Disastrous day for favourite backers in both classics

IT was a disastrous day for favourite backers on the second day of the National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel yesterday, with the long odds favourites in both the Derby and Oaks going out.

The first setback to hit punters was the withdrawal from the second round of the well backed Handball Henry. Then Needham Skill put paid to the chances of another highly fancied Northern challenger, Ashmore Lucky. Since Kyabam and Newry Legend, both leading fancies, won their second round courses in good style but the hare went down field on both occasions and they were very hard run. Inevitably, both were withdrawn from the third round.

The next big upset came in the opening course of the third round when Central Creator, another Northern fancy, had to give best to Chinook Hyland by a length. However the biggest surprise came in the final course of the third round went the Fermoy qualifier Aghadown Martin got the better of Derby Pines in the course of the day by a narrow margin.

There were a few upsets also in the Oaks, the biggest being the elimination of Gadget Girl by Tromora Darkie in the third round. The Brendan Matthews owned Gadget Girl was very impressive when getting the better of Cisco Town in the second round by five lengths. When she was fast away from slips in the third round against Tromora Darkie she looked set for another win, but then began to lose momentum and Tromora Darkie got up to win by two lengths, much to the delight of the bookmakers.

The only other major surprise was the defeat of Loud Music by Omera in the second round by two lengths.

This morning Chinook Hyland faces Needham Skill in the first quarter final and the latter should come out on top. The new favourite, Kyle Ranger, comes up against Stephens Ray in his buckle and should have little trouble in putting out the Mooncoin qualifier.

The third quarter-final is between Coshair Magic and Central City with slight preference for Coshair Magic. In the final buckle of the round Sound Pistol faces Aghadown Martin with the latter the percentage bet to advance and go on to take the classic.

It will be a major surprise if Call Her Now does not put out Tromora Darkie by a wide margin in her quarter final in the Greyhound & Pet World Oaks. Whytanyard Ash faces Skellig Mania in the second quarter final and, on what we have seen over the two days so far, the latter should advance.

The O’Driscolls from Glanmire also have Skellig Babe in the third quarter final and she should have the measure of Windfarm Swift in their buckle. The final spot in the semi-finals should be booked by Lyrics, who has improved with every outing. She can see off Ocean Tolula.

It looks like a Call Her Now – Skellig Babe decider and, if that is the case, it should be a cracker.