• Click Here for PAST results!
• Central Track. Whit Weekend. June 4th / 5th 2006.

*MONDAY*

Race 1. Maidens (Div 2). 600 Euro. (360, 120, 72, 48)

Race Time: 2.06 -- Start Time: 14.50

Also Ran: Cam's Matilda (J.McSweeney) -- S.P. 1/2 Fav, 2/1, 4/1. Dist.: 4L, 6L.

An okay maiden race. I'm Just Like Mum led from the start, and Bad Girl Hall set off in pursuit. The winner lived up to the promise in the opener at Central Track, and the runner up performed very well indeed.

Race 2. Novice. 600 Euro. (360, 120, 72, 48)

Race Time: 2.08 -- Start Time: 15;05

Also Ran: Posh Paddy (K.O'Connell), Banshee (G.McDonnell) -- S.P. 1/5 Fav, 6/1, 5/1. Dist.: 7L, 1L.

This was not much of a race. The winner, Porterstown Jack, could have won by half a lap, easily. Fair dues to the winning driver, although Porterstown Jack may idle in front. Glan Teifi performed well and Sands Cool Touch overcame vicissitudes to be a creditable third.

Race 3. Improvers. 600 Euro. (360, 120, 72, 48)

Race Time: 2.08 -- Start Time: 15.25

Also Ran: Perfect Red (A.Wallace), Lana Haw Lea (S.Jennings) -- S.P. 6/4, 5/1, 5/1. Dist.: 2 1/2L, 8L.

Miss Dynamite led until after half-way in this. By this stage, Red Cam had moved up into second. On the back straight for the last time, Perfect Red (the inexplicate favourite, except that Alan Wallace was driving her) broke. On the straight, Red Cam, having done things the hard way, overhauled Miss Dynamite.

Race 4. Intermediate. 600 Euro. (360, 120, 72, 48)

Race Time: 2.08 -- Start Time: 15.40

Also Ran: Dreamland (S.O'Donovan), Brywins Jarvis (T.Murphy), Vrynwy David (P.O'Driscoll) -- S.P. 2/5 Fav, 6/1, 5/1. Dist.: 5L, 4L.

Dreamland led them off, but Rebecca's Baron soon took over. This one continued in the ascendancy until the business end, when Hopping Rook, after a brief tussle, took over.

Race 5. Consolation. 600 Euro. (360, 120, 72, 48)

Race Time: 2.07-- Start Time: 16.05

Also Ran: GT (J.Manning), Duggan's Diplomat (J.O'Donovan) -- S.P. 6/1, 3/1, 4/6 Fav. Dist.: 2L, 1L.

This was a really good race. Creategold led for most, with favourite, Stoneriggs Quail, in hot contention. Better By Design was also in close touch, as was Cult Direct. Heading into the last turn, it looked as if it was between Creagegold and Stoneriggs Quail. But Better By Design, racing on the outsite, kept coming to record a well-deserved win.

Race 6. PJ Shanahan Final. 1,600 Euro (750, 350, 200, 100, 50, 50, 50, 50)

Race Time: 2.07-- Start Time: 16.20

Also Ran: 5th - The Orient Express (J.Boyle); 6th - Southlands Merlin (M.Healy); 7th - Destiny's Dream (T.Murphy); 8th - Stoneriggs UK (W.McKettrick) -- S.P. 1/2 Fav, 5/1, 8/1. Dist.: 1/2L, 3/4L.

Meadowbranch Jake led for most. Southlands Merlin was in early contention, with Hillside Dream also in touch. Sammy The Bull got going in a late drive, and went three wide around the last bend to land the laurels. Yvonne' s Princess was slow to get going; Hillside Dream did not have the easiest of trips but acquitted himself well to finish runner-up.

Race 7. Apprentice Sulky.

Race Time: 2.10.5 -- Start Time: 16.40

4 horses ran -- S.P. No betting.

This apprentice race was gratifying in that it showed younger people (and in the case of M. O'Mahony, and Anne Hill, really young people) getting out there and trying. Fair play to all of you.

