Castlehaven - January 21st 2007
- Some very good races at Castlehaven. Except for a short-lived hailstone shower, the afternoon stayed dry for the crowd, which was a fairly good one.
Lashing rain only started when the races were over. Deirdre Goggin won "jockey of the day" while John Sheehy added to his lead in the jockey title stakes
with a double. There was no "best-turned-out" award but Oreanna and Casey B looked exceptional. Among those in attendance were Denis O'Donovan.
TD, and NH trainer, Raymond Hurley.
- Grade A (Rob Hawk Cup) - 1. J. Mycock's Fidlin (J. Sheehy), 1/3 fav; 2. Shanley Racing's Just Flash (Noreen McSweeney), 3/1; 3.
Daly/Twomey/Jennings' Mack's Direct (M. Duggan), 6/1. 5 ran, 7l, 5l.
- Mack's Direct led until the last half-mile. Fidlin was really only waited with and never looked in much danger. A decent enough performance from Just
Flash; Casey B was 4th while Coalford Connection never got in the hunt.
- Haven Flying Sprint (Annie May Cup) - 1. Whelton/HayesHurley's He's The Man (Noreen McSweeney), 1/2 fav; 2. C. O'Sullivan's Travis (D.
McCarthy), 2/1; 3. Mill View Racing Club's Coalford Cobra (T. O'Leary), 8/1. 6 ran, 7l, 2l.
- They started out the country in this one, with no turn and as they came into sight, the winner was in front. Travis tried hard but could not prevail. Coalford
Cobra showed some improvement by filling the frame while Sun Dancer was 4th.
- Grade B (David Brickley Memorial Cup) - 1. C. Galvin's Hilltop Tuck (Deirdre Goggin), 3/1; 2. Deasy/Hurley/Keohane's Newtown Commander
(Noreen McSweeney), 5/2; 3. J. Mycock's Coalford James (J. Sheehy), 1/2 fav. 5 ran, 6l, 10l.
- Goldfella led from the start and was in command until the last turn, with 4f to go. Here, it seems, there was a bit of a scrimmage, after which Goldfella was
pulled up. Hilltop Tuck took it up and was followed home by Newtown Commander, which had been in second throughout. Coalford James never really
looked happy while I'mindoubletrouble was in early contention and finished 4th. The results of this race were held over until after the last race, and following
a stewards' enquiry, the placings remained the same.
- Grade C (Eileen Burchill Memorial Cup) - 1. Deirdre Goggin's Oreanna (Owner), 1/2 fav; 2. M. Herlihy's Do The Business (M. Duggan),3/1; 3. G.
Carey/Y. Jacob's Leterass De Perriers (D. McCarthy), 4/1. 7 ran, 1 1/2, 8l.
- This was a really good race. Leterass De Perriers led after the last turn, while throughout most, Oreanna looked out of it. Do The Business (which ran a
cracker) looked set for another win until Oreanna got serious in the closing stages. Emperor Factor finished fourth, perhaps finding the step-up a bit much
for the moment.
- Grade D (Padraig Burke Cup) - 1. T. Doyle's The Punisher (J. Sheehy), 2/5 fav; 2. G. Cooke's Dan The Man (Noreen McSweeney),6/4; 3. M. O'Brien's
Commander Matt (P. O'Brien),3/1. 6 ran, 6l, 3l.
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- The Punisher led from the start. His only other outing was in Grade C at Colomane, where he was 4th. He was followed throughout here by Dan The Man
which could not get on terms. Commander Matt and Lee Dale Star (4th) were newly promoted to this grade.
- Grade E ((Michael O'Mahony Memorial Cup) - 1. S. Buckley's Red Cam (T. O'Leary), 2/1 jf; 2. G. Cooke's Jesse James (A. Sweeney),4/1; 3. F.
O'Callaghan's Tina's Dream (P. Hill), 2/1 jf. 7 ran, 4l, 8l.
- Hard Times led until about half-way, but Red Cam and Jesse James were always in touch. Heading for home, the winner forged clear. Cam's Beauty, who
finished 4th, may have found the step-up a bridge too far on the day.
- Novice (John Sheehy Memorial Cup) - 1. J. Manning's Blue Campari (Deirdre Goggin), 1/3 fav; 2. C. Galvin's Teadies Dream (D. Hourigan), 6/1; 3. D.
Shanahan's Tony's Dream (Noreen McSweeney), 4/1. 6 ran, 7l, 8l.
- Nana Moon was first away, but broke before the turn and was pulled up. Blue Campari took it up and came home an impressive winner. Madam Del Sol
contended strongly in the second half before giving best to Teadies Dream - who looks to be one to watch - and Tony's Dream.