Ballygurteen. December 14th 2008.

This was a good start to the season. The weather was crisp and sunny - the kind of weather we want for Christmas. Sure, it got cold when the sun went down, but it IS December. Congrats to new road rider, Mathew O'Reilly, jockey of the day, and to best-turned-out, Dilly's Dragon. Also well done to Emma Kane, who made her first road race a winning one.Some interesting beginners, equine and human. Drimoleague is something to look forward to. Note: There was balloting of Grade B horses into Grade A. More below.

• Grade A (Paddy Keohane Memorial Cup) - 1. Breda Shanahan's Dream's Place (M. O'Reilly), 6/4; 2. T. O'Reilly's Coalford James (Deirdre Goggin), 5/1; 3. J. Burchil/D. O'Donoghue's Kouros Boy (Noreen McSweeney), 1/2 fav. 5 ran, 10l, 7l. 4th, Dilly's Dragon. AR: Meadowbranch Jake
• Kouros Boy made all the running, followed by Dilly's Dragon, until half-way. Here, the Dragon took it up as they headed out. But, coming into view again, Dream's Place was in front, having gone out a poor fourth. Coalford James was the only Grade A horse in the race and acquitted himself well enough.

• Grade B (Jeremiah Keohane Memorial Cup) - 1. Patricia Carey's Destiny's Dream (J. McSweeney), 6/4; 2. J. Shanahan's Hilton Genius (M. O'Reilly), 1/2 fav; 3. T. Doyle's Kelly's Hero (Noreen McSweeney), 4/1. 5 ran, nk, 10l. 4th, Joe Moorsley
• Dream and Hero tussled for the lead until the last turn. Genius was in third as they headed for the last. Coming in for home, Genius was in front but Dream was in close pursuit. Genius seemed to have it in the bag. Then...Genius was caught on the line and the young, road-inexperienced jockey was gutted. I doubt if that will happen to him again.

• Grade C (Denis Dullea Memorial Cup) - 1. Rossway Racing's Mack's Direct (M. O'Reilly), 6/4; 2. D. Hendrick's Goldfella (Emma Kane), 3/1; 3. W. J. Cooke's Just For Joe(O. O'Riordan), 5/4 fav. 6 ran, 6l, 8l.
• The Punisher led them into the first turn but Do The Business was first out of it. Mack was in close touch as was Goldfella. But rounding the second turn, and heading for home, Mack was in front and Goldfella tried hard, but could not close.

• Grade D (William O'Donovan Memorial Cup) - 1. D.Deasy/M. Hurley/J. Keohane's On The Run (J. McSweeney), 6/4 fav; 2. Shanley Racing's Perfect Red (T. O'Leary), 3/1; 3. B. Newman's Swift Harrier (M. O'Reilly), 6/1. 9 ran, 10l, 3l.
• Run seems to have been in charge from flagfall. They started out, and when they came into view, he was in front and stayed there. Red was in second throughout but the winner, on his road debut, was just too good on the day.

• Grade E (Sean McCarthy Memorial Cup) - 1. P. Hill's Hillside Dream (Emma Kane), 5/1; 2. M. & P. Hennessy's Little Spike/ (J. McSweeney), 1/2 fav; 3. R. Shanahan/G. Calnan's Cam Rayger (T. O'Leary), 5/1. 5 ran, 6l, 7l.
• Spike was first away, but after half-way in this mile race, Dream was in front and ran out an easy winner. Both new to the road, he and his jockey seem to have taken to each other.

• Novice (Donal McCarthy Memorial Cup) - 1. D. Shanahan's Cam's Lily (T. O'Leary), 3/1; 2. G. Carey's The Biscuit (Noreen McSweeney), 1/3 fav; 3. N. Forbes's Silver Cam (Owner), 3/1. 6 ran, 5l, 4l.
• Lily seems to have led from the start. The Biscuit (except for a late season turf win and a remote earlier one) seems stuck in seconditis. Niall Forbes, on his first road race, acquitted himself creditably with his silver mare.