Ballabuidhe 2009. Sunday, August 2nd & Monday, August 3rd

• A pity about the rain. Races were good and the ground didn't seem to cut up too much. A decent enough crowd, considering the weather.

• Paddy Connolly Memorial Handicap - Heat 1
• 1. A. Hamilton's Matty O (K. Sheehy), 1/2 fav; 2. D. Ross's Cult Direct (Noreen McSweeney), 5/1; 3. F. Brickley's Ringo Star (Owner), 3/1. 6 ran, 1 1/2l, 1L
• Cult was first away, but Matty soon  took it up. Around half-way, Star moved up to second and challenged Matty, who did not give in, while Cult rallied

• Heat 2 - 1.K. McCarthy's Slipalongtrevascus (D. O'Reilly), 4/1. 2. J. Maning's Pocket Express (M. Kelleher), 4/1; 3. B. Newman's Jono's Bianca (D. Murphy), 4/5 fav. 7 ran, hd, 1/2l.
• Ship's Cruiser led briefly, while What A Man broke at the start. After one lap, Slip was in front while Ayr Storm was tailed off. Halfway around the last, Bianca made her move but gave a skip. Express was always up with the leaders and just failed to peg back Slip.

• Heat 3 - 1. F. Hurley/T. O'Reilly's Calm Louis (Noreen McSweeney), 1/3 fav; 2. M. Brickley's Ayr Strike (Owner), 3/1; 3. D. Keegan's Rockaround (P. Gilligan), 6/1. 7 ran, 8l, 1L
• No doubt about this one. Louis led from the start and won as he liked. Rock was always in touch while Strike showed more of his old self.

• Heat 4 - 1. J. Burchill/D. O'Donoghue's Glenarn Harrier (D. Murphy)2/1; 2. D. Ross's CP's Fantasy (J. McSweeney), 4/1; 3. L. O'Regan's Brywins Charvis (M. Goggin), 4/1. 5 ran, 1L, nk.
• Charvis led for most, tracked by CP, while Snatch lost gait early on. It looked between the first two until Harrier got going late. CP pipped Charvis in a photo finish.

• The first two home in each race qualifies for today's final.

• Muurphy's Irish Stout Open Handicap - Heat 1 - Quill Bros's Bon Camotion (D. Murphy), 2/1; 2. T. Doyle's Shotgun Willy (Noreen McSweeney), 6/1; 3. R. Cleary's I'm Just Like Mum (Owner), 6/4 fav; 4. B. Newman's Casimir Fabio (S. Newman), 6/1. 8 ran, 2l, 1l.
• Mum tried to make all. Coalford Western was prominent for a while, as was Spanko's Boy. Going into the last, Bon had moved up to second and took it up on the straight. Willy timed his move just right. Dilly's In Command was always unsettled.

• Heat 2 - 1. J. Burchill/D. O'Donoghue's Porterstown Jack (D. Murphy), 2/5 fav; 2. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's Flashdance (M. Kelleher), 2/1; 3. Dunmanway Racing Club's Springfield Chief (J. McSweeney), 6/1; 3. F. Quill's Tom's The Man (R. Cleary), 5/1. 7 ran, 1L, 3l.
• Chief was first to show, but Flash soon took command. Stoneriggs Wizard was briefly in second, but on the back straight, before heading into the last circuit, Jack took over. Flash tried hard and went briefly head to head but Jack, as always, did just enough to win.

• Here are some representative SPs for the two finals tomorrow, offered by Cooper and Noel Crowley, respectively, for informative purposes only
• Paddy Connolly Memorial Final
• Matty O, 5/2, 4/1
• Cult Direct, 5/1, 5/1
• Slipalongtrevascus, 4/1, 5/1
• Rocket Express, 3/1, 4/1
• Calm Louis, 1/1, 1/1
• Ayr Strike, 6/1, 6/1
• Glenarn Harrier, 2/1, 5/2
• CP's Fantasy, 6/1, 6/1

• Grand Prix Final
• Bon Camotion, 3/1, 4/1
• Shotgun Willy, 8/1, 10/l
• I'm Just Like Mum, 3/1, 6/1
• Casimir Fabio, 5/1, 6/1
• Porterstown Jack, 1/2, 1/2
• Flashdance, 2/1, 2/1
• Springfield Chief, 5/1, 6/1
• Tom's The Man, 4/1, 4/1
• These eight qualify for today's Grand Prix Final

Monday, 3rd August

PLEASE NOTE: TOMORROW'S MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO GROUND CONDITIONS

Murphy's Irish Stout Grand Prix Final:

1. J. Burchill/D. O'Donoghue's Porterstown Jack (D. Murphy), 4/5 fav; 2. Quill Bros's Bon Camotion (T. Murphy), 4/1; 3. T. Doyle's Shotgun Willy (Noreen McSweeney), 6/1; 4. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's Flashdance (M. Kelleher), 2/1. 6 ran, 4l, 2l. NR: Casimir Fabio, Tom's The Man

Willy broke at the start; I'm Just Like Mum was briefly in the ascendancy, until Jack powered to the front. He stayed there; Bon Camotion may have had traffic problems, but went well to take runner-up. Flash and Mum hated it all.

Paddy Connolly Memorial Final: 1. F. Hurley/T. O'Reilly's Calm Louis (Noreen McSweeney), 4/5 fav; 2. A. Hamilton's Matty O (K. Sheehy), 2/1; 3. J. Burchill/D. O'Donoghue's Glenarn Harrier (D. Murphy), 4/1; 4. M. Brickley's Ayr Strike (Owner), 6/1. 8 ran, 4l, 8l.

Matty was first away; held sway until around halfway when Rocket Express took it up. But then Louis got going and it was all over, but a decent effort from Matty while Harrier seemed to leave it late.

Maidens: 1. IB Stables' Jill And Jones (D. Murphy), 1/2 fav; 2. M. Healy's Red Jackpot (T. Murphy), 3/1; 2. L. Evans's Faraway (M. Goggin), 3/1. 6 ran, 5l, 8l.

Jill was in charge from the start. Hillside Hi-Ho s.u. after flagfall; Western Dreamer lost gait early on, while Jackpot did as well around half-way. Still, a decent enough maidens.

Three-Year-Olds: 1. G. Carey's Shane's Baby (Owner), 4/5 fav; 2. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's Meadowbranch Demon (M. Kelleher), 2/1; 3. P. Hill's Wellfield Speedster (Owner), 4/1. 4 ran, 12l, 20l. NR: Glan Morgan

Glenarn Marie made most of the early running. Around mid-point, Demon arrived and looked the winner. But Baby kept in touch and went to the front on the straight between the two last turns. She set sail for home, and may have had more to do except Demon lost gait after turning for home.