Ballydehob. 12th April 2009.

A very good day's racing, with excellent stewarding. There was a festive atmosphere, too. Full marks to the committee for giving a committee trophy to the winner of every race, along with the usual cups, shields, etc. Congrats to connections of Dilly's Dragon who clinched road horse honours; to John McSweeney for yet another three-timer, and who is the new champion road jockey; to Deirdre Goggin who won leading female rider at Ballydehob, and to connections of Superman, who won "best-turned-out" and who was, indeed, superbly so.

• Grade A (Bobby Jo Cup & Jimmy Wolfe Memorial Shield) - 1. Cahirtown Racing's Dilly's Dragon (J. McSweeney), 1/1 fav; 2. Shanahan/WheltonHayes's Driven Storm (T. O'Leary), 6/4; 3. C. Galvin's Hilltop Tuck (M. O'Reilly)4/1. 4 ran, sh hd, 10l.
• Dragon was first to show but Storm very soon took it up. Dragon kept in very close touch and was just marginally behind after the half-way turn. Storm rounded the last turn in front. On the run-in, Storm and Dragon matched stride-for-stride. In the final few strides, Storm held the call but Dragon rallied and got it on the nod. A great race, and a fitting one to bring down the curtain on the road season.

• Grade B (Sandboat Bar Cup) - 1. S. Cronin's Home Ambrose (J. McSweeney), 1/2 fav; 2. D. Ross's CP's Fantasy (J. Healy), 4/1; 3. B. Newman's Casimir Fabio (T. O'Leary), 5/2. 6 ran, 12l, 7l.
• Ambrose did not torment us with suspense in this one. At half-way he was in front. Here, Just For Joe made a very bad turn. Scoot's Mischief, who was prominent, skipped slightly here and she eventually finished 4th. In the last half-mile, Ambrose spreadeagled the field. Can imagine he will be a very short price for the Laddie.

• Grade C (The Irish Whip Cup & Christy Hurley Plant Hire Trophy) - 1. A. Hamilton's Ebony Jane (J. McSweeney), 1/3 fav; 2. Northern Syndicate's Slipalongtravascus (T. O'Leary), 4/1; 3. P. Hill's Hillside Dream (Emma Kane), 3/1. 4 ran, 8l, 6l.
• Dream led them into view, as they started out. Jane soon took it up, and made the first turn perfectly. Dream lost gait here, while Crown Direct ran out. Jane seems to have turned fine at the last, and she sailed home untroubled.

• Golden Mile (Tim Coughlan Shield) - 1. R. Sugrue's The Blue Finch (M. Fleming), 1/4 fav; 2. MTC Racing's Free Spirit (T. O'Leary), 2/1; 3. P. Forbes's Thomas Grey (Owner), 4/1. 4 ran, 7l, 6l.
• Thomas made the early running but Finch was only waited with. A good run here from Free Spirit.

• Grade D (Con & Hannah Maria O'Driscoll Cup) - 1. J. O'Donovan's Bonkerstotallynuts (Owner), 6/1; 2. D. Shanahan's Cam's Lily (T. O'Leary), 1/2 fav; 3. P. Hayes's Watch Me Now Boys (Noreen McSweeney), 3/1. 5 ran, 2 1/2l, 8l.
• Commander Matt led them in and was away first from the turn. Bonkers was in close pursuit while Watch gave a skip here. Back in view after the last turn, Bonkers was in front and Lily could not close.

• Grade E (Robert Cleary Cup) - 1. A. Hamilton's Harrier's Decision (K. Sheehy), 5/2; 2. Deirdre Goggin's Teadies Best (Owner), 1/2 fav; 3. R. Shanahan/G. Calnan's Cam's Rayger (T. O'Leary), 7/2. 8 ran. 3l, 2l.
• Harrier led briefly but Best soon took it up. Best was in front after the only turn, looked in command until Harrier made his telling move.

• Novice (Denis Murphy Cup) - 1. F. Brickley's Ringo Kid (D. Brickley), 1/5 fav; 2. J. O'Brien's Peterstone Coyote (P. O'Brien), 6/1; 3. M. Herlihy's Lakeside Stallone (D. McCarthy), 4/1. 3 ran, 15l, 20l.
• Kid was a pleasure to watch in this. Looks to have oodles of talent - can't wait to see him in the summer season.