewd judges out there took the 25/1 on offer before he won in the Corn Na Feale, that price looks great value because now he is best priced at 16/1. This is another runner representing the town of Clonmel as he is owned by a syndicate which involves well known Publican Micheal Carey and Eddie ‘Serene’ Ryan

TULLAMOY MASTER(Adios Alonso x Tullamoy Queen)– Every year we have a runner in the Derby and there is stories flying about “that so and so has bought him and he’s gone to this fellow” well this year Tullamoy Master is the dog that has people talking. He is in the right hands where he is with Brendan Farrelly. This lad won his Boylesports.com Derby ticket in Dungannon where he was very impressive and it was to be his one and only outing. Form from this trial stake looks ok he beat Not Caught Yet(Balbriggan TS winner) in the first round.

His dam Tullamoy Queen was a very pacey lady so he has both speed and stamina in his blood. He came in for huge support at 25/1 and 20/1 which made the lads clip him into 16/1. Although he is a loser in the book we wouldn’t begrudge this lad winning the Derby as he is owned by the well liked and well known Priest Fr Dan Dunne!

CHUBBYS CHARMER(Razor Ashmore x Chubbys Princess)– This lad comes from one of the best lines in coursing stretching back to the famed Tivoli dam line. Chubbys Princess is a well proven dam having thrown Colina Damask and Camerillo Blonde after two Visits to Bexhill Eoin. I saw the fellow win his trial stake in Mooncoin where he went short priced favourite after one round, he got a few unwanted turns in his second course but they seemed to take noting out of this Graham Holland trained runner, a bye in the semi-final helped the situation as he ran out a comfortable winner.

Connections must have been very confident of a win because this dog was making his debut in Mooncoin which is over half way through the season and a few connections even flew over from England to see him in action. There was some fancy bets struck on this fellow at 25’s and 20’s which made traders cut him into 16/1.

And in the Greyhound & Pet World Oaks:

BOSHSKI(Kyle James x Blades Of Glory)– Really caught the eye in Castleisland, beat in the final of one of the best trial stakes of the year when she was long odds on to win, her next appearance was in Doon. She beat current oaks favorite Breska Lantern in the second round and Skellig Starwars(North Kilkenny OTS winner) in the third round. This lady is another part of the very strong Michael J O’Donavan team. She has speed in abundance and other connections will be hoping to avoid this lady in the early rounds. She is a member of one of the litters of the year.

Dam Blades Of Glory unlucky loser of the champion bitch stake in Clonmel 2010. She loved the rising ground in Powerstown so there is no reason why she can’t pass it on to her offspring! Vale View Flyer was a member of her Murtys Blaze litter and he took to Clonmel very well and will be a big player in the upcoming Champion Stakes. Boshski was introduced at 20/1 for the Oaks, her connections are known to like a punt and they took that price with both hands and sent her into 12/1. One of the biggest losers in the Oaks market

BATHED BREATH(Adios Alonso x Exact Charm)– This Jerry Griffin trained runner cost the firm a few quid after she landed her trial stake in Millstreet in style. There was never any doubt here and went into a few peoples notebooks for Clonmel. The Monday morning after she won her trial stake we put her up at 25/1. There was nearly a stampede in a few of the shops! That price didn’t last minutes and they kept backing her down to 14/1 and she is still being nibbled at. Connections want to take more of our money, they got it handy in Millstreet but I seriously doubt it will be as easy in Clonmel. Best of luck to them, this lady will give them plenty of excitement in Powerstown

TOBAR NA MOLT(Mafi Magic x Newinn All In)– What a story this could turn out to be. Her owner/trainer Jonathan Best won her in a raffle organised by Berkie Brown for the development of the field in Listowel so she only really cost her owner twenty euro, now that’s what I call value! She made a winning debut in Lixnaw where she stood out a mile. She beat some classy opposition on her way to victory. She is half-sister to the past two greyhounds of the year Newinn Wonder(Irish cup winner) and Thomas The Tank(Derby winner) and as some might say “breeding would come out in stones”.

Sire Mafi Magic is one of the leading stud dogs around and he was as genuine and tough as the came. I could stay all day writing about her breeding but I think ye get the picture. Any improvement at all could see this lady go all the way in two weeks’ time. There was plenty of action in some of the shops around North Kerry after her win which made us cut her into 10/1 from 16’s! There was supposed to have been a good few offers on the table for connections but they refused, they couldn’t sell their luck.

The last of the qualifiers meetings was held In Macroom last Thursday and Friday. It was very successful meeting by all accounts. Chairman of the club Mr Sean Lucey was on the phone to me over the weekend praising the work of all the members, he said he was very worried about the weather but it all worked out perfect in the end.

The Oaks trial stake winner here Barrow Cockle, joins kennel companion Tobar Na Molt in the oaks draw next Sunday night in the Clonmel Park Hotel. She was a semi-finalist in Newcastlewest and was withdrawn after two rounds in Tralee at Christmas. It was no surprise to see her winning here after her earlier outings. Jonathan Best has two nice bitches to go to battle with in ten days’ time. She has been priced up at 25/1. Glenlough Mick cemented his place in the Classic Club Champion Stakes draw by getting to the final here and coming away with two points in the bag.

So there we have it now, after seventeen weeks of magnificent coursing we have every position filled for the national meeting. We even know the officials. We would like to wish Brian Doyle, Martin Murphy, Liam Kelly and Brendan Purcell all the best over the three days. We would especially like to wish the best of luck to the two lads Brian and Brendan as they are making their debut on the biggest stage of all.