Coursing: Magical Titan can give Guilfoyle his first Derby winner
A rare achievement by a puppy Ballymac Awil winning the feature All Age event at Lixnaw coursing on Sunday as owner Liam Dowling,centre,receives the cup from Oliver Quilter.Nominator Mike Barry,left,receives a cup from Matt O'Connor while Shane Dowling is getting a plaque from Chairman Martin Galvin.Also included are members of the Dowling team and friends.Photo Moss Joe Browne.
This year is a special occasion in the history of the National Coursing Meeting as it is the 100th running of the event. Thousands of visitors from across the world will descend on the famed Powerstown Park venue over the next three days for what is sure to be a great occasion, especially for those lucky enough to have a qualifier in any of the nine stakes to be decided. As well as the huge prize money on offer, each qualifier will receive a commemorative sterling silver medallion and greyhound cover.
Pat Guilfoyle, no stranger to big race success on the track, can gain his first major success on the coursing field by taking the Centenary running of the Boylesports Derby with Magical Titan who is now 7/1 second favourite to claim the €50,000 winner’s purse.
The withdrawal of the original joint long-odds favourites Vader on Wednesday and Boylesportsmajor on Friday has made the path to outright victory for the Rathkeale qualifier much easier and with the advantage of the white collar he should come out of the bottom half.
He should have most to fear from 12/1 chance Unforgivable who, after being beaten by Boylesportsmajor in the final at Mallow, caught the eye of a lot of shrewd judges when qualifying at Templetouhy. Seven Barrows, who clocked well on his way to qualifying at Abbeyfeale, is another who must come into the reckoning and is now as low as 14/1 for outright honours.
Ballymac Awil, owned by Liam Dowling, no stranger to success at the venue, is now firm favourite at 6/1. A trial stake winner at Glin in early October, he made the step up into all-aged company a winning one by taking the O'Carroll Cup at Lixnaw at the end of November and has not been seen out since.
In what looks a very competitive second quarter, he may have most to fear from Matchstick Man, who after qualifying at Castleisland went under in a tight buckle to Awaiting Trial (who again opposes), in the semi-final of the Corn Na Feile Puppy Derby and is now as low as 8/1 for outright victory. Dobbseys Boy and Wonder Man are others that must come into the reckoning.
Callaway Pat trained by Owen McKenna looks the one in the opening quarter. Beaten on his fifth career outing in the final in Abbeyfeale in the shortest slip of the meeting he turned out again 12 days later to qualify at Tubbecurry after which the Murphy family, Casteisland bought a half share in him. He will have to be on his best behaviour to beat the likes of Coomebowen Chase who impressed many on his way to victory at Clonakilty. The Barry Lynch-trained Machiavelli must also come into the reckoning. Nine Darter, now a 10/1 chance, can give trainer Kevin Barry some compensation for the withdrawal of Boylesportsmajor by taking the third quarter. Winner of a 32-dog trial stake at Cashel, he next turned out at Johnstown and Urlingford where he took the Johnny Doyle Memorial All Aged Cup, beating none other than Champions Stakes contender Kerry Watch in the semi-final. He can prove too good for the likes of Abbeydorney qualifier Ashmore Mac and the New Ross winner Raven Hill to reach the semi-finals.
A Ballymac Awil v Magical Titan final with the latter to come out on top giving Pat Guilfoyle, who also owns the son of Blades Of Hope-Savage Love, his first Derby success.
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In the Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks, Cujo and Butterfield, the 5/1 joint favourites, along with 12/1 chance Blades Of Dreams give Athenry trainer Jerry Holihan a very strong hand for outright honours.
Cujo impressed all on her way to victory on what was her second appearance in the Johnstown and Urlingford qualifier has not been seen since. In what looks a wide open first quarter she should prove too good for the likes of the Kevin Barry-trained Puzzling World and the Ballyduff qualifier Lift The Tempo, who has attracted some support in recent days from 20s to 14s.
Ballinveala Gail the Mallow qualifier can come out on top of a very tough looking second quarter. Mungos Bloom impressed all who saw her go in at the final meeting of the season, Sevenhouses, as did the Glanworh qualifier Falkens Maze. But if Ballinveala reproduces her Mallow running she should emerge at the expense of Mungos.
Butterfield, the Castleisland qualifier who put up a top-class performance at Abbeyfeale to take the Puppy Oaks, cannot be opposed to emerge from the third quarter where she can confirm Abbeyfeale final form by again beating Daoimean Dubh in her opening course. She can then prove too good for her kennel companion Blades of Dreams to advance to the semi finals.
Rushview Rose, who recorded some fantastic clocks when going in at Knockgraffon, is the choice in the final quarter. Coming from a kennel with proven Clonmel form having taken the Oaks with Rushview Raven four years ago, she should prove too good for the Kilflynn qualifier Ballindaggan to progress to the semi finals.
In an all-Holihan final Butterfield to prove too good for her kennel companion Cujo in what looks to be a top class line up for the Centenary Oaks.
Coursing gets underway at 11am this morning. Best of luck to all.
