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Ballabuidhe 2005 - July 31st, August 1st & 2nd

Tuesday

Race 1. Tuf-Mac Tarmac Golden Mile Heat One. 2 to qualify for GM Final. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:14 -- Start Time: 14:55

Also Ran: Springhill Arrival (5/4 Fav, J.Sheridan) -- S.P. 3/1, 5/1, 2/1. Dist.: Neck, 1/2L.

Do The Business made almost all, tracked by GT. Better By Design got going late, but to good effect.

Race 2. Tuf-Mac Tarmac Golden Mile Heat Two. 2 to qualify for GM Final. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:13 -- Start Time: 15:05

Also Ran: Trackman (D.O'Reilly), Staley Princed (J.Manning) -- S.P. 5/2, 3/1, 4/5 Fav. Dist.: 1/2L, 1L.

The Bugler led them off, followed by Trackman. You Are The Man was waited with and when asked cruised to the front for an unpushed win.

Race 3. Tuf-Mac Tarmac Golden Mile Heat Three. 2 to qualify for GM Final. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:10 -- Start Time: 15:20

Also Ran: Lakeside Lawri (J.Kane), Newtown Commander (P.Hill) -- S.P. 5/4 Fav, 5/2, 4/1. Dist.: Neck, 1L.

Stoneriggs UK, leading from the start, looked to have the race in safe keeping, until the dying strides when Fool's Gold got up.

Race 4. Novice / Improver. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:14 -- Start Time: 15:35

Also Ran: Goldwell (T.O'Leary), Tyler's Joy (M.Fleming), Thornton Missile (W.McInerney), Enorm Girl (J.O'Donovan) -- S.P. 4/5 Fav, 8/1, 6/1. Dist.: 7L, 1/2L.

Yvonne's Princess led from start to finish and never looked even remotely in danger. A better than usual performance from Current Supreme.

Race 5. Intermediate / Improver. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:14 -- Start Time: 15:50

Also Ran: Only Still (M.Goggin), Snatch (4/5 Fav, T.Murphy), Commander Matt (J.McSweeney), No Better Buachaill (G.Carey), Brywin's Jarvis (D.McCarthy) -- S.P. 8/1, 4/1, 4/1. Dist.: Neck, 4L.

Dakota Warrior broke almost after the off, and not much later, so did Snatch. Red Cam was briefly in the ascendant but Newtown Perdition soon took over. Going into the last bend, Sable Decision went to the front, and held on, on the straight, from Red Cam's late effort.

Race 6. C & D Saddle. 500 Euro.

Race Time:2:32 -- Start Time: 16:05

Also Ran: Henry Lee Sota (M.Ahern), Saunders Rhapsody (J.O'Donnell), Black Velvet (C.Duggan), Cole's Decision (M.O'Reilly) -- S.P. 1/3 Fav, 4/1, 8/1. Dist.: 4L, 1L.

Cole's Decision and Henry Lee Sota were first away; Oreanna was challenging until a bad break put her out of the running for the moment. Bytheway made his move and entering the turn before the last circuit, was in front and stayed there. Bachelor Boy (with more weight) did well to take runner-up while Decisive, left at the start, also deserves credit.

Race 7. Tuf-Mac Tarmac Golden Mile. 1,000 Euro.

Race Time: 2:07 -- Start Time: 16:15

Also Ran: Better by Design (K.Sheehy), Do the Business (S.O'Reilly) -- S.P. 6/4 Joint-Fav, 6/4 JF, 4/1. Dist.: 1L, Neck.

Race 8. A/B Saddle. Irish Permanent Trotting Cup. 600 Euro.

Race Time:3:20 -- Start Time: 16:35

Also Ran: Sharpe (C.Duggan), Coalford Wizzard (J.O'Donnell), Master Fox (P.O'Brien), Mass Attack (J.McSweeney) -- S.P. 2/5 Fav, 4/1, 4/1. Dist.: 12L, 4L.

A depressing race in that The Blue Fox, after a hard race and final on the two previous days, still totally dominated the field, was never even remotely challenged and could have won by much more. He led from the start and was always going to win. A class horse.

