Durrus. 1st January 2008.
A really great day's racing, with some surprises. It stayed dry, and the new set-up at Durrus proved successful, handling well the big crowd. Tim O'Leary won not
only his first Open, on a horse which is a star in the making, but also jockey of the day -- another first. Teadies Best won "best-turned-out" and our great female
riders, Noreen McSweeney and Deirdre Goggin, provided one of the most exciting finish of the day. Dare we say it again -- can't wait for Colomane!
- Grade A (Cottage Tables Cup): 1. Shanley Racing's Magical Mancini (T. O'Leary), 4/5 fav; 2. T. O'Reilly's Coalford James (Deirdre Goggin), 10/1; 3. J.
Burchill/D. O'Donoghue's The Blue Fox (J. McSweeney), 1/1. 5 ran, 8l, 6l. NR: Newtown Commander
- The Blue Fox led until the mid-point turn, where Coalford James, who rounded it better, took iot up. Magical Mancini seemed happy at the tail of the field,
and it was only after the last turn that he turned on the revs and cruised home. Coalford James, here, finally showed more of his true talent.
- Grade B (Timmy Daly Memorial Cup): 1. Connonagh Racing Club's Mack's Direct (M. Duggan), 1/1 fav; 2. M. Herlihy's Do The Business (D.
McCarthy), 2/1; 3. D. Delany's Mister Hill (J. Sheehy), 5/2. 5 ran, 10l, 8l.
- Mack's Direct led throughout most, with Mister Hill in strong early contention. Do The Business was always in touch but, although performing well, he was
no match for the winner who was overdue this victory.
- Grade C (P. J. Barry Memorial Cup): 1. J. Shanahan's Hilton Genius (Noreen McSweeney), 1/3 fav; 2. Mary Forbes/Noreen McSweeney's The Punisher
(J. McSweeney), 6/1; 3. Daly/Twomey/Jennings' Shuttle Buddy (J. O'Donovan), 5/1. 5 ran, 10l, 3l.
- No surprises about the winner here, who, although only Grade D, was head and shoulders above the rest. Seeming to lag, when the jockey said "go" at the
business end, it was all over.
- Grade D (John O'Sullivan Memorial Cup): 1. D. Hourigan's Talavary Jet (Deirdre Goggin), 6/1; 2. J. O'Mahony's Glan Teifi (Noreen McSweeney), 1/2
fav; 3. T. Doyle's Kelly's Hero (T. O'Leary), 5/2. 8 ran, 1 1/2l, 6l. NR: Derryleary Lass
- A surprising one, but a deserving outcome for the winner, who looked a picture. They started out and at the first turn, the winner went off stride. Into view
for the last time, Jet was in front while Glan Teifi was trying his best to close. The jockeys rode out a strong finish,with Jet having his day in the sun and Teifi
not losing anything in defeat.
- Grade E (Jan Gore-Grimes Memorial Cup): 1. P. Hill's Hillside Security (P. Hill), 1/2 fav; 2. B. Newman's Swift Harrier (D. McCarthy), 4/1; 3. J.
Manning's Blue Campari (J. McSweeney), 1/1. 4 ran, 1L,1L. NR: Kicking King Cam
- Hillside Security led them off; back in, Blue Campari was in front,with Swift Harrier up there with them. Until the closing strides, it was anyone's race.
- Novice (Charles Cremin & Jack Connolly Memorial Cup): 1. C. O'Regan's Whiskey Echo (T. O'Leary), 8/1; 2. J. Burchill's Sherwood Star (J.
McSweeney), 4/5; 3. N. Forbes's Silver Cam (M. Duggan), 6/1. 5 ran, 7l, 2l.
- A surprise here, as fav. Teadies Best was pulled up after halfway. But full marks to the winner, a plucky little filly who had been unplaced on her two other
outings. Silver Cam (full sib to Blue Campari) ran creditably on his first race.
- Confined (Denis Collins & Con O'Sullivan Memorial Cup): 1. Caroline McGrath's Posh Paddy (J. McSweeney), 1/1jd; 2. B. Cronin's Chance Security
(Deirdre Goggin),3/1; 3. A. Hamilton's Ebony Jane (M. Duggan), 1/1 jf. 5 ran, 6l, 1 1/2l.
- Posh Paddy led from the start. Ebony Jane opened favourite but Paddy became well supported. Jane broke at the start, got back into things, but Paddy
was never in any real danger