Clonmel will be the mecca for coursing followers from all over the country this weekend

Clonmel will be a hive of activity for the Bank Holiday weekend, as the National Coursing Meeting takes place at Powerstown Park Racecourse on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, February 3-5, kicking off on Saturday morning with the opening rounds of the BoyleSports Derby and the Horse and Jockey Hotel Oaks.

Coursing starts at 11am each morning and the total prize fund is €208,000.

An on-course betting shop will be available for anyone wishing to watch the horse racing from the Dublin Festival.

Throughout the autumn and winter, since the last days of September 2023 until just a couple of weeks ago, coursing clubs throughout the country held trial stakes and all-age cups, with greyhounds competing to qualify for this weekend, the holy grail of coursing for owners and trainers.

The annual National Coursing Meeting brings a huge financial benefit to the town and surrounding areas and this year’s expected bumper attendance will see hotels, restaurants and pubs in Clonmel and neighbouring towns enjoying a welcome boost in trade.

Running in conjunction with the National Coursing Meeting, Clonmel Greyhound Stadium are providing greyhound racing over the three days, with racing commencing each night at 7.30pm.

The annual Rural Kennels Open Unraced Stake, sponsored by well-known local woman Helen O’Dwyer, has in recent years seen some of the country’s top youngsters start their careers and go on to compete in major classics for the remainder of the year.
This year’s entry is no different, with this competition the highlight of Sunday night’s racing and a big attendance is expected, with some superb performances in the heats.

County Kerry maestro Liam Dowling’s Ballymac runners top the betting for both coursing classics, with Ballymac Sports at 3/1 for the Derby while Ballymaccallaway in the Oaks is similarly priced. However, quite a few locals will be bidding to upset the odds.

James Morrissey and Maria O’Sullivan from Cahir have a small kennel on the Mountain Road in the town and over the last number of years they have enjoyed considerable success in both the Oaks and Derby in Clonmel. Last year, after winning the Scully Cup at the Knockgraffon Open with Party Belle, they went on to win the All-Ireland Open at Newbridge.

This year, from just four runners, they have two competing at the National Meeting. Having won the Derby Trial Stake at Freshford with Party Smokey (Drive On Smokey-Blessing), priced at 25/1, who runs in the Boylesports Derby, they also have Party Tom (Crafty Gonzalo-Blessing) competing in the Champion Stakes.

Party Tom ran up for the Barron Cup at Knockgraffon and subsequently won both the Delaney Cup at Rathdowney and the Premier Cup at Templetuohy, putting him top of the points table in this year’s Champion Stakes.

The Guilfoyles from Borrisoleigh have Magical Fionn (Kyle Mozart-Magical Sonia, 20/1) in the Derby and Magical Amelie (Blades Of Hope-Magical Misty, 20/1) in the Oaks. Pat and Sandra are no strangers to classic success and will be well prepared for this challenge.

Crohane, Killenaule man Tom Simpson and his wife Kathleen have Crohane Rhapsody (Kyle Mozart-Corbraighe Belle) running in the Derby.

Trained by Declan Byrne outside Carrick-on-Suir, he overcame the disappointment of losing the final at Crohane and Killenaule and went to Enniscorthy to collect his ticket. He is priced at 25/1.

Tipperary town trainer Thomas O’Donovan is training two dogs in the Derby for Gavin Johns, Capablanka (Newinn Wonder-Knockout Pearl, 20/1) and litter brother Alekhine (20/1). Thomas said he cannot wait, as his runners are in perfect form.

Above: Trainers David Flanagan (centre) and Margaret Barrett of Fethard, and Martin Ryan, with their Oaks qualifiers Crescent Magic (left) and Canya Wonder (right)

Rosegreen trainer Kevin Barry has Brindle Mozart (Kyle Mozart-Iberostar, 25/1) for the In The Slips Syndicate.
He also has Tree Top Tyson (Newinn Wonder-Tree Top Kerry), jointly owned with David Lonergan of Cahir, who runs in the Champion Stakes, having won the Denis Leen Cup at Kilflynn and the Tipperary Cup at Clonmel and Kilsheelan.

He was withdrawn from the final of Abbeyfeale’s prestigious Corn na Féile All-Age Cup but is highly fancied to take another Champion Stakes for connections.

Kevin also handles Linden Panache (Kyle Mozart-Linden Lucy), Lasting Beauty (Kyle Mozart-Jumeirah Glory) and Noonan Wonder (Howdododo-Buggies Rose) in the Oaks and they will all be well prepared for the challenge.

New Inn trainer Owen McKenna has Catunda Lauren (Kyle Mozart-Breska Light) for the Kilmardinny Syndicate, running in the Grace and Matt Bruton Champion Bitch Stake.

Her epic battle in the 2023 Oaks semi-final with Ballymac Zena, the eventual winner, was for many the highlight of last year’s meeting. She went down to Castleisland to take on the Oaks winner this year again in the All-Age Bitch Stake, reversing the result, and came to home soil in Knockgraffon to collect the All-Age Bitch Stake and her place in Clonmel. She will be quite a few people’s fancy to lift this year’s Champion Bitch Stake.

Local trainer David Flanagan trains two runners in the Horse and Jockey Hotel Oaks. Firstly, he has Crescent Magic (Boylesportsmagic-Ballymac Amber), who won her Trial Stake in Ennis-Clarecastle back in October and gave a very good account of herself in north Kilkenny in older company after that. Crescent Magic at 20/1 is owned by Martin Ryan, a true coursing man from Templetuohy and a specialist in hare husbandry.

David, who trains from the Sunset Kennels in Fethard with his wife Margaret Barrett, also has Canya Wonder (Newinn Wonder-Present Moment), owned by Imelda and David Sinclair from Golden. She collected her ticket at Templetuohy after a busy campaign and is priced at 30/1.

Both bitches will be in pristine order coming from a kennel topping the trainers’ list at Thurles track recently.