Silent Whisper books Derby ticket for Nolans

Abbeyfeale meeting

THE Corn Na Feile meeting at Abbeyfeale has always being among the highlights of the coursing calendar each season and this seasons renewal certainly lived up to its billing with huge crowds descending on the Club grounds over the two days of action.

The Corn Na Feile Derby was the feature event on the card and attracted an exceptional entry with some leading fancies for this season’s Classic at the National meeting amongst the elite field of 16. Silent Whisper (NewInn Wonder/ Silent Belle) was a leading hope for the event having collected his Derby ticket at the Galway/ Oranmore meeting back in mid November. He opened his campaign with a three-length success over the Paudie Lyons trained Zizu and was priced up the 6/4 second favourite prior to the quarter-final round. The Mossie O’Connor trained runner easily accounted for Tin Man to progress to the last 4, and a twolength success over Touchstone ensured passage through to the final buckle.

Outoftheshadow enhanced his growing reputation as he cruised through the rounds and posting some blistering clocks in the process. It came as no surprise when the Kevin Barry trained runner was chalked up as the 1/5 favourite to prevail in the deciding course. However, Silent Whisper had been the model of consistency through the competition and was not without his supporters who availed of the generous odds of 5/2 for the deciding buckle.

Silent Whisper was quickly out of the blocks in the final and within strides had pulled clear of his rival. He maintained his advantage as the pair raced on the rising ground in pursuit of a game hare. Outoftheshadow was all out in his effort to reel in the leader but he could never quiet get of terms and the resilient Silent Whisper pulled a half length clear in the closing strides to shift the running path of their game and claim a famous victory for the Nolan family from Castleisland, who both own and bred this exciting youngster. Following his weekend exploits, Silent Whisper is now best priced 10/1 for Derby success.

There was further success for Castleisland owned runners as Coolavanny Juno (Coolavanny Bingo/ Silent Belle) laid claim to the Derby ticket following a 2 ½ length victory over Dream Of Spring in the deciding course. The winner, who is owned and trained by Noel Browne, had four previous outings this season with his most impressive showing coming last time out when reaching the semi-final stage at Bandon. The May whelp enters the Derby market at 25/1.

Blades of Fire continued on his amazing run of success as he yet again proved unstoppable when landing the Corn Na Feile All Age event. Owned by Mary Guiney, from Rathkeale, the Derby winner will no doubt return to the National Meeting in mid-Febuary as a short priced favourite for the Champion Stakes. He was smartly away from slips in the final against the Donal O’Connell/ Batt Heapy owned StraightLegs, and held a fourlength advantage at the opening score. Consolation for connections of the runner will come in the fact that the points earned at Abbeyfeale will almost certainly be enough to qualify the David Slattery Ballyduff trained bitch for this season’s Champion Bitch Stake at the National meeting.

Graigues Legacy (NewInn Wonder/ Crossbound), a kennel companion of Blades of Fire emerged victorious in the Corn Na Feile Oaks and secure a double on the card for Athenry trainer Jerry Holian. The Oaks Qualifier from Old Kicullen justified odds of 1/3 in the final course as she led from slips and comfortably defeated Cill Ide Bliss by three lengths in the deciding buckle. She now sits at odds of 14/1 for Oaks glory.

Finally, Hows Mrs Foley (Adios Alonso/ Blades Of Steel) upset the odds in the final of the Oaks Trial Stake as she rallied late to deny the well supported Emphatic by a length. The loser had been well backed prior to coursing on the final morning however she failed to withstand the late challenge of How Mrs Foley who swooped late for victory following a sluggish start. The winner is owned by James Lowe and Ger Kerins from Grange, Co. Limerick and enters the Oaks betting at 33/1.