At the time of writing, the Cheltenham festival is almost upon us and local trainers were to the forefront at last Thursday’s Clonmel meeting with Dungarvan-based handler John Queally saddling Ancient Days to oblige in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden Hurdle. The Daylami-sired Ancient...
Author: Neil O Donnell
Facile win for Sizing Europe
Facile win for Sizing Europe
There was just racemeeting in this country last week and that was Sunday’s (February 3rd) Punchestown fixture. All eyes were focused on Sizing Europe in the Grade 2 Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase over two miles and Henry de Bromhead’s stable star didn’t disappoint for he had little difficulty in justifying 1/8...
Festival wins for Grant, Flynn and Doyle
Festival wins for Grant, Flynn and Doyle
Danny Grant, Pat Flynn and Eoin Doyle are no strangers to the winners’ enclosure at Tramore and the trio enjoyed further success during the four day August Festival which concluded on Sunday. Grant was one of four jockeys to record two winners over the course of the four days (Davy Condon, Andrew McNamara and Gary...
Trainer Pat Flynn storms to Galway glory
Trainer Pat Flynn storms to Galway glory
As a racehorse trainer, Pat Flynn’s skills know no bounds and the Co Waterford handler was the toast of local punters at last week’s Galway festival following the success of his horse Bahrain Storm in the €250,000 Arthur Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle on Thursday, July 30th. If that wasn’t good...
John Queally-trained Elyaadi among Meath front-runners
John Queally-trained Elyaadi among Meath front-runners
The summer festival circuit commences on Thursday as the first stage of Bellewstown’s three-day meeting kicks off at the Co Meath venue at 5.45pm. David Myerscough’s filly Signore Momento appeals as the best bet of the entire evening in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction...
Shaimaa stands out at Gowran Park
Shaimaa stands out at Gowran Park
The flat season is really beginning to heat up in earnest now and on Thursday evening, there’s an all-flat card at Gowran Park. Proceedings commence at 5.30pm and Shaimaa stands out in the Gowran Park Golf Race Evening Handicap. The ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained six-year-old has won her two most recent...
Paco Boy tipped for Group 1 at Newbury
Paco Boy tipped for Group 1 at Newbury
The Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury is always a fiercely-fought race and this Saturday’s renewal at the popular Berkshire course should prove to be no exception. Richard Hannon has experienced a fine start to the season and the Wiltshire handler should continue his fine campaign courtesy of Paco Boy. A...
Viewing options galore
Viewing options galore
Armchair racing fans are particularly well catered for this Saturday as they will have no less than four televised British meetings to choose from. All eyes will be focused on Lingfield for the Group 3 totesport.com Derby Trial Stakes. John Gosden has enjoyed a terrific start to the season, even if his much-heralded...
Sea The Stars should shine in Newmarket classic
Sea The Stars should shine in Newmarket classic
The first British Classic of the season takes place at Newmarket this Saturday in the form of the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas Stakes and John Oxx’s Sea The Stars could prove capable of springing a mild surprise in this one-mile contest. A half-brother to the mighty Galileo, Sea The Stars had three outings as a...
Church Island for big one at Sandown
Church Island for big one at Sandown
The final high-profile race of the 2008/09 British jumps season takes place at Sandown this Saturday in the form of the Grade 3 bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase, the race formerly known as the Whitbread Gold Cup. It could well pay to side with Church Island in this extended three mile five furlong event. The Michael...
Halley’s Boxing Along proves clever choice at Ballydurn Point-to-Point
Halley’s Boxing Along proves clever choice at Ballydurn Point-to-Point
All roads led to Ollie and Olga Carroll’s well-situated farm at Ballydurn outside Kilmacthomas on Easter Sunday for the Waterford Foxhounds’ annual point-to-point fixture. Whilst there were some 13 races and 174 individual runners, the vast majority of local interest centered on the confined maiden. A...
Gowran Park on Saturday
Gowran Park on Saturday
On Saturday there’s racing at Gowran Park, while the flat season re-opens in earnest at The Curragh on Sunday, whereas others will be travelling to Cork that day as well. At Gowran Park, the Willie Mullins-trained Apt Approach cannot be realistically opposed in the Come On Ireland Novice Hurdle. A former...