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Ballabuidhe - August 6th / 7th / 8th 2006

Tuesday, August 8th

• Novice
• 1. C & C Racing's Thomas Grey (M. Goggin), 5/4 fav.
• 2. Kelleher Bros's The Blue Finch (T. Murphy), 3/1
• 3. K. O'Connell's Posh Paddy (Owner), 6/1. 6l, 1/2l. Also ran: Dan The Man (4th), Merrington JR, Celtic Harrier, Speedy Acktion.

• Thomas Grey led from the start. The Blue Finch left his challenge late, and had too much to do.

• Improvers: 1. J. Burchill/D. O'Donoghue's Porterstown Jack(D. Murphy), 1/3 fav. 2.31.
• 2. C. McGrath's What A Man (M. O'Donovan), 4/1
• 3. P. Hill's Hillside Security (P. Hill), 6/1. 6l, 7l. Also ran: Lana Haw Lea(4th), Buddy, Alberta, Lakeside Gold.

• Porterstown Jack, because of his win on Monday, had to start in the back. What A Man led until this powerhouse got going and then it was all over. Hillside Security seemed to leave it very late to contend.

• Intermediate: 1. A. Hannon's Snatch(T. Murphy), 2/1. 2.33.
• 2. L. O'Regan's Brywins Jarvis (D. Murphy), 6/1
• 3. C. Caverley's Young Clemency (J. McSweeney), 6/1. 3 1/2l, 4l. Also ran: Only Still (4th), Dreamland, Meadowbranch Katie (4/5 fav), Miss Dynamite.

• Snatch led until just after half-way when he broke. Brywins Jarvis had been in third behind Only Still - she also went off stride here - and Brywins Jarvis took over. Snatch got back pacing, displaced Dreamland in second and then went on to reel in Brywins Jarvis.

• Golden Mile Heats

• Heat 1: 1. M. O'Donovan's Run'N'Jump (owner), 4/5 fav. 2.12.
• 2. T. O'Reilly's Cole's Decision (Amy O'Reilly), 4/1
• 3. J. Kane's Victory Launcher (Owner), 6/1. 3/4l, 2l. Also ran: GT, Decisive (4th), Creategold.
• This was a re-run as GT slipped up at the start. Run'N'Jump led from the start. Cole's Decision tried to get on terms throughout but couldn't.

• Heat 2: 1. D. Ross's Cult Direct (D. Murphy), 5/1. 2.14
• 2. T. Doyle's Coalford Wizard (J. Sheehy), 4/1
• 3. T. Hill's Famous Hill (J. McSweeney), 4/1. 4l, nk. Also ran: Maverick (4th), Direct Glance, Wheatley Harrier, 4/5 fav.
• Famous Hill led until after half-way, when Cult Direct took it up. Here Coalford Wizard made progress on the inside but the winner was in no real danger.

• Heat 3: 1. T. Doyle's Zidane (K. Sheehy), 4/5fav. 2.13.
• 2. J. J. McLeod's Willsboro Rose (Owner), 5/1
• 3. G. Cooke's Better By Design (Noreen McSweeney), 4/1. Also ran: Henry Lee Sota (4th), Ayr Storm, Peak's Pretender.
• Henry Lee Sota led until the back straight for the last time. Willsboro Rose kept in close touch and took over as they headed for home. But Zidane made his move off the back and forged clear on the run-in.

• Grade C & D: 1. J. Sheridan's Meadowbranch Jake (J. Reid), 1/2 fav. 2.29.
• 2. M. Herlihy's Do The Business (M. O'Reilly), 6/1
• 3. Quill Bros's Sable Decision (S. Quill), 5/2. 8l, 1L. Also ran: The Orient Express (4th), Free Spirit

• Meadowbranch Jake led from the start in the Grade C & D. Free Spirit was in early contention  but dropped back. Sable Decision was her usual laid-back self and needed a lot of persuasion to get her to take an interest.

• Grade A: 1. Kelleher Bros's Newtown Commander (S. Quill), 1/3. 3.21.
• 2. D/H J. P. O'Donovan's Coalford Jet (A. McSweeney), 4/1 and Dunmanway Racing Club's Sharpe (J. Healy), 3/1. 12l. Also ran: The Bugler

• Newtown Commander was a foregone conclusion; the only mild interest in this event was the battle for runner-up.

• Maidens 2.34.