Race 9. Doheny Stake Open Maiden. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:19-- Start Time: 16:50

Also Ran: Hillside Security (P.Hill), Duggan's Jester (J.McCarthy), Buddy (M.Brickley), Johnny Lattimore (J.Kane) -- S.P. Evens fav, 10/1, 3/1. Dist.: 1/2L, 3/4L

Black Magic led until the closing stages when Sands Cool Touch, always tracking the leader, reeled him in. Howard's Lady set off in third position and never improved on that.

Monday

Race 1. 3 Year Old Preferntial Handicap. 500 Euro. Divison 1

Race Time: 2:21 -- Start Time: 15:10

Also Ran: Milly's Dream (F.Brickley) -- S.P. 1/1 fav, 2/1, 6/1. Dist.: 1 1/4l, 2l

Milly's Dream led until nearly a circuit had been completed then broke. Tina's Dream took over briefly and then Johnny Lattimore went to the front. Cam's Mathilda also went off stride and Glan Teifi was also unsettled. Johnny Lattimore was impressive, and Glan Teifi looks a force to be reckoned with when he stays down.

Race 2. 3 Year Old Preferntial Handicap.. Divison 2

Race Time: 2:14 -- Start Time: 15:25

Also Ran: Hillside Security (P.Hill) -- S.P. /4, 4/5 fav, 3/1. Dist.: 6l, nk

Meadowbranch Katie led from start to finish. Little Spike got on terms briefly but gave a couple of skips. He tried again later, but had to give best to Meadowbranch Katie, and, after not the most fortuitous of drives, had enough to do to hold Perfect Red.

Race 3. Paddy Connolly Memorial Race (Final). 1,500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:31 -- Start Time: 15:50

Also Ran: Fine Art (K.Sheehy), Hillside Dream (P.Hill), Southlands Merlin (M.Healy), Stoneriggs Quail (M.Brickley) -- S.P. /1, 8/1, 1/1 fav. Dist.: Nk, 3/4l.

Fine Art was first away. Stoneriggs Quail came up to challenge as they were going into the second (of 3) laps. Getting to that, Destiny's Dream found an opening on the inside and taking off after Fine Art, soon took command. Getting into the last, Difficult Decision made his move, as did Coalford Cobra, and they got closer, but not in time.

Race 4. West Cork Bottling Grand Prix. 2,500 Euro.

Race Time: 3:00 -- Start Time: 16:30

Also Ran: Maverick (K.Sheehy), Coalford Wizzard (J.Sheehy) -- S.P. 5/1, 1/2 fav, 6/1. Dist.: Nk, 6l

Maverick led until entering the back straight for the last time. He was closely tracked throughout most by Fool's Gold. Entering the last, Fool's Gold was still in 2nd behind Maverick, followed by Home At Last and The Blue Fox. Here the favourite began his final challenge, having raced wide for the last circuit. He got to the front, chased by Home At Last, and in the dying strides, Home At Last reeled in The Blue Fox. A win-win result, as Home At Last was deserving, and The Blue Fox lost nothing in this defeat, as he gave 30 yards to the winner, and had an arduous race.

***Hall of Fame Inductions***

• Corney Cremin received the galloping (flat) Hall of Fame award
• Limed Hazard received a place in the harness racing Hall of Fame. (Owners: Jackie Cowan and Veronica McCarthy)

The induction into the Ballabuidhe Hall Of Fame is a fitting tribute to Limed Hazard, as he made the course there his own. He won the heat of the Grand Prix there in August 1990, went on to win the Final, initiating a run of 18 unbeaten starts. In his nineteenth, the Grand Prix Final, the sulky got a puncture, but Limed Hazard went out the following day to win the Irish Trotting Cup under Danny McCarthy. Limed Hazard was the first horse in West Cork to be handicapped in harness. In 1991, having won the heat and final of the Grand Prix (a free-for-all), he started in the heat of the Golden Mile on Tuesday. The previous week, he had won at Mohonagh under a twenty yards' handicap, and so was given 40 yds in the Golden Mile. He went on to win both heat and final. In all, he won 4 major Finals (Grand Prix Finals and an All-Ireland) at Ballabuidhe.

Sunday

Race 1. 000/019. 2 to qualify for Paddy Connolly Memorial Race. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:33 -- Start Time: 14:35

Also Ran: Master Fox (S.Jennings), Decisive (P.Hill), GT (J.Manning), Golden Knight (P.Kelly) -- S.P. 5/4 Fav, 5/1, 5/1. Dist.: 2 1/2L, 2L.

