Butch the star turn at Blarney

LOCH Bo Butch is the star turn at the two-day Cork Cup coursing meeting which starts at Blarney on St Stephen’s Day.

For a number of reasons, the Eugene McNamara trained Derby runner-up is making a belated seasonal debut, but, if fully tuned-up, should have the class to overcome a useful field.

He has a stiff enough opener against the Mitchelstown Derby Trial Stake winner Only For Fun and the Clonmel contender will expose any chinks in his armour.

Multiple cup winner Stan De Game also lurks in this half and, if he finds his best form, John Condon’s charge is capable of putting it up to the best .

Ballybrack Fred, runner-up in the cup at Charleville, and last year’s Derby winner Flying Flee, are other serious contenders in this half.

John Joe Roynane’s Trumpers Matty, the cup winner in Charleville, looks the best prospect in a bottom half containing three bitches.

Macroom trainer James Kelleher’s two Oaks trial Stake winners, Sullane Sign and Mucky Blackie, are paired together here and a good showing would enhance their classic prospects. However, the Denis O’Driscoll trained Spinning Annie, a trial stake winner last year and a semi-finalist in two cups this term, could spring a few surprises.

Judge: W. Dick (Ass. M. O’Regan); Slipper: M. Mulcahy. (Ass. S. O’Brien)

Cork Cup (16)

Top Half:Chelsea Kid v Stan De Game; Johnnies Patch v Ballybrack Fred; Flying Flee v Bridge Form; Only For Fun v Loch Bo Butch .

Bottom Half:Blanemore Den v Trumpers Matty; Yew Hoo v Bhalloid Runda; Kokonoe v Spinning Annie; Sullane Sign v Mucky Blackie.

Reserves:(a). Latin Dancer. (b). Determined. (c). Sudoky Star.

Order of Running

Wednesday (11.30)Twice through Derby Trial Stake, Oaks Trial Stake and Jack Ryan Memorial Cup.

Thursday (11.30).Start with Working Members Stake, Jack Ryan Memorial Cup, Cork Cup and complete card.

North Kilkenny

Walsh Memorial Cup (16 all aged)

2nd round: Kicking Lad a bye, Fionntra Sandy drawn; An Tatair Padar and Newry House drawn; Skellings Calling, 3l bt Coolhill Rachel; Blue Express 1l bt Beal Gael Scotch. Semi finals, Kicking Lad a bye. Blue Express 2½l bt Skelligs Calling.

Final: Mrs Kelly Hogan (Clonmel) & Rachel O’Dwyer’s (Dundrum) bd d Kicking Lad (Micks Magic-Whos The Blonde) ½l bt The Dream On Syndicates (Newcastlewest) bk d Blue Express (Cool Blues-Soft Choice).

Derby Trial Stake (32)

3rd round: Jeffys Patch 5l bt Croaga Croi; Turbo Time a bye Here To Course drawn; Gallant George 5l bt Dowlmur Devil; From The Point 1l bt Ardmayle Bandit.

Semi finals, Jeffys Patch 3l bt Turbo Time; From the Point 3l bt Gallant George.

Final: P Thompson’s (Belfast) be bd From the Point (Matt Hyland-Moygannon Hill) 2½l bt Messrs Comerford (Woodsgift) & J Hennessy’s (Urlingford) w bd Jeffys Patch (Droopys Caesar-Long Acre).

Oaks Trial Stake (32)

3rd round; Treasure Mill 2l bt Down The Years; Mungos Amy 10l bt Long View; Very Pricey Now 5l bt Big Miss Moffet; Skellig View 5l bt Marshals Chelsea.

Semi finals, Mongos Amy 2l bt Treasure Mill; Very Pricey Now 4l bt Skellig View.

Final: Mrs J Lawler’s (Carlow) bd Mungos Amy (Matt Hyland-Cillowen Diva) 1l bt A Dunne’s (Clonad) f Very Pricey Now (Murtys Gang-Hoping For One).

Bill Kenny Memorial Cup (16)

Semi finals: High St Smokie 2l bt Cill Dubh Darkie; In Transition 5l bt Black Slipaway.

Final: M Watters (Conahy) bk d High St Smokie (Honcho Classic-Crockadee) 5l bt Messrs M Morrissey (Ballyragget) & J Morrissey’s (Galmoy) bd d In Transition (Ashmore View-Eurabus)

Moate Street Boy Cup (8)

Final: L Devitt’s (Cashel) bk d Greenpark Two (Larkhill Jo-Quanns Lady) 8l bt S Colclough’s (Woodsgift) bk b Tubrid Elsa (Droopys Vieri-Joes Elsa).

Parksgrove Stake (8)

Final: S Dowling’s (Ballyragget) bk b Ebony Jackie (Late Late Show-Dees Vieri) 5l bt M Bergin’s (Freshford) f d Cill Dubh Light (Boherduff Light-Cill Dubh Season).

Fethard Open draw

Sunday, December 30

Judge: Bernard Gould; Slipper: Richie Brannigan.

Pat Dalton Cup (winner €1,250)

Hello Kitten v Contractor Jimmy; Come of Age v Danaghers Post; Mammys Allstars v Farran Prince; Miss Banoffee v Killawardy; Commanche Bill v Shadow Fonzy; Move On Magic v Opel Harry; Muckle Meg v Bemies Magic; Ballygown Lark v Lakyle Tiger. Reserves, Sheknowsitall; Mershals Aygo, Rocklow Baby.

* Meet 9am in car park in Fethard. First brace in slips at 9.30am.