RATHKEALE WINNERS

Well done to Rathkeale for getting through the meeting in such terrible weather...........Rain was predicted the day before but it turned out a glorious day.   To be so lucky two days in a row is more than we can expect.

My day was cut short when my bitch Bless collapsed at the escape and we returned home to put her on  a drip.............shes been down to visit the vets today for blood tests and further rehydration and im pleased to report shes coming back to her old self very quicky.  Hopefully theres no damage done, though weather she runs again this year depend on further progress.

Bless

DERBY TRIAL STAKE

Nice to see Cathleen Casy O`Connell finally get some luck...............with all their dogs running so well it was only a matter of time that one would pull a Trial Stake..............Tubbermartin Lad is jointly owned with Jackie Egan and trained by husband Donal..............by Ashmore View  x Eldorado

 Tubbermartin Lad

Runner up was Formcrior Wally for the Fortune / McÀdam/ Riordan syn, a son of Trajectory and Billa Og

Formcrior Wally and Alright Bex

OAKS TRIAL STAKE

I  was very pleased to hear ....and not the least surprised that Rosie Josie pulled of this stake.  She flew up the field on the first day and looked unstoppable.   Trained by Pat O`Connell she also looked if first class condition  Tadgh Enright and Richard Walsh own this super little bitch who excelled on a longer field.

Bred by John Brown out of Three Fools............a typical genuine Matt Hyland

Rosie Josie

It was a meeting of early turns and plenty of work...........Rosie got her fair share and shrugged it off

I must add the hares were excellent.............on both days

runners up was Trionas Delight..........Droopys Caesar out of Abbeyglen Cool............a sister to Champion bitch winner Woodpark Rebel.............and is a line thats thrown countless good bitch winners so it was no surprise to see this lady go so well

Owned by Mrs Thomas and Mr Maurice Roche

ALL AGE BITCH

It was very fitting to see Blades of Glory win on her own turf.  I saw her on saturday and she blasted down the field..............this time last year she was winning the Oaks TS on the same field. When she gets it right shes capable of a hugh run............as her fastest clock of the first round at Clonmel will tell.

Owned by Denis Guiney........our landlord for the weekend

By Bexhill Eoin out of Gibralter.............its been a amazing family performance this weekend...........her two litter brothers Kilbeacanty Hill and Gifted Hero both contested the Limerick Cup Final

Pretty Touch

runner up was Pretty Touch owned by Cathleen Browne by Droopys Caesar out of Lone Hyland

THE LIMERICK CUP

As mentioned before this was a "Keep it in the family "double...........with two litter brothers going head to head in the final............nice to see the winner finally come out ontop as hes been a consistant performer.

 Kilbeacanty Hill.....Winner

Owned and bred by Maurice and aileen McCarthy

Litter brother Gifted Hero, in fine form for owner Brian Wilmott

 Bexhill Eoin x Gibraltar

The KERRY O`CONNORS

You may remember the other week me making a "pigs ear" of the Ballyduff write up and getting into total confusion with all the OConnor clan..............`Well it was very nice of them not only to forgive me..............but to send this little storey that explains Im not the first person to get confused!

Many years ago, a group of locals were in Browne's bar one night well after closing time when a new garda to the area walks in and started taking names.
He started with a Patrick O'Connor who duly gave his name as Patrick O'Connor from Ballyduff.

'Small Paddy' ,as he was known, gave his name as Patrick O'Connor
The Garda raised his eyebrows but kept going.
Patrick's uncle known as 'Pats' next gave his name as Patrick O'Connor.
The Garda was getting a bit irate at this stage.
The next man he asked was...Pateen 'Carey' O'Connor ...who gave his name as...you
guessed it ..Patrick O'Connor
At this stage the Garda lost the cool and told the man behind the bar, Jimmy Browne, that unless he got all their correct names that he would lose his licence.

It took some time for Jimmy Browne to convince them that they were giving their correct names.

Even after that when the garda resumed his tasked, he came across a fifth Patrick O'Connor, Pateen 'Brian', on the premises the same night!

So now you know you are not the first to be confused about different Patrick O'Connor's in Ballyduff!

KNOCKGRAFFON WINNERS

 Sorry I was unable to attend the last two days of this meeting .............the winners of the trial stakes were the same ones I saw running well in the first round.

OAKS TRIAL STAKE

 Only there on Friday, but in the last course of the Oaks Lisloose Accord flew up............a quick look at her breeding told you she was Bexhill Eoin  x Chubbys Accord.............It dosnt get much better than that!!

Another excellent Trial Stake winner bred by the O`Meara family out of their super Ardnalee Laura line....................and stud dog  Eoin is unstoppable at the moment.   owned by Liam Lynch and Seamus Begley and trained by Johnny Carroll.

Runner up spot went to Maria Kennedy`s Drifting Rose , Judicial Best x Pitmans Fantasy

DERBY TRIAL STAKE

Won by Tom O`Donavan`s  Drive On Guest.............bred out of Harry Findleys,  Mountain Guest...................making him a litter comrade of Vals Blushes.................and a half brother to handy Cup dog Coome Hill

Runner up was  Don and Gerald Buckleys  Mucky Eamonn.............one of Sullane Signs first litter..............a nice start in the breeding paddocks for her

WORKING MEMBERS

was won by John Morrissey`s Cloverhill Major............heres a nice shot of him

KNOCKGRAFFON CUP



Winner: JACKS NAVIGATOR
R Up: QUARRYMOUNT ROG

Sorry no photos of these winners