Syndicate swoops for leading Derby contender
He is reported to have received an offer he couldn’t refuse and the purchasers are London building contractor Patsy Byrne; Newmarket-based Mark Prescott and Kerryman Paddy Collins, a lifelong friend of Byrne’s .
Byrne is very well known in greyhound circles and was a licensed trainer in Wimbledon until handing in his licence a few months ago.
His greatest coursing triumph came when his Big Interest, trained by Johnny McCarthy, won the Derby in 1987.
Byrne himself trained Ballinderry Ash to win the English track Derby for Terry Corden in 1991 and was joint owner of Cool Performance, winner of the Irish Derby in 2001 .
Prescott, better known in England as a horse trainer, has been at the front line in defence of open coursing in England and is a past chairman of the Waterloo Cup committee.
The Barry Lynch trained Cuban Boss has been on many short lists since qualifying impressively at Charleville and is down to 12-1 in some quarters for the classic at Powerstown Park, Clonmel in less than three weeks time
Cuban Bos was bred by Richie Mee, Ballyorgan, Kilfinane, Co. Limerick, and remains in Lynch’s care for his final preparations.
Kelleher will also be represented in Clonmel by Wilton Boss, the dual Cup winner having qualified for the Champion Bitch Stake.
