Skibbereen - January 28th 2007
This was a very good day's racing. There was quite a good crowd there, enlivened further by all the Dubs. Their exuberance dimmed a bit when The Punisher (for
which John Sheehy deserves a special award for his own and the horse's recovery after coming down at the turn) and Leterass De Perriers failed to do the
business. It was fun to see Ash Jackson, waving the St. Andrew flag, and his Scottish supporters, after the emphatic win of Stoneriggs Wiseman. Nobody could
have failed to be cheered by the O'Brien clan who gathered to celebrate the victory of their beloved Commander Matt,which, out of six starts, has won twice, has
two seconds and one third. Noreen McSweeney achieved a treble which puts her only two behind John Sheehy, and Angelo Hannon now quotes her as 4/6
favourite to win the jockey title,with John Sheehy at 5/4. The connections of Newtown Commander were rewarded; the popular grey has not won a Grade B, but
led the Open from start to finish.
- Grade A (Tim Cooper Kelleher Memorial Cup):- 1.Deasy/Hurley/Keohane's Newtown Commander (A. Sweeney), 5/1; 2. Shanley Racing's Just Flash
(Noreen McSweeney),3/1; 3. J. Mycock's Fidlin (J.Sheehy), 1/3 fav. 5 ran, 5l, 7l.
- Newtown Commander led fromthe start. Mack's Direct was in early contention. At the business end, Just Flash got going but ultimately retained his
bridesmaid status while Fidlin looked as if he may have been feeling the ground.
- Grade B (Jack Pat Collins Memorial Cup) - 1. A. Jackson's Stoneriggs Wiseman (J. Sheehy), 1/4 fav; 2. M. Brickley's Goldfella (D. McCarthy), 3/1; 3.
M. Herlihy's Do The Business (P. Hill), 6/1. 6 ran, 8l, 8l.
- Stoneriggs Wiseman impressed in this (and The Blue Fox and Coalford Victory will have to look to their laurels in the All-Ireland). Goldfella tried gallantly
to make all but when Stoneriggs Wiseman made his serious challenge, had no answer.
- Grade C (Paddy Kane Memorial Cup) - 1. NG Racing's Grey Foot (Noreen McSweeney), 4/1; 2. D & S O'Donovan's Creategold (M.Duggan), 5/1; 3.
G. Carey/Y. Jacob's Leterass De Perriers (D. McCarthy), 4/5 fav. 5 ran, 6l,1 1/2l.
- They started out and as they came into view, Creategold was in front. Grey Foot was in third, behind Creategold and Direct Rocket after the first turn.
Back into sight after the last turn, Grey Foot was in front and won easily.
- Grade D (Pat Hurley Memorial Cup) - 1. M.O'Brien's Commander Matt (P.O'Brien), 6/1; 2. J. O'Callaghan's Lee Dale Star (D. McCarthy),8/1; 3. P.
Kane's Casper Hill (J.O'Donovan), 3/1. 7 ran, 8l, 6l.
- Again, they started out and favourite, The Punisher led them in. There was some compression as they went into the turn, and The Punisher went down but
thanks to his dexterity and that of his jockey, got immediately to his feet again. Commander Matt (not involved) got around first and stayed there. Dilly's
Oasis was in early contention but faded; Casper Hill came home without reins, while Lee Dale Star ran his usual good race.
- Grade E (Jerome O'Sullivan Memorial Cup) - 1. J. O'Mahony's Glan Teifi (Noreen McSweeney), 1/3 fav. 2. G. Cooke's Jesse James (A. Sweeney), 2/1;
3. C. O'Sullivan's Castlerosse Flyer (D. McCarthy), 2/1. 4 ran, 3l, 7l.
- There was never any real doubt about the outcome of this. Glan Teifi led from the start; Jesse James performed creditably for runner-up, while Castlerosse
Flyer, in her first contest for a couple of years, acquitted herself well.
- Novice (Skibbereen Race Committee Shield) -1. D. Shanahan's Tony's Dream (Noreen McSweeney), 2/1; 2. C. Galvin's Teadies Pride (D. Hourigan),
2/1; 3. B. Cronin's Chance Security (J. Sheehy), 6/4 fav. 4 ran, 8l, 7l.
- Chance Security set the pace, but coming in for the home straight, Tony's Dream was in front. Untouched, she won impressively, and she, and Teadies
Pride appeared far too good for the favourite on the day.