Windswept track sees Tranquil storm home

ON the sort of windswept afternoon only a jump racing fan could endure, a horse owned by a Limerick farmer in partnership with a Kildare businessman made the headlines in Clonmel.

Tranquil Sea came home first in the biggest race of the year for the racecourse, when conditions around him could not have been any less tranquil.

Owned by Neilus Hayes from Limerick and Dermot Cox of Kildare, the horse breezed home in the Clonmel Oil chase but, in case anyone needed reminding in the near-horizontal rain and driving wind, it’s not all fun and games.

“We’ve a couple of bad ones as well,” Neilus joked afterwards. “It’s not all rosy,” said the man who farms at Knockainey in Co Limerick.

The pair bought the horse, trained in Ballynonty, Co Tipperary by Edward O’Grady, four years ago and have enjoyed considerable success with him.

Anyone in doubt as to whether the national hunt season was under way need only have made the trip yesterday to Powerstown Park.

It was the sort of afternoon that separates the men from the boys or, in this sport, the jump fans from the flat enthusiasts.

“You wouldn’t call it glamour,” said one punter, as he zipped up his coat and ventured towards the bookmakers.

Clonmel Oil day is the biggest on the calendar at Powerstown Park when some of the real stars of the jumping game come out to play, supported by a long-standing local business.

However, it was a bittersweet day coming less than a week after former racecourse manager Jerry Desmond died while holidaying in Portugal last Friday. “Jerry Desmond was very good to us down through the years,” reflected Clonmel Oil managing director Seán Connolly, before speaking of the importance of such a day.

“It’s important to us on a local basis because we like to give something back and support the races.”

All-star footballer Declan Browne, a sales executive with the company, was among the presentation party as Dermot Cox and Neilus Hayes received their trophy.

Elsewhere, even former TD Noel Davern, a veteran of such days at the venue, found the going hard. “The cold is gone through me,” he said, bustling between the elements and the supporters’ bar. At least he doesn’t have a winter election to worry about these days.

Another winner on the day was Donal Ó Súilleabháin from nearby Kilsheelan, who took home €500 worth of petrol thanks to The Shepherd’s earlier win. In a competition run by the sponsors, his name was drawn to be represented by The Shepherd and “his” horse just held off Baily View, representing Clonmel photographer John Kelly.

Later, as the racing came to an end, the sun came out.