Race 8. Grand Prix Final. 2,000 Euro. (800, 400, 250, 150, 100, 100, 100, 100). (First heat of Jug of Punch 2006)

Race Time: 3.07 (1.5 miles) -- Start Time: 17.00

• Also Ran: 5th - Newtown Commander (Dl.Murphy), 6th - Sharpe (S.Jennings), 7th - Bytheway (D.McCarthy), 8th - Coalford Jet (A.O'Reilly) -- S.P. 4/6 Fav, 7/1, 2/1, 6/1. Dist.: 3L, 4L.

In the final of the Grand Prix, the feature of the two days,. Newtown Commander set the pace for the first lap of the one and a half mile event. He was followed by Coalford Jet and Bytheway, which went off stride badly at this point. Going into the second circuit, they stayed like that, with The Blue Fox getting closer. In this busy second lap, The Blue Fox went to the front, followed by Tom's The Man and Zidane. Starting the last circuit, Frisco Titan began his move. Getting into that, The Blue Fox was still in front, followed by Tom's The Man, and Frisco Titan. With just under 2f to go, Frisco Titan had moved up to second behind The Blue Fox. Heading into the last bend, Frisco Titan was in front, and stayed there. The Blue Fox put in a virtuoso performance to finish second, well ahead of Tom's The Man. A very good race, and a performance by a true champion (Frisco Titan).

Race 9. Grade B Saddle. 600 Euro (240, 180, 120, 60)

Race Time: 2.07 -- Start Time: 17.25

Also Ran: Trackman (J.O'Donovan), Sundancer (H.Shanahan)-- S.P. 1/3 Fav., 8/1, 6/1. Dist.: 1 1/2L, 10L.

This was always something of a no-brainer. Fidlin was backed off the board; duly won this, and if any horse ever deserves a break, it is this one. Mass Attack ran well to take second, folowed by Greyfoot.

*SUNDAY*

Race 1 - Maidens (Div 1)

• 1. P. Kane's The Irish Harrier (P. Kane, jr), 6/4
• 2. Kelleher Bros's The Blue Finch (A. Wallace), 4/6 fav;
• 3. P. Hill's Hillside Security (P. Hill), 4/1. 5 ran, 1 1/2l, 2l. 2m.08secs. NR: Stan's The Man, Artefact

The Blue Finch broke at the start, leaving William's Rainbow to lead them off. The Irish Harrier soon took over. Here, Hillside Security looked promising, but came briefly off stride. At half-way, The Blue Finch was in second, followed by Perfect Fella. Hillside Security rallied as they got serious, while The Irish Harrier was not unduly pushed to fend off The Blue Finch - one to watch as he made up a lot of ground.

Race 2 - P. J. Shanahan Memorial, Heat 1

• 1. R. Bridgette's Sammy The Bull (A. Wallace), 4/5 fav.
• 2. Kelleher Bros's Meadowbranch Jake (P. Kane jr), 5/2
• 3. D. Watts's GT (J. Manning jr), 6/1. 7 ran, 3/4l, 6l. 2m.05

Direct Glance led until after half way, and was followed by Creategold. Meadowbranch Jake had been waited with and here surged clear of Direct Glance. But Sammy The Bull was also biding his time and made his move to slot into second place. On the straight, he went to the front and stayed there. A decent enough performance from GT to take third, and a place in the consolation, while Direct Glance was a disappointment.

Race 3: P J Shanahan Memorial, Heat 2

• 1. P. Hill's Hillside Dream (P. Hill), 9/4
• 2. M. Healy's Southlands Merlin (Owner), 4/1
• 3. J. O' Sullivan/P. Hennessy's Yvonne's Princess (D. Murphy), 1/1 fav. 8 ran, 5l, 1/2l. 2m.06secs

Hillside Dream led almost throughout, only being briefly headed by Famous Hill. By halfway, Southlands Merlin had settled in behind the leader, while Yvonne's Princess showed no interest in the proceedings. Heading for the last bend, Staly Princed looked as if he might play a hand in the finish, as he had moved up to third. Finally, Yvonne's Princess began to move. Hillside Dream was in no danger, Southlands Merlin looked happy in second, Staly Princed faded, and the favourite did just enough to qualify.

