Girls lead local challenge at National Coursing meeting

Following a typically competitive qualifying campaign across the coursing fields of Ireland, the 97th National Coursing Meeting takes place at Powerstown Park in Clonmel from Sunday 5th to Tuesday 7th February where the 2023 Horse & Jockey Oaks will house local aspirations for classic victory.

Feverishly competitive in the pursuit of Trial Stake success in recent seasons, the kennels of trainer Pat Lee return to the festival for another tilt at Oaks glory and following a remarkable week of competition in the early part of the season, the Roscrea kennels added a Reserve Trial Stake winner at Freshford to the impressive Trial Stale victory of Glenbeha Girl (Crafty Gonzalo/Blazing Hope) at Ballinagar on the final weekend in October.

A second outing for the March 2021 pup, Glen Loughnane & Pat Dalton’s Glenbeha Girl had impressed when reaching semi-final stage of a hot Glin qualifier just three weeks previous when only succumbing to the highly touted subsequent Newcastlewest winner Silent Angel. Building on that promising first experience, the Lee trained prospect immediately claimed the favourite tag following her Saturday first-round victory in the 16-runner event at Ballinagar.

Contested on the grounds of Old Kilcullen, she opened her second day of competition with defeat of fellow Roscrea challenger Percys Crew at quarterfinal stage before registering a smart line of form when proving a length too good for subsequent Gorey qualifier Ta Ellen in a warm semi clash.

Holding her form extremely well through the event, Glenbeha Girl was thoroughly tested at final stage as Choctaw Chick pushed the Lee winner all the way in a tight buckle but displaying impressive resolve in addition to her obvious pace, Glenbeha Girl ably defended a half-length winning margin for a popular victory at a regular venue for all connected.

Adding further substance to her smart victory, final opponent Choctaw Chick was another who would go on to claim Trial Stake success when qualifying for the Oaks at Dundalk and the victory of Glenbeha Girl became more and more impressive as the season progressed. Currently chalked up at 33/1 for the festival, she is certainly amongst the most attractive runners of the meeting at those lengthy odds and one further source of confidence before facing the most testing coursing gallop of all is that Glenbeha Girl was at least as fast in final victory as she was in her semi-final, a highly encouraging and resilient trait required for Powerstown Park.

Just three days later, the Lee kennels were back in winning form at the midweek Freshford meeting in early November where young owners Jayden Loughnane & Ciara Fox saw their Claradeen (Blades Of Hope/Graigues Legacy) progress from her semi-final outing at Cashel to claim a reserve entry for the Oaks in a sixteen-runner event. Currently fifth reserve for the classic having enjoyed little luck in that draw, Claradeen’s participation at the festival is most likely to be within the Kitty Butler Oaks Consolation Stake on the opening evening.

Love in the air at Borrisoleigh

Having drawn praise from all quarters for another wonderfully presented renewal of their annual St Stephen’s Day meeting, the highlight for regular patrons at Borrisoleigh this season was victory in the Oaks Trial Stake for the popular father and son combination of Robert & Michael Moloney with their Sayitwithlove (Wi Can Riki/Toss A Coin).

Having caught the eye with a fast opening-round victory on debut at Westmeath, the May 2021 pup suffered shock early defeats in a trio of outings before arriving to Borrisoleigh for one final qualifying effort. Clearly finding timely progression while one of the younger festival runners, the Moloney charge used her experience to perfect effect when a smart winner of both courses on the opening day of the 24-runner event.

Defeating Roscrea counterpart Cois Na Habhann at quarter final stage, Sayitwithlove ensured a valuable semi-final bye course from the bottom half of the draw but presenting fresh for her final task, the Moloney winner greatly impressed in a strong running final victory, drawing clear in the latter half of the course for a commanding three-length score.

An outsider for the Oaks at 50/1, Sayitwithlove nonetheless retains as much scope for progression as any in the event and her final performance suggests that she may well relish the longer stretch at Powerstown Park.