Fine Art led from the start. Ayr Strike seemed to be in serious contention early on. Getting into last circuit, Destiny's Dream began to make his move and seemed to need some stoking to get there.

Race 2. 000/019. 2 to qualify for PC Memorial Race. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:31 -- Start Time: 14:55

Also Ran: Stars Rainbow (K.Sheehy), Better by Design (T.Murphy), Cole's Decision (S.O'Reilly), Leckwith Gold (K.O'Connell) -- S.P. 2/1 Joint Fav, 2/1 J.Fav, 4/1. Dist.: 7L, 1 1/2L.

Webbo led them off but Southlands Merlin soon zoomed to the front. Cole's Decision looked well placed but Webbo got back into second. Hillside Dream came with a late run.

Race 3. 000/019. 2 to qualify for PC Memorial Race. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:32 -- Start Time: 15:20

Also Ran: Trackman (D.Reilly), You are the Man (D.Murphy), Famous Hill (4/5 Fav, J.McSweeney), Just Flash (P.Kane Jnr)-- S.P. 4/1, 5/1, 4/1. Dist.: 2;, 1/2L.

Stoneriggs Quail, looking more like his old self, led from the start. The Bugler gave chase and You Are The Man appeared to try hard. On the straight for home, Difficult Decision which had crept through the field threw down his challenge and did enough to qualify.

Race 4. 000/019. 2 to qualify for PC Memorial Race. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:32 -- Start Time: 15:45:

Also Ran: Ted Striker (J.Manning), Stoneriggs UK (W.McKettrick), Henry Lee Sota (A.O'Reilly) -- S.P. 4/5 Fav, 2/1, 3/1. Dist.: 7L, 2L.

Russian Bear, followed by Mass Attack and Coalford Cobra led until going into the last circuit. Getting into this, Coalford Cobra was in second, followed by Abbacrombie. Heading into the last bend, Coalford Cobra went into overdrive.

Race 5. West Cork Bottling Open Handicap GRAND PRIX. 3 to qualify. 250 Euro.

Race Time: 3:05 -- Start Time: 16:10

Also Ran: Leterass de Perrier (G.Carey), Lakeside Lawri (J.Kane), Peak's Pretender (P.Kane Jnr) -- S.P. 6/4, 2/1, evens fav. Dist.: 3/4L, 1L.

Maverick led from the start. Lakeside Lawri also showed early, but as they settled, Fool's Gold moved up into second. Here, Bytheway headed Fool's Gold and stayed there for a circuit. With 2f to go, Peak's Pretender had made a move, but in the closing stages, Maverick held on from Fool's Gold while the late effort of Home At Last qualified him. *(Maverick will have a 60yds advantage over The Blue Fox tomorrow in the final; many were impressed with Home At Last in this.)

Race 6. West Cork Bottling GRAND PRIX. 3 to qualify.

Race Time: 3:04 -- Start Time: 16:25

Also Ran: Ceirion She's Away (J.Sheehy), Willsboro Rose (JJ.McLeod), Sharpe (S.Jennings), Denton John Joe (2/1, P.Kane Jnr) -- S.P. 1/2 Fav, 4/1, 4/1. Dist.: 1/2L, 3L.

Ceiron She's Away led, with Coalford Jet giving chase, until going into the last lap. Just before this, Willsboro Rose had moved up into third, looked as if she might fill the frame. Here, Coalford Jet took over, followed by Coalford Wizard. The Blue Fox was getting closer, and on the run-in, seemed to make heavy work of reeling in Coalford Jet. *(On this performance, it is hard to see The Blue Fox getting beaten. Home At Last and Maverick should fill the frame.)

• Ante Post prices for the two finals (in order of qualification) and courtesy of Kelleher Brothers Bookmakers.

• Paddy Connolly Memorial Final
• Fine Art, 3/1
• Destiny's Dream, 4/1
• Southlands Merlin, 5/2
• Hillside Dream, 3/1
• Stoneriggs Quail, 4/1
• Difficult Decision, 5/1
• Coalford Cobra, 6/4 fav.
• Abbacrombie, 5/2

• Grand Prix
• Maverick, 3/1
• Fool's Gold, 4/1
• Home At Last, 5/2
• The Blue Fox, 1/1fav;
• Coalford Jet, 4/1
• Coalford Wizard, 4/1

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