• 1. B. Newman's On The Run (R. Cleary), 1/1 fav.
• 2. J. J. McLeod's Willsboro Gold (Owner), 2/1
• 3. D. O'Leary's Crookhaven Lady (T. Murphy), 3/1
• 10L, 4l. Also ran: Perfect Fella(4th), OC, Bobby's Pearl, Kicking King Cam.
• Perfect Fella was first to show, and was followed by Willsboro Gold. On The Run surged clear as they headed for the second (of three) laps and dominated from there. Willsboro Gold went well enough and should soon lose the maiden tag while Crookhaven Lady looks one to watch for the future.

• Golden Mile Final 2.10

• 1. T. Doyle's Zidane (K. Sheehy), 2/5 fav
• 2. M. O'Donovan's Run'N'Jump (Owner, 6/1
• 3. T. O'Reilly's Cole's Decision (Amy O'Reilly), 6/1. 8l, 1/2l. Also ran: Cult Direct (4th), Coalford Wizard, Willsboro Rose.

• Cole's Direct led until going into the second-last bend. Then Zidane went into overdrive. Run'N'Jump had been in second behind Cole's Decisionand regained that position in the closing stages. As they got serious, Coalford Wizard went neck and neck with Run'N'Jump but had to give best.

Monday, August 7th

• Grand Prix 2.29
• 1. Quill Bros's Stoneriggs Wizard (T. Murphy), 2/5 fav;
• 2. Kelleher Bros's The Blue Fox (M. Kelleher), 5/2;
• 3. Marge McSweeney's Home At Last (J. McSweeney), 6/1. 7l, 2l. Also ran: Bytheway (4th); Coalford Jet, Crown Direct.

• Coalford Jet led them off, and held sway until going into the last circuit. At the business end, The Blue Fox Got going but couldn't catch the Wizard. Not a bad race, considering, but thanks to Crown Direct who entered the fray when it looked like a procession and livened them up. And the race also showed that Stoneriggs Wizard does not have to have the front to win.

• Paddy Connolly Memorial Final , 2.30
• 1. DEAD HEAT Kelleher Bros's Meadowbranch Jake (T. Murphy), 4/1 AND P. Hennessy/J. O'Sullivan's Yvonne's Princess (Amy O'Reilly), 4/1;
• 3. D. Sheridan's Damota Warrior (G. Carey), 5/1. Also ran: Hillside Dream, 4th, Red Cam, Ayr Strike, Famous Hill, You Are The Man, 1/1 fav.

• Meadowbranch Jake led from the start. Hillside Dream got a bad start while Red Cam broke early on. Ayr Strike and Famous Hill were in early contention but to no avail. Yvonne's Princess was also up with them but on the rail and when she finally got off that, showed a good turn of foot to get on terms with Meadowbranch Jake. Impressive here was Damota's Warrior.

• Four Year Olds, 2.29
• 1. J. Burchill/D. O'Donoghue's Porterstown Jack (D. Murphy), 1/1 fav.
• 2. Kelleher Bros's Meadowbranch Katie (M. Kelleher), 8/1
• 3. Shanley Racing's Perfect Red (R. Shanahan), 3/1. 6l, 3/4l. Also ran: I'm Just Like Mum (4th);Hillside Security, On The Run, Glan Teifi, Thomas Grey

• Perfect Red led until going into the last circuit. On The Run looked a big danger, until losing gait half-way around the penultimate lap. Porterstown Jack had rotated runner-up with On The Run but always looked like the winner. Went to the front as they headed for the last circuit. Meadowbranch Katie performed well, even if she left her challenge late. I'm Just Like Mum was disappointing.

• Grade B 2.32
• 1. D. Ross's Cult Direct (J. Healy), 3/1
• 2. M. & M. Goggin's The Bugler (M. Goggin,jr), 5/1
• 3. T. Bennett's Atlantic (T. O'Leary), 5/1. 7l, 5l. Also ran: Stoneriggs Quail, Cole's Decision, Sun Dancer (1/1 fav), Staly Princed.

• Stoneriggs Quail was the first to show, but Cult Direct soon took it up. Cole's Decision gave chase, and then, as they got serious, Stoneriggs Quail took over for runner-up. The Bugler's late effort landed him in second, but he had too much ground to make up. Atlantic did not perform too badly in what had to be his first saddle race. But full marks to John Healy who broke his duck, and to Michael Goggin, jr, in what was his first race, having completed his apprenticeship.

