Flawless Timber House looks the real article at Clonmel coursing
There was a delay to the start of proceedings as frost covers were removed and time allowed for the winter sun to penetrate the covering on the Clonmel stretch. But, when the action got underway it delivered in spades.
Timber House’s flawless slips-to-turn display in the third round was, undoubtedly, the performance of day two and the pup is now odds-on to give trainer Michael O’Donovan his maiden victory in the €35,000-to-the-winner event, following a number of agonisingly near misses for the Tipperary trainer.
Prior to the start of the competition, in his guise as sponsor’s representative, Lonergan alerted us to the strong support for Timber House, and this son of Thomas The Tank and Lady Twinkletoes is living up to punters’ expectations.
On-course bookmaker Berkie Browne, who feels business stood up to previous years, was equally taken by the youngster’s displays, and he and his peers will be looking for a big shock this afternoon.
“For me, betting was on par with last year,” said Browne. “The delay to the start of yesterday’s action helped — there was plenty of business in that period.
“The Timber dog went short in the morning and we were in a position to take it on as we half minded it early on. When it went 2-1, we took a chance against it, but it’s an even-money shot now.
“Everything being equal, it looks a winner. What he did to Serene Angel in the evening — clock or no clock — was phenomenal. I don’t think there’s any other dog which could have done that.
“Michael O’Donovan has been beaten in six Derby finals, and I’d say five of the six were just-ups. He’s been favourite more times than he hasn’t and was in hard luck a couple of times. It’s just one of those things, but he has the favourite and second favourite going into the quarter-finals, and I’m sure he’s a very happy man at the moment.”
Portane All In is also flying the flag for the Tipp Town kennel, and Browne is slow to rule him out, adding: “The Portane dog was the big mover on the first morning, from 8s into 4s, but we didn’t get too involved- he’s be a small winner for us. He looks a proper dog and maybe he’ll be the one to get O’Donovan over the line.
“He could very easily have the two finalists — it’s a big course this morning between Kyle Bruce and Portane All In. It’ll probably be 4-5 your choice, and if he gets through in that one and Timber House also against Defacto, it’ll probably go odds-on that it’ll be a divide. We laid Kyle Bruce well ante-post at 25-1 but he’d be a winner, and the rest are all skinners.”
There’ll be no complacency amongst connections of the top two in the betting, as Ger Holian is also poised to have a say in the outcome with Blades Of Hope and the quietly progressive Defacto. The Field family’s Kyle Bruce remains in contention, as do Game Mikey and Feel My Pulse. Carrowkeal Gavin completes the octet for Kathleen and Jackie Murphy, Mallow, whose kennel is in top form, as also evidenced by Carrowkeal Spike’s victory in the heats of the Guinness Trophy at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.
The Greyhound and Pet World Oaks has been wide open from the start but when the gambled-on Breska Lantern was poised to stamp her authority on proceedings injury intervened. It was a disappointing sight as she all but pulled up, having been in command in her third-round course. In her absence, the competition has an open look to it.
“For most of the books, if not all of them, the Oaks was all about the Breska bitch,” admitted Browne.
“They went for a right touch the first day — from 9-1 down to 4-1. She was a 3-1 chance going into the second round, and 5-2 before the third. She was going to come home alone but suffered an injury, which was hard luck on connections. She’d definitely have been odds-on shot this morning had she come through that, and we’re now struggling to find a favourite. I couldn’t pick the winner.”
Michael Sheil, on-course bookmaker and respected judge, believes O’Donovan could be in line for a double.
“The Oaks has been great for the layers — most have a clean book — and it’s still hard to pinpoint the winner. But, I think Manntan Maple will really come into her own on the third day. She’s been coming along nicely and could be hard to beat. Sequin is another who has been going along doing its business without much fuss.
“The Derby is all about one dog. He’s faster than anything else in it but we’re only halfway there, with three courses to do. At this point it’s quite possible Michael O’Donovan could do the double.
“Overall business has been disappointing, and while there have been a number of results for the bookies, the biggest bogey of the week, Timber House is still there.”
The O’Donovan kennel is overdue a change of luck, and success for Timber House would be very popular, though perhaps not universally welcomed.
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