Rockseal’s win gives O’Connor cup double

Tom Higgins

The winner, trained for the DMH Syndicate, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick by Tom ‘Saleen’ O’Connor, was an 8-1 chance before coursing.

He won all his courses easily but had a bye in the semi-final when the favourite, Lakyle Richie, was withdrawn after being hard run . In the final he was smartly away and had three lengths in hand over Give It To Paddy.

Beyond Winter, owned by Tim O’Driscoll from Glounthaune, Co. Cork, who came in as a reserve, took the honours in the Reserve Derby Trial Stake when he defeated Abbeyglen Smut in the decider. He had his toughest course in the semi-final when he came from behind Honesty Rewarded, who lost sight of the hare momentarily.

In was a most exciting final as there was little between the winner and Abbeyglen Smut until half way. Then Beyond Winter edged clear and got the turn by a length and a half.

The Oaks Trial Stake proved a great birthday present for 17 years old Gráinne O’Connor, Scartaglen. Co. Kerry as Compassionate, whom she owns with her father Dan, booked her passage to Clonmel. The winner was the outsider in the final against Newinn Express, who was having her first outing, but, after trailing early on, went clear by four lengths.

Judge. L. Kelly. Slipper. T. Murphy.

Macroom All-Aged Stake (16). Quarter-Finals. Rockseal 3l bt Lowland Curry; Lakyle Richie 4l bt Dromore Warrior; Stalwart 8l bt Hack Up Peace; Give It To Paddy 6l bt Longmore Lady.

Semi-Finals. Rockseal a bye. Lakyle Richie (withdrawn); Give It To Paddy 1½l bt Stalwart.

Final. DMH Syndicate’s (Rathkeale) bk.d. Rockseal (Hilltown-Skip Along Flash) 3l bt D. O’Connell’s (Abbeydorney) bk.b. Give It To Paddy (Joan’s Turbo-I’m Only Ruby).

Reserve Derby Trial Stake (16). Quarter-Finals. Beyond Winter 1l bt Coolehill Fox; Honesty Rewarded bt Ballyverry Magic (loser unsighted); Brickfield Heart 3l bt Lobnamna Sultan; Abbeyglen Smut 1l bt Atlantic Pilot.

Semi-Finals. Beyond Winter 3l bt Honesty Rewarded; Abbeyglen Smut 8l bt Brickfield Heart.

Final. T. O’Driscoll’s (Glounthaune) bd. Beyond Winter (Form Of Tender-Beyond A Star) 1½l bt I. Ronan’s (Ballyhea) be.bd. Abbeyglen Smut (Glenmore Smut-Lady Sabrina).

Oaks Trial Stake (16). Quarter-Finals. Electric Dream 3l bt Line Road Blonde; Newinn Express 6l bt Honest Eyes; Kilgarrife Laura 5l bt Cyrilla; Compassionate j.u. bt Junior Magic.

Semi-Finals. Newinn Express 1.1/2l bt Electric Dream; Compassionate 1/2l bt Kilgarriffe Laura.

Final. D & Miss G. O’Connor’s (Scartaglen) f. Compassionate (Caxton Commander-Kindandcaring) 3l bt No Comment Syndicate’s (New Inn) bk. Newinn Express (Matt Hyland-Flashy Jewel).

Macroom Duffer Stakes & Liam Burke Perpetual Cup. (16). Final. A. Hussey’s (Youghal) w.bd.b. Design For Life (Toy Razor-Duxbery) 3l bt D. B. O’Mahony’s (Inniscarra) w.bd.d. Inniscarra White (Hilltown-Feileacan).