Sunday, August 6th

Race 1. 000/019. 2 to qualify for Paddy Connolly Memorial Race. 600 Euro

Race Time: 2.32 -- Start Time: 14.50

Also Ran: Create Gold (S.O'Donovan), Decisive (A.Hill) -- S.P. 4/5 Fav, 2/1, 6/1, 5/1. Dist.: Neck, 8L.

Do The Business until the last lap, when Meadowbranch Jake took it up. Damota Warrior was waited with and when he challenged got on terms with Jake. But the winner fought back and prevailed.

Race 2. 000/019. 2 to qualify for Paddy Connolly Memorial Race. 600 Euro

Race Time: 2.39 -- Start Time: 15:35

Also Ran: Wheatley Harrier (6/4 Fav, Ml.Williamson) -- S.P. 3/1, 4/1, 2/1, 4/1. Dist.: 2L, 4L.

Ayr Strike led from the start and was followed for most by Staly Princed. Direct Glance lay on the rail and Famous Hill began his serious challenge as they got into the last lap. Heading into the final bend, Famous Hill was in second and Direct Glance finally found daylight. But the winner had enough in hand.

Race 3. 000/019. 2 to qualify for Paddy Connolly Memorial Race. 600 Euro

Race Time: 2.33 -- Start Time: 16.00

Also Ran: The Orient Express (J.Boyle), Better by Design (N.McSweeney), Maverick (faller) (K.Sheehy) -- S.P. 5/2, 5/4 Fav, 3/1, 5/1. Dist.: 6L, 8L, 1 1/2L.

You Are The Man was an all-the-way winner and never looked remotely in danger. Stoneriggs Quail gave chase but could make no real inroads while Hillside Dream did enough to qualify.

Race 4. West Cork Bottling Open Handicap - Heat of Grand Prix - 600 Euro.

Race Time: 3.01 -- Start Time: 16.40

Also Ran: Stoneriggs Vanity (M.Williamson), Destiny's Dream (G.Carey), Zidane (K.Sheehy0 - FALLERS -- S.P. Evens Fav, 4/1, 5/1,. Dist.: 15L, 4L.

A messy affair, in which Stoneriggs Wizard put himself out of danger as he opened up the distance. Stoneriggs Vanity was in second until the back straight for the last time. Then Zidane took up that position and Destiny's Dream followed him in third. On to the straight for home, Zidane slipped up, upsetting Stoneriggs Vanity and Destiny's Dream, and leaving Home At Last and Bytheway, which both looked out of it, to qualify behind Stoneriggs Wizard.

Race 5. West Cork Bottling Open Handicap - Heat of Grand Prix - 600 Euro.

Race Time: 3.04 -- Start Time: 17.10

Also Ran: Peaks Pretender (G.Kane), Coalford Wizard (J.Sheehy) -- S.P. 3/1, 2/5 Fav, 8/1, 6/1. Dist.: Neck, 10L.

Coalford Jet led from the start and the only one he really had to worry about was The Blue Fox. Coalford Wizard and Peak's Pretender both broke at the start and lost too much ground. Crown Direct went well enough in this and deserves his qualifying place. The Blue Fox looked more like his old self, but was uneasy on the going, losing gait when he seriously challenged. (Note: Michael Kelleher looks the likely driver of The Blue Fox in the final).

Race 6. 000/019. 2 to qualify for Paddy Connolly Memorial Race. 600 Euro

This race was re-run at 17.30 after earlier accident

Race Time: 2.40 -- Start Time: 17.30

Also Ran: Free Spirit (M.Goggin) -- S.P. 7/4, 1/2 Fav, 6/1, 4/1. Dist.: 1/2L, 1/2L.

(This was a re-run as in the original, it appeared that Glan Teifi slipped up just after the off and brought down Southlands Merlin and Atlantic, and hampered Yvonne's Princess who lost her driver). Red Cam held sway until the last bend. Here, he went badly off stride (although he had given a couple of skips earlier). Yvonne's Princess had been in close attendance and took it up. Atlantic performed well enough to take third, although he was also uneasy on the ground in the closing stages. Glan Teifi and Southlands Merlin did not contest the re-run. (Note: It seems unlikely that Donal Murphy will drive Yvonne's Princess in the Final)

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