O’Donovan John proves a surprise packet

O’DONOVAN JOHN, owned by Richard Keane, Goolds Cross, Co. Tipperary, and trained by David Flannigan, who could be backed at 10-1 before the stake commenced, proved a surprise winner of thefeatured Fitzgerald Cup, the All-Aged event, at the second stage of the Glanworth Coursing meeting.

He proved too good for the bitch, Be On Time, owned and trained by Denis Curtin of Listowel, Co. Kerry, in the decider.

The major upsets in the stake came in the semi-finals where O’Donovan John put out the long odds favourite Mucky Eamonn by two lengths,having a 2-1 majority when the hare escaped, while Be On Time got the better of Ben Nevis, who had run up for two Cups already this season, by a length in an exciting buckle.