Central Track, 28th September 2008

• The day started off well and there was a good atmosphere. It is well known that I am not a fan of ALL races being one mile, and particularly a classic. Disqualifications, which of course are often necessary, also spoil a classic. Still, they show that rules are being enforced. We're not the only ones -- Aidan O'Brien, Colm O'Donoghue and Johnny Murtagh got done for team tactics, too!

• Maiden/Novice - 1. Brenda Dean's Now Or Later (Owner), 1/2 fav; 2. B. Barry's Supreme Hall (J. McSweeney), 2/1; 3. F. Quill's Cam's Decision (D. Murphy), 2/1. 4th, Ringo Kid, 4/1. 6 ran, 1/2l, 1/2l. 2m.9secs
• Supreme Hall broke at the start, but quickly got back into it. Now was waited with, letting KC and Supreme sort it out between themselves. On the back straight for the last time, KC went off stride and Now took it up.

• Novice - 1. J. Caffrey's Chesney (Owner), 1/1 fav; 2. D. Behan's Talavary Dream (D. Behan), 2/1; 3. W. McKittrick's Marion Hall (Owner), 4/1. 4th, Highbrook Apache, 5/1. 6 ran, 3L, 5l. 2m.6secs
• City Shock led until before halfway, when Chesney loomed. Shock did not give up easily, and with 2f to go, she also had to yield to Marion. Dream seems to have left it late, but still, the winner was flying.

• Improver/Intermediate - 1. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's The Fireball (M. Kelleher), 1/2; 2. F. Brickley's Ringo Star (Owner), 3/1; 3. B. Newman's Jono's Bianca (R. Cleary), 3/1. 4th, Watch Me Now Boys, 6/1.7 ran, 5l, nk. 2m.7secs. NR: Tinto Rosie
• Fire got a bad start while The Biscuit only got a few hundred yards before appearing to get a bump and being pulled up. Getting serious, Bianca took it up from Watch Me Now Boys and looked the winner. But Fire was unleashed and showed tons of speed. A very good run from Star who may have left it a bit late. Note: there was a stewards' enquiry, but the placings were unchanged.

• Class 000/005 - 1. D. Hendrick's Springhill Horizon (N. Stafford), 5/2 jf; 2. J. Shanahan's Lakeview Lobelle (Owner), 5/2 jf; 3. P. Hayes's Spanko's Boy (P. O'Driscoll), 3/1. 4th, Red Armbro. 8 ran, 7l, 4l. 2m.2secs NR Rebecca's Baron
• Red Armbro was first to show, while Midnight Mover broke at the start. Heading for the second-last bend, Lyons General challenged Armbro but lost gait. At half-way, Horizon was in front, with the look of one determined to stay there, which she did, with no effort at all. Lobelle challenged heading for the last, but could not close down the distance. Spanko's Boy was in touch in the second half.

• Class 010/020 - 1. Porterstown Stables' Man Of Luck (J. Dunne), 4/5 fav; 2. M. Brickley's Ayr Strike (Owner), 3/1; 3. Porterstown Stables' Wellfield Gary (G. Dunne), 6/1. 4th, Ynys Cernyw. 9 ran, nk, nk. 2m.4secs
• Yvonne's Princess was first to show in what turned out to be an exciting race. Stoneriggs Quail forged clear before the second-last bend on the first circuit. Man crept closer and with 2f to go, gained ascendancy. Here, Strike began his challenge but just could not get on terms, while Gary and Ynys made the finish exciting.

• Jug Of Punch Final - 1. Porterstown Stables' He's For Real (J. Dunne), 4/5 fav; 2. Martina McNulty's Frisco Titan (R. McNulty), 5/1; 3. Quill Bros's Bon Camotion (T. Murphy), 8/1. 4th, Dream's Place, 8/1. 8 ran, 1 1/2l, 2l. 2m.1secs. 5th, Springfield Chief, 8/1. AR: Flashdance, 4/1; Tom's The Man, 4/1, p.u. (Kouros Boy (G. Dunne), 3/1, passed the post in 2nd but was disq. as he was deemed to have contributed to the improvement of the winner's position.)
• Kouros Boy took charge at the green light and stayed in front for most. Dream's Place challenged in the first half, got on terms, but could not prevail. On the back straight for the last time, Real got onto the rail. Titan was also getting closer. At the last bend, things got a little murkier, with Real surging clear, and Tom's The Man being pulled up with a puncture. Real passed the post first about 6l from Kouros Boy, with Bon finishing well.

• Preferential Free-For-All - 1. T. Doyle's Zidane (M. Brickley), 4/1; 2. Porterstown Stables' Casimir Fabio (J. Dunne), 4/1; 3. Quill Bros's Sable Decision (D. Murphy), 4/1. 4th, Mr. Hill, 5/1. 7 ran, 1/2l, 1L. 2m.4secs
• Mr. Hill was first to show but Sable was soon sent powering up to take the lead. At the first bend on the first circuit, Dragon's Glory and Peak's Pretender got entangled, with Pretender pulling up and Dragon setting off belatedly after the others. Before half-way, Porterstown Topaz was pulled up and at mid-way, Zidane was in front. He looked as if he was enjoying it, too. Fabio came with a late run, but not in time, leaving Zidane to a long over-due and well deserved win.