GENERAL SPORT
Dungarvan Observer | Friday, 4 April, 2014
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Talking Horses Upcoming Fixtures Leopardstown – Wednesday, 2nd April (First Race 3:40) Clonmel – Thursday, 3rd April (First Race 4:10) Dundalk – Friday, 4th April (First Race 6:15) Gowran Park – Saturday, 5th April (First Race 1:50) Cork – Sunday, 6th April (First Race 1:55) Fairyhouse – Sunday, 6th April (First Race 2:10) Limerick – Wednesday, 9th April (First Race TBC)
Bracelet looks a top prospect at Leopardstown THE Group 3 Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes was the feature race on Sunday’s card at Leopardstown and it produced a very promising winning performance from the Aidan O’Brien-trained Bracelet. The daughter of Montjeu quickened up impressively to prevail by a length under
Joseph O’Brien and looks to be a live Classic contender. Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen were the team to follow on the remainder of the card, combining with Go For Goal to win the Listed Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes and Fascinating Rock to win the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes.
Slipper Orchid scores at Dundalk THE most valuable contest at Dundalk on Friday evening was the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap and it produced a bunch finish with the Mick Halford-trained Slipper Orchid coming out on top. The five-year-old missed the break, but was delivered with a well-timed challenge
to lead inside the final furlong and prevail by ¾-length under Damien Melia. The pick of the rest of the action on the card was the Happy Mother's Day Weekend At Dundalk Stadium Median Auction Maiden and it was the Charlie Swan-trained I’Vegotafeeling that prevailed by a length under Billy Lee.
Qipco to sponsor Irish Champion Stakes QIPCO Holding and Horse Racing Ireland have announced a new three-year sponsorship agreement for the Irish Champion Stakes, to be run at Leopardstown on Saturday, September 13th 2014. It will be the feature race on day one of the new Irish Champions Weekend, which places two iconic racing fixtures, the Irish Champion Stakes and the Irish St. Leger, back-to-back on September 13th and 14th at Leopardstown and the Curragh respec-
tively. The prize-fund for this year’s QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes will be €1,000,000, a significant increase on the 2013 figure of €750,000. QIPCO Holding, current sponsors of British Champions Day at Ascot and other major British races, is one of the leading private investment companies in Qatar, owned by six brothers who are members of the Royal Family of Qatar.
Bog Warrior (left) and Paul Carberry out battle Baily Green (right) to win the Webster Cup Chase Navan.
[Patrick McCann]
Bog Warrior stars at Navan THE Grade 2 Webster Cup Chase was the main event at Navan on Saturday and it was the Tony Martin-trained Bog Warrior that scooped the pot. Tony Martin’s talented 10-yearold was given an excellent ride by Paul Carberry and having been delivered to lead before the final flight, he ground out a
Halford strikes at Meydan WHILE most of Ireland’s biggest guns failed to fire on the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan on Saturday, Mick Halford ensured that the Irish got on the score sheet by saddling Certerach to secure success in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup. Jamie Spencer delivered the six-year-old with a potent late challenge to prevail by a neck.
three lengths victory. Elsewhere on the card, Davy Russell was in double form, winning the Annual Family Day 18th May Maiden Hurdle on the Robbie Burns-trained Baby King and the navanracecourse.ie Novice Chase on the Willie Mullins-trained Mozoltov.
Rebel Fitz makes winning return at Cork MICK Winters’ highly-popular performer Rebel Fitz was the star attraction at Cork on Thursday and he didn’t let down his supporters. Ridden by Barry Geraghty, the nine-year-old hit the front before the penultimate flight and surged clear to score by 10 lengths. The most valuable race on the card was the UCC Horse Racing Society Handicap Hurdle and it saw the Daniel Murphy-trained Bothair Clei take the spoils by a head under Philip Enright.
Point to Point Fixture List 2014
Certerach (Jamie Spencer) beats Cavalryman (Silvestre de Sousa) in the Dubai Gold Cup Dubai.
[Edward Whitaker]
APRIL Sat 5th Co. Down (S) Derrydrummuck, Loughbrickland, Co. Down. L/H Sun 6th Louth (F) Rathnestin, Tallanstown, Co. Louth. L/H Sun 6th Suirvale (H) Fairyhill, Templemore, Co. Tipperary. R/H Sun 6th United Hunt (F) Ballynoe Garryanne, Killavorilla, Kilclare, Cork. R/H Sun 6th Westmeath (F) Castletown-Geoghegan, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. L/H Sat 12th Tipperary (F) Lisronagh, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. L/H Sun 13th Ballymacad (F) Newcastle, Oldcastle, Co. Meath. L/H Sun 13th Duhallow (F) Dromahane, Mallow, Co. Cork. L/H Sun 13th Limerick (F) Kilmallock Bulgaden, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick. R/H Wed 16th Killeagh (H) Inch Ballyanthony, Tallow, Co. Cork. R/H Sun 20th Co. Clare (H) Dromoland at Quakerstown Boston, Co. Clare. L/H Sun 20th Laois (F) Stradbally Hall, Stradbally, Co. Laois. R/H Sun 20th Waterford (F) Ballydurn, Portlaw, Co. Waterford. L/H Mon 21st East Antrim (H) Loughanmore, Dunadry, Co. Antrim. L/H Tues 22nd East Antrim (H) Loughanmore, Dunadry, Co. Antrim. L/H Sat 26th Killeady (H) at Dromahane, Mallow, Co. Cork. L/H Sat 26th Mid Antrim (H) Moneyglass, Toomebridge, Co. Antrim. L/H Sun 27th Doneraile (F) at Dromahane, Mallow, Co. Cork. L/H Sun 27th Meath (F) & Tara (H) Tattersalls Farm, Fairyhouse, Co. Meath. R/H
Gordon Lord Byron Scores In Australia THERE was a sensational Irish success in Australia on Saturday morning with the Tom Hogan-trained Gordon Lord Byron winning the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes. The Tipperary-based handler sent the six-year-old over in recent weeks and local rider Craig Williams delivered him late and fast to score by a head and record a famous victory for Ireland.
Mullins doubles up at Limerick CHAMPION Trainer Willie Mullins took centre stage at Limerick on Sunday, completing a double that included the featured Grade 2 Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase with Touch The Eden. Ridden by Paul Townend, the seven-year-old was never far from the lead and ground out a 2½ lengths success. The other Mullins win came in the Listed Kevin McManus Bookmaker Champion INH Flat Race with Aminabad recording an authoritative length victory under Patrick Mullins.