Star shines in Cork Cup

CHELTENHAM Star, jointly owned by John Hennessy, Michael Hegarty and Tom Healy from Ballymacoda, Co. Cork, and trained by Denis O’Driscoll in Skibbereen, was a surprise winner of the Cork Cup at Blarney yesterday.

The winner, on offer at 10-1 before coursing, put out the long odds favourite Soundmanpaddy - seeking his third Cup success of the season - by a length in the semi-final and in the final held on to take the turn by half a length against Curly Head.

Both Trial Stakes went to Limerick owners. Belated Bounty took the Derby ticket when getting the better of Partners Bexhill by eight lengths in his final, having previously been beaten in the semi-finals of similar stakes at Kilmallock and Rathkeale.