Connonagh. June 14th 2009

What a great day! The meeting was very well organised; there were some excellent finishes; a great, festive atmosphere prevailed and it was warm, but not too. Families looked to be having a good time; the dog show was well attended and well watched (well done, Colette) and Tim's commentary was enlivening. Nice going, Lucy, on your double. I saw a good handful (apart from connections of dog show entrants) of new faces. Connonagh would usually be considered a "small" meeting but you wouldn't think it today. Congrats!

• Maidens (Paddy Barry Memorial Cup) - 1. M. Herlihy/S.J. Jennings's Oakwood Diamond (K. Sheehy), 1/1; 2. P. Hill's Hillside Hi-Ho (P. Hill), 4/5 fav; 3. J. O'Brien's Ithon Exchange (Owner), 3/1. 4 ran, 3l, 1 1/2l. 2m.18secs 4th, Roberta's Dream
• Diamond led from the start and the driver always looked confident. Ithon broke after flagfall.

• Maiden/Novice (Astra Construction Cup) - 1. M. Williamson's Oakwood Regal (Owner), 4/1; 2. K. O'Connell's Hurricane Henry (Owner), 2/1; 3. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's Meadowbranch Pan-am (M. Kelleher), 1/2 fav. 4 ran, 3l, 8l. 2m.25secs. (Sky Security passed the post in third but was disq. for a driving infringement).
• Regal deserved this win in a very messy race. Pan-Am broke at the start. Sky was also unsettled. Pan-Am led briefly but appears to have been hampered by Sky. Regal was able to avoid this.

• Novice/Improver/Intermediate - 1. B. Barry's Supreme Hall (J. McSweeney), 4/5 fav; 2. P. Hayes's Watch Me Now Boys (P. O'Driscoll), 5/2; 3. F. Brickley's Ringo Star (C. Brickley), 4/1. 5 ran, 2l, 1 1/2l. 2m.15secs 4th, Mr. Security
• Hall led from the start. Security challenged for most, racing on the outside. Watch was waited with but could not get on terms.

• Class 000/010 (Chilli Palmer Memorial Cup) - F. Hurley/T.O'Reilly's Calm Louis (T. O'Reilly), 4/5 fav; 2. D. McCarthy's Coalford Shooter (Owner), 6/1; 3. K. O'Connell's Midnight Mover (Owner), 3/1. 7 ran, 20l, 1l. 3m.06secs, 4th Bonkerstotallynuts
• Louis provided no suspense here but showed himself to be in a class of his own, leaving the others in his slipstream from the start.

• Preferential Handicap, 019/080 (Johnny O'Driscoll Memorial Cup) - 1. Patricia Carey's Destiny's Dream (G. Carey), 6/4; 2. P. Hayes's Spanko's Boy (J. McSweeney), 1/2 fav; 3. Dunmanway Racing Club's Springfield Chief (Noreen McSweeney), 5/2. 4 ran, 1 1/2l, 4l. 3m.12secs 4th, Mr. Dow Jones. NR: Stoneriggs Wizard, Dragon's Glory
• Spanko held sway until half-way round the last lap. Dream had moved up to second after just over one circuit. Around halfway, he challenged and had a lot to do as Spanko would not give in. But Dream is tough and won in a war of attrition. He got to the front around the middle of the last lap.

• Saddle (Novice & E) - M. Goggin's Mr. Chapman (Deirdre Goggin), 4/1; 2. C. O'Leary's The Buachaill (M. Goggin jnr), 1/2 fav; 3. Quill Bros's Cam Decision (F. Quill jnr), 6/4. 5 ran, nk, nk. Time n/a
• A nailbiter to the end. Celtic Cam led for a lot of it. Decision challenged early on but lost gait. I think Mr. C gave a skip when he had moved up behind Celtic Cam. I wasn't on the line for the finish, but it was a blanket one. The Buachaill had moved up into second with half a lap to go.

• Grade C & D - 1. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's The Fireball (Lucy Kelleher), 2/5 fav; 2. Quill Bros's Sable Decision (S. Quill jnr), 2/1; 3. L. O'Regan's Brywins Charvis (J. O'Reilly), 5/1. 6 ran, 10l, 3l. 3m.10secs 4th, Travis
• Travis led them off but Fireball soon took it up. Travis remained somewhat in contention until Sable got going with half a lap to go. Not a bad run out of Charvis.

• Grade A & B (Jim Roycroft Memorial Cup) - 1. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's Flashdance (Lucy Kelleher), 2/5 fav; 2. B. Newman's Casimir Fabio (Emma Kane), 4/1; 3. A. Hamilton's Matty O (J. O'Callaghan), 3/1. 6 ran, 1 1/2l, 1/2l. 3m.9secs. 4th, Bon Camotion
• Matty held the call until about half a lap to go. Flash seemed to be only waiting to pounce. A very good effort from Fabio, who broke early on and seemed out of it. He's one to watch.