Parnell triumphant after shocks galore in Desmond Cup

GALLANT PARNELL, purchased by current owners the C.C &M Syndicate from Listowel from John Flynn of Tarbert after he had been beaten two and a half lengths by Jerrys Beam in the final of the Derby Trial Stake at Charleville last season, started his campaign on a bright note when taking the Desmond Cup at Glin yesterday.

The bulk of the excitement was reserved for Saturday when all the dogs quoted in single figures, with the exception of 8/1 chance Bilboa Baggins, were all beaten in the opening round. The drama didn't stop there however as Bilboa Baggins got a grueller in his course and had to be withdrawn from the second round.

Yesterday morning Gallant Parnell, a 20/1 chance before coursing on Saturday was down to 4-1 and after beating Dromore Concorde in his quarter-final by five lengths he then put out the overnight favourite, Murtys Destiny by a length, the runner-up having had a tough course in the second round on Saturday.

At the top of the draw Glanmore Tango had little difficulty in putting out Pilgrim Type in his quarter-final but then found one too good for him in Ready To Dream, who had gone favourite before the semi-finals, failing by the narrowest of margins.

In the final Gallant Parnell led from slips and built up a six lengths lead over Ready To Dream, the property of Ms Aoife Loughnane of Roscrea.

The loser however was injured and had to be carried from the field.

There was an exciting final in the Derby Trial Stake with Kierans Magic, owned by Donal Galvin from Model Farm Road, Cork, impressively booking his passage to Clonmel with a half a length success over the Slideaway Syndicate’s (Athea) Slideaway Daly.

The runner up had been the long odds favourite, but after getting a tough course on Saturday was displaced at the top of the market by Bar Flight, whom he defeated by three lengths in the semi-final. However in the final after being level early on he had to give best to the well bred Pat Norris trained winner.

Although only two Oaks Trial Stakes have been run so far, Quality And Gold, owned by Murt Ryan from Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary, could well be one of the top fancies for the Oaks.

A winner of all her courses in good style she showed tremendous pace from halfway yesterday and in the final against Ann Quinlan and Lisa Moran’s Quarrymount Dee, strode away to have six lengths in hand at the escape.

The Welcome Inn All Aged Bitch Stake was won by Matthew Ryan’s (Cashel) Cypress, who had been runner-up in two Oaks Trial Stakes last season.

After a tight decision over Skellig Spring in the semi-final, in the decider she came up against Kilty Vacume, the property of John and Noel Hallissey from Clonakilty, Co. Cork who had won a Surplus Stake at the Tipperary meeting, with the Tipperary bitch taking the honours by a length.

Judge: T. Reddan; Slipper: T. Murphy.

Desmond Cup (32 All-Aged) Quarter-Finals: Glanmore Tango 5l bt Pilgrim Type; Ready To Dream 3l bt Carrowkeal McCoy; Murtys Destiny 6l bt Callura Warrior; Gallant Parnell 5l bt Dromore Concorde.

Semi-Finals: Ready To Dream j.u. bt Glanmore Tango; Gallant Parnell 1l bt Murtys Destiny.

Final: D. & Ms. M. McNamara ns. C.C & M Syndicate’s (Listowel) bd.d. Gallant Parnell (Multibet-Faithful Flash) 6l bt M. Foley ns. Ms. A. Loughnane’s (Roscrea) bd.d. Ready To Dream (Hilltown-Ready To Hunt).

Welcome In All-Aged Bitch Stake (16) Quarter-Finals: A Big Ask 2l bt Deer Hunter; Kilty Vacume 1l bt Vacume Allblack; Cypress 1l bt Dedicated; Skellig Spring j.u. bt Southwell Heidi.

Semi-Finals: Kilty Vacume 2l bt A Big Ask; Cypress j.u. bt Skellig Spring.

Final: M. Ryan’s (Cashel) w.bd. Cypress (Tullamore- Polly Ann) 1l bt J. & N. Hallissey’s (Clonakilty) bk. Kilty Vacume (Murty’s Gang-Vacume Inn).

Derby Trial Stake (64) Semi-Finals: Strideaway Daly 3l bt Bar Flight; Kierans Magic 5l bt Move On Playboy.

Final: D. Galvin’s (Cork) bk. Kierans Magic (Micks Magic-Vacume Inn) 1/2l bt Strideaway Syndicate’s (Athea) bd. Strideaway Daly (Droopys Caesar-Moll Daly).

Oaks Trial Stake (32) Quarter-Finals: Bristol Dawn j.u. bt Blossom Wing; Quarrymount Dee 2l bt Ballymac Cutie; Formacrior Gypsy 1l bt Jah Live; Quality And Gold 8l bt Droopys Melody.

Semi-Finals: Quarrymount Dee 3l bt Bristol Dawn; Quality and Gold 8l bt Formacrior Gypsy.

Final: M. Ryan’s (Borrisoleigh) bk. Quality And Gold (Hilltown-Ardnalee Laura) 6l bt Mrs. A. Quinlan & Mrs L. Moran’s (Castletroy) w.bd. Quarrymount Dee (Dual Type-Quarrymount Vera)

Glin Derby (20) Final: J. Barrett & C. Sheehan’s (Glin) bk. Bexhill Matt (Matt Hyland-Bexhill Lass) bt j.u. Ms. C. Wallace’s (Glin) w.bk. Heynottoosure (Droopys Vieri-Jobys Picture).

Glin Oaks (16) Final: Ms. M. Sheehan’s (Glin) bd. Maireads Rose (Matt Hyland-Bexhill Lass) 5l bt T. Horan’s (Glin) bk. Floating Delight (Larkhill Jo-Delightful Glin).