Half the Odds kicks off career in best possible manner

HALF The Odds (Thomas The Tank/Call Posie) kicked of his All-Age career in the best possible fashion when claiming the Desmond Cup at Glin last weekend.

The winner showed huge potential as a pup last term; however he failed to land a Derby ticket in a luckless puppy campaign. The Kevin Barry trained runner was 5/1 with the long-odds layers prior to coursing on Saturday morning and he got his campaign underway with a half a length win over Tree Top Nidge.

He easily got the better of Some littlestar (2 ½l) in the second run down the card and was the 4/1 second favourite when the competition resumed on Sunday morning.

Long odds favourite, Crafty Gonzalo set the fastest clocks through the opening day’s action and justified his even-money tag facing into the quarter-final stage.

Half The Odds progressed with a comfortable two length success over Creamery Wonder to set up a semi-final buckle against All The Music.

The latter was always on the back foot as Half The Odds made a swift exit from slips and extended his advantage on the rising ground.

All the Music never looked comfortable off the white collar and was two and-a-half lengths behind at the opening turn. Crafty Gonzalo was expected to progress with ease from the second semi-final against Seamus Alainn however he was led for much of the course and a major shock looked extremely likely as he trailed at the mid-point.

However, he rallied hard on the rising ground and swept to the front in the dying strides to take the flag by a half length. This was to be Crafty’s last course in the Cup as he was subsequently withdrawn due to injury, with Half The Odds being declared the winner.

The Derby Trial Stake got underway on Friday and just four remained in the hunt for honours by Sunday morning. Vals Image, from the Ballymac kennels of Bridget Leen had impressed throughout the Stake and was the 6/4 second favourite with two rounds remaining.

Vals Image dug deep to repel the challenge of Glenvalley Hero by half a length in the opening semi-final, while there was a big shock in the second semi-final as long odds favourite Killacolla Rio never looked at the races against the pacey Do It Barney (Adios Alonso/Kincora Chubbys).

Owned and trained in Donegal by Ray White, Do It Barney was sent to slips at odds of 1/4 to collect in the final. However, Vals Image was first to show and appeared well in control of the course approaching halfway. Do It Barney began to close the deficit as they approached their game and in the dying strides snatched victory from the Kerry runner in a just-up decision.

Pumpkin Abbie (Razor Ashmore/Pumpkin Aviva) heads the new Oaks market at 14/1 as she collected her Trial Stake ticket in impressive fashion over the weekend.

Owned by Marie Thompson, the Abbeyfeale runner caught the eye from the opening round and arrived in the final with the minimum of fuss.

She was the warm favourite going to slips against Skellig Shine and she duly obliged in a dominant display which resulted in a two and-a-half length success.

A January pup, the winner was the most impressive winner of the weekend and will be on many people’s short-list for classic honours.

There was a dramatic finish to the final of the All Age Bitch Stake as local runner, Corbraighe Holly, went to slips with the favourite Satriani (Razor Ashmore/Quality and Dash).

A winding hare appeared to take Corbraighe Holly off to the far side of the field, however as the bunny veered back to its original path the advantage swung in the direction of the favourite and she drove on to take the flag by two lengths. The winner is trained by Barry Lynch and owned by the Carrigdoun Syndicate.

Finally, Bexhill River (Adios Alonso/City Beauty) proved best in the Glin Derby for the John Barrett/Conor Sheehan partnership, beating Killacolla Tank by half a length in the deciding course. Patrick Fitzgearld provided the winner of the Glin Oaks as Offshore View (March Is On/ Joint Account) had a comfortable four and-a-half lengths win over Stormy pearl to claim the local bragging rights.

Ballyheigue Coursing meeting gets underway on Friday with the opening rounds of the 48 dog Derby Trial Stake.