DAY 1

The Muskerry Hunt staged the first of their two-day fixtures at the ever-dependable Dromahane on Sunday last. The rapidly drying ground prior to the meet going ahead forced the hand of the committee into “watering” the track, and to their credit they did a great job and their efforts were well rewarded as 104 beasties contested 9 races.

Paul Power complimented his Lisronagh treble with a Dromahane double both of whom are trained by Vincent Halley. Power got off the mark with Boxing Along (5/4-7/4-5/4) who prevailed by a neck and a short head in an ultra competitive eleven runner Open Lightweight. In front over the last the 9 year old progeny of Witness Box had to battle right to the death to deny Klassy (7-10) Liam Carroll along with Sir Frederick (3-6) and Johnny Burke. The Power/Malley brace was completed by 6/1 shot Dusty Miller who too prevailed by a neck in the first split of the 6-year-old geldings maiden.

The winner, a debutante progeny of Cloudings was produced by Power to tackle the Turlough O’Connor partnered Coursing Ben (4-8) going to the last. Both took this well and in a drive to the death it was Dusty Miller who prevailed by a neck. Form students got a result in the winners of one as the Tim Townend trained Dr Pat Massini (8-4) who under a stylish James Joyce drive sluiced up by 3L from Paddocks Lounge (9/4-3) and James Carroll. Joyce had the eventual winner in the van from flag fall and this imposing son of Dr Massini was never unduly troubled going in by 3L at the death.

Ken Budds sent out Oonagh K (7/2-6) to sluice up by 4L in the first split of the mares maiden. Partnered by Gerry Mangan the daughter Bach was in control at the penultimate obstacle and from here the result was never in doubt as she coasted home some 4L clear of Windy Roe (5-7) the mount of Kevin Sheehan.

Earlier in the day Mangan had opened his account in the opening 4 year old mares maiden as he teamed up with the Tom Cooper trained Loch Ard Lady (5/2-5) who went in by 2L. Third on her debut at Lisronagh the striking looking daughter of Heron Island was sent to the front from the drop of the flag and subsequently was never headed or troubled coming home 2L clear and eased down with the Robert James partnered Midnight Jade (4-8) in the bridesmaid position.

ONE TO FOLLOW – Landecker (Liam Burke)

This progeny of Craigsteel made his debut here and having been hunted around for most of the trip before staying on resolutely from two out eventually going down by 3½L and granted nominal improvement should be one to keep on side.

RESULTS

4-YEAR-OLD MARES MAIDEN

1 Loch Ard Lady – G Mangan. 2 Midnight Jade – R James (11.2). 3 Definite Row – T P Fogarty (11.2) 4 Millyrembrandt – E P O’Brien. Distance: 2L, 1L, 5L (12 ran) (Tom Cooper).

5-YEAR-OLD GELDING MAIDEN – Division 1

1 Rocky Island – D Queally. 2 Young Qc – C J Sweeney. 3 Landecker – J J Burke (11.9). 4 Hill of Gold – PS Kiely (11.9). Distance: ½L, 3L, 1½L (11 ran) (Louis Archdeacon).

5-YEAR-OLD GELDING MAIDEN – Division 2

1 Forget And Forgive – MJ O’Connor. 2 Vanguard – JC Barry. 3 Rock Paper Scissors – J B Joyce (11.9). 4 Willsani – J W Hannon. Distance: 3L, 2½L, 14L (11 ran) (John O’Shaughnessy).

OPEN LIGHTWEIGHT

1 Boxing Along – P Power. 2 Klassy – L O’Carroll (11.9). 3 Sir Frederick – JJ Burke (11.9). 4 Most Chaste – R A Latta (11.4). Distance: Nk, Shhd, 5L (11 ran) (Vincent Halley).

6-YEAR-OLD GELDING MAIDEN – Division 1

1 Dusty Miller – P Power. 2 Coursing Ben – T O’Connor (11.9). 3 Excitable Island – G Mangan. 4 Classic Jewel – EP O’Brien. Distance: Nk, 6L, Nk (12 ran) (Vincent Halley).

6-YEAR-OLD GELDING MAIDEN – Division 2

1 Bendala Bleu – MJ O’Connor. 2 Tick Tock Tim – P Power. 3 Come Follow Me – JC Barry. 4 Atm Dara Born – Pa King. Distance: 1L, 8L, 5L (11 ran) (Brian Hassett).

WINNERS OF ONE

1 Dr Pat Massini – JB Joyce ((11.9). 2 Paddocks Lounge – JT Carroll. 3 Cork Citizen – CW Fennessy. 4 Redpender – D Skehan. Distance: 3L, ½L, 5L (10 ran) (Timmy Townend).

6-YEAR-OLD AND UP MARES MAIDEN – Division 1

1 Oonagh K – G Mangan. 2 Windy Roe – KC Sheehan (11.9). 3 Catherines Angel – MJ O’Connor. 4 Definite Choice – R Harding. Distance: 4L, Shhd, ½L (14 ran) (Ken Budds).

6-YEAR-OLD AND UP MARES MAIDEN – Division 2

1 Samantha Jones – R Harding. 2 Beepers Milan – S Tierney. 3 A Great Start – J Joyce (11.9). 4 Team Effort – J Hurley (11.9). Distance: 12L, 3L, 5L (12 ran) (Eileen Cotter).