Race 4 - P. J. Shanahan Memorial, Heat 3

• 1.J. Boyle's The Orient Express (Owner), 5/1
• 2. Patricia Carey's Destiny's Dream (4/1)
• 3. W. McKittrick's Stoneriggs UK (P. Kane, jr), 4/1. 2m.06secs Meadowbranch Frank, 4/7 favourite, p.u.

The Orient Express led from the start - no surprise here as this is what he loves to do, and with great effect over the seasons. As they sorted themselves out, Destiny's Dream followed him in second, with Stoneriggs UK in close touch. At half-way, Disraeli Quest had moved up into third. Entering the back stretch, Meadowbranch Frank, which never looked happy, began to contend, but as it was seen, to no avail and was pulled up after the second last bend. Stoneriggs UK, racing very well indeed, qualified in third.

Race 5 - Grand Prix, Heat 1 (1 1/2 miles)

• 1. Kelleher Bros's Newtown Commander (D. Murphy), 3/1
• 2. J. McCarthy's Bytheway (D. McCarthy), 2/1
• 3. J. P. O'Donovan's Coalford Jet (Amy O'Reilly), 4/5 fav. 6 ran
• 4. Dunmanway Racing Club's Sharpe (S. Jennings), 10/1. 6 ran, 2l, 4l. 3m.11secs NR Ceirion She's Away (Following a stewards' enquiry, the placings remained unchanged).

Newtown Commander led from the start and was followed by Coalford Jet until close home. Sharpe was in early contention , but getting down to serious business in the last lap, Crown Direct looked in with a good chance to qualify. Bytheway seemed happy to hang back but on the back straight for the last time, he had moved up to third. From there, he indulged in a brief head to head with Coalford Jet before seeing him off and following Newtown Commander home.

Race 6 - Grand Prix, Heat 2 (1 1/2 miles)

• 1. Martina McNulty's Frisco Titan (A. Wallace), 4/5 fav.
• 2. F. Quill's Tom's The Man (T. Murphy), 7/2
• 3. Kelleher Bros's The Blue Fox (P. Kane, jr), 4/1
• 4. T. Doyle's Zidane (K. Sheehy), 9/4. 7 ran, 3l, 4l, 1/2. 3m.06 secs

Coalford Wizard was briefly in charge after flag fall but Zidane soon took it up. Tom's The Man began to challenge and getting into the second circuit, tried to get on terms with the leader. And then came Frisco Titan, when they were heading for the second last bend on the final lap. The winner was awesome, as they say; Tom's The Man impressive as he was on the outside for most, while Zidane disappointed. And the wily Fox, always in touch, let them get on with it.

Race 7 - Square Trot (1 1/4 miles)

• 1. L. O'Driscoll's Speedy Action (A. Wallace), 4/6 fav
• 2. G. Kane's Victory Launcher (P. Kane, jr), 3/1
• 3. A. Hamilton's Super Joie (Owner), 4/1. 6 ran, 7l, 8l. 2m.38secs

Speedy Action led from the start, while Frisco Lady broke badly at the off. Only Still was briefly in second until overtaken by Super Joie. They continued like that until the business end, when Victory Launcher started to challenge. Super Joie looked to have every chance to improve on his position, but did not. He had no answer to Victory Launcher, who in turn could not over haul Speedy Action, who broke her maiden. It must be said that while this race offered no real excitement, it was a lovely spectacle for racegoers.

Race 8- Grade C & D

• 1. D. Sheehan's Bachelor Boy (P. Hill), 1/1 fav.
• 2. F. Quill's Sable Decision (S. Quill), 3/1
• 3. Kelleher Bros's Meadowbranch Katie (J. Reid), 4/1. 7 ran, nk, 4l. 2m 07secs. NR: Creategold, Better By Design, Meadowbranch Jake, Free Spirit, Bytheway, Hopping Rook.

Bachelor Boy led from the start, and fully deserved his victory, a nice one after his great road season. Meadowbranch Katie was in second throughout most, but the heroine here was Sable Decision. She had a bad start, and looked out of it. But getting into the second lap, her novice jockey found an opening on the inside. They gave chase to the leader, disposed of Meadowbranch Katie and just failed to peg back the winner.

• Click Here for PAST results!