Blades of Glory romps to Limerick Cup success in Rathkeale

THE Limerick Cup was the feature of a two-day card held at Enniscouch Meadows in Rathkeale last weekend where conditions underfoot were heavy owing to the torrential rain in the week leading up to the event.

The locally owned reigning Derby champion Blades of Fire (Adios Alonso/Blades Of Glory) was the star attraction among the field of 16 that went to post for the feature event which carried a winner’s purse of €1,500. Having demolished the opposition to land the Island Cup at Castleisland four weeks ago, the Jerry Holian trained runner opened the short priced 1/3 favourite to prevail on his home turf. He faced little resistance enroute to the final with the Mary Guiney owned runner progressing through the rounds by wide winning margins.

He faced an unlikely challenger in the final as 14/1 long-odds shot Winter Streak (Ballymac Best/Winter Mountain), owned and trained in Mungret by Pat Horgan came through from the bottom half of the draw to contest the deciding buckle. The challenger was simply outclassed by his more illustrious opponent in the final course as Blades took the opening score by a comfortable 8 lengths.

Duarigle Debbie (Adios Alonso/Duarigle Magic) who had one previous run in the opening round at Loughrea broke her maiden tag in All Aged company at the second time of asking. She proved to be a class above her rivals in the Rathkeale House Hotel sponsored All Aged Bitch Stake.

Owned by the New York Boys Syndicate from Connecticut, USA, the Newcastlewest Trial Stake winner was taken on a tour of the Enniscouch Meadows by a roguish hare following the opening score of her fourlength opening round defeat of Classical Magic. However, the 42 second handicap was of little hindrance to the Holian trained runner on finals day and a 3 ½ length defeat of the Antoinette O’Connell (Abbeydorney) owned Shes With Us (Mafi Magic/ Skibabbey lady) in the final confirmed her superiority over her rivals.

Portobanus (Adios Alonso/ Winter Watch) claimed the Derby ticket for the local Enright-Lenihan Syndicate. Sporting the white collar throughout the Stake, the June puppy began his campaign at odds of 3/1 in the long odds market. He produced eye catching displays on the opening day to account for Homestead West (unsighted) and Blastoff Glory (4l) to head the overnight market at 5/4.

The withdrawal of Kilkeale Magic on Sunday morning saw the Holian runner’s price shorten significantly into 2/5 and he justified these odds to reach the final with relative comfort. Connections must have felt apprehensive when he got left in slips in the final against the Martin Mulcahy owned Charleville runner Rathfort Wonder (NewInn Wonder/Areyoureadynow), however he quickly made up a two-length deficit to take the opening score by 2 ½ lengths.

Litter comrade Could Be Queen (Adios Alonso/ Winter Watch) collected her Oaks ticket at the fourth time of asking having previously had outings at Regional, Mallow and most recently Ballyduff where she bowed out in the third round to eventual winner Bridewell Kit.

She faced the ‘talking bitch’ and long odds 6/4 favourite, Blades Of Magic, in her opening course, but the John Lenihan, from Mountcollins, trained runner bellied her long odds mark of 8/1, making all and repelling a late challenge to win through by half a length.

Priced 5/2 amongst eight overnight survivors, she accounted for Limerick Gaels (3l) and Barrack Navy (4l) to progress to the final where she was as short as 1/4 to succeed against the Dream Big Syndicate owned Count Tondonia (Razor Ashmore/Amys View) from the Ardfert kennels of William Costello.

The winner was quickly into her stride in the final buckle and opened a lead which extended to two lengths at the first score of 2. Owned by the Aspiring Syndicate she joins her litter brother at a mark of 20/1 for Classic success.

The O’Carroll O’Connor Cup is the feature of this weekend’s card in Lixnaw. The three day meeting gets underway on Friday with the opening rounds of the Derby and Oaks Trial Stakes. First brace in slips at 11.30 each day.