Ashmore Mac fastest in opening round of the Irish Cup

Magical Titan, trained by Patrick Guilfoyle remains favourite for the Irish Cup, after the first day of coursing at Limerick Racecourse. Pic: Yvonne Harrington

Ashmore Mac recorded the fastest clock of the day after the opening round of The Una O'Sullivan Memorial Irish Cup at Limerick Racecourse before a fine-sized crowd for day one of the three-day meeting.

Beaten in the quarter-final of this year’s Boylesports Derby, the 16/1 chance in the long-odds betting, trained by Liam Dowling for John Boyle, had no problem in disposing of another who reached this year's Derby quarter-final, Mr Trendsetter, with four lengths separating the pair at the turn and he is now as short as 6/1 to win out. 

He should now advance to the semi-finals from the third quarter, but he will have to reproduce similar displays to dispose of the likes of Challenger Deep, who led Good Energy three lengths in a time of 11.97 and Cooga Magic, who proved six lengths too good for Happy Walking in 11.93.

Magical Titan, the long-odds favourite, retains his position at the head of the market at an unchanged 4/1 after having an easy victory over Master Tactician in a straight run in his opening course, where he clocked 12.04, but he cannot afford any slip-ups in his first course today where he comes up against the puppy Machiavelli, trained by Barry Lynch, who proved four lengths too good for the only bitch in the line up Trigger Trixie in an impressive 11.93, if he is to advance to the semi-finals from the opening quarter.

Stickmein, a beaten semi-finalist in last year's event, who put up a slick display in his course against Gunfighter, having four lengths to spare at the turn in 11.92, looks the one that can advance from the second quarter. 

Silent Storm, who came in from the reserves to replace Needham Date, seized the opportunity to lead Your Spot On seven lengths at the turn in a time of 12.01, and is another who must come into the reckoning. 

Five O Five, another one of the long-odds fancies, got over his opening course over Dobbseys Boy, but after being three lengths clear, it was close at the top as the winner drifted a little off line.

The Derby runner Ballymac Awil strengthens Dowling’s hand for outright honours after his display in the fourth quarter, where he easily disposed of Jiving Intherain, five lengths separating the pair in a straight run in 11.99. 

Mallory Park beaten by Awil in the quarter final of The Derby looks his biggest danger after proving five lengths too good for Gunship in his opening course in a time of 12. 07 but on all known form, Ballymac should confirm the Clonmel result and advance to the semi-finals.

With another five rounds to complete it is all to play for before the destination of the €32,500 purse winner will be known.

Irish Cup results: 1st Round. 

1st Quarter: Sweat The Asset 4l bt De Seventh Pious. Estocada 3l bt. Res A Ballinveala Finn. Awaiting Trial 2l bt Suspicious Minds. Coomebowen Chase 2l bt Kilkeale Touch. Magical Titan 8l bt Master Tactician. Machiavelli L/L bt Trigger Trixie. Moyle Alonzo 4l bt Salzburg. Warship 2l bt Syndi Sir Jim.

2nd Quarter: Stickmein L/L bt Gunfighter. Mardine Hawk 3l bt Sean Ogs Wonder. Five O Five 1l bt Dobbseys Boy. Faraway Fields 1l bt Fun Inthe Field. Coverbridge 2l bt Cuban Bowie. Kerry Craft bt Callaway Pat (looser Uns.). Silent Storm (Res B) 7l bt. Your Spot On. Typical Magic (Res C) 6l bt. Skeane Magic.

3rd Quarter: Ashmore Mac 4l bt Mr.Trendsetter. Challenger Deep 1l bt Good Energy. Central Giver 1l bt Gone to Strand. Balymac Loral J.U bt Mungos General. Cooga Magic 6l bt. Happy Walking. Bridge House 1/2l bt En Seventeen. A Bitta Luck 6l bt Lone Missile. Sparkplug Kerry 5l bt. Chubbys Max.

4th Quarter: Farmer Phil 5l bt Eadan Doire. Ballymac Awil 5l bt JivingIntherain. Ravin Hill 4l bt Urker Challenge. Mango 4l bt Townspark Oisin. Ballinaboola Cha 2l bt Return to Racing. My Town 2l.bt Lisahally. Mallory Park 5l bt Gunship. Mungos Mariner 1l bt Pest Control.

Irish Purse survivors after 1st rd: Good Energy, Pest Control, Urker Challenge, Suspicious Minds, Callaway Pat, Kilkeale Touch, Skeane Magic, Jiving Intherain, Trigger Trixie, Happy Walking, Salzburg, Mr. Trendsetter, Return to Racing, Sean Ogs Wonder, Gunship.

Champion Working Members Stake, survivors after 1st rd: Woodpark Jewel, Lady Lil, Hey Fergie, Sheeraghs Snowie, Citizen Banner, Honey Paddy, Glorious Rock, Rathduff Luca.