IRISH POINTING WEEKLY REVIEW
BY DECLAN PHELAN
Week Seven - Tallow and Belharbour (10/2/2002)

Two meetings were held this weekend at Tallow in West Waterford & a new venue at Belharbour in County Clare. 

Tallow
As usual this venue on trainer Jimmy Mangan's land provided quality racing, with 8 races held, many of which are bound to throw up future racecourse winners.

The opening confined hunt was the weakest race of the day, but the locals were not complaining after Jimmy Mangan's See More Hicks (7 Seymour Hicks) just held off the persistent challenge of Sean Aherne's mare Davs Delight (7 Be My N) at the generous odds of 7/2. The beaten favourite was Liam Burke's Catchmeifyoucan (6 Glac Storm), a faller at the ninth when ridden along. The winner will struggle to add to this success, but the second should win an older mares maiden. The other horse worth noting was Dante's Money (8 Phardante-Maid Of Money), which had a nice pop around to take 4th, and would be interesting at maybe Lismore point in 3 weeks. 

The second race was an interesting 5 year old maiden, with Pat Doyle's Lord Who (Mr Lord) & Enda Bolger's Shady Lad (Aahsaylad) sharing favouritism at 2/1. Both were in the van throughout, and approaching the third last, 5 were covered by 3 lengths. Lord Who & newcomer Wild Edgar (Invited) were both cantering when falling independently, as did Look Between Us (Lucky Guest), who was just feeling the pace. This left the hard ridden Shady Lad to fight it out with Paul Cashman's Canterbury Jack (Supr Leader), and J T McNamara had to work overtime to get the verdict on Shady Lad.

The winner would not be the fastest thing on four legs, but does jump well and should be placed to collect a winners contest, at a venue like Killaloe in the coming weeks. Canterbury Jack was stepping up considerably on his point debut run at Lisgoold and with the same level of improvement can break his duck. Unlucky fallers Lord Who & Wild Edgar look morals for maiden successes. Lord Who has now fallen on both outing but can set the record straight fairly quickly. Wild Edgar could be very good.

Of the also rans, John Berry's pair had mixed fortunes, Oyster Shell (Be My N) a good looker slipped up at halfway, and Lawrence T (Elbio) ran out of steam early. Michael Cullen's Summer Camp, a nice son of Corrouge, hinted at ability, as did Lord Of Illusion (Mr Lord), who faded after a prominent showing for two miles. The might with time make into a very good chasing type.

Incidentally Shady Lad was providing Aaysaylad with his first winner, and coincidentally that stallion is based just a few miles from the Tallow track.

The Powers 6 year old qualifier was divided. The first division featured a successful gamble on Paul Cashman's grey By Degree (Roselier) (12/1 to 4/1). Market leader Glenduff Bridge (6/4 to 7/2) fell 6 from home, but at that stage By Degree was in front, and despite being slow at his fences, he maintained his advantage until the home turn. Poor Tactics (Commanche Run) was brought from the back with a patient run, and challenged By Degree on the approach to the final fence, but By Degree had too much toe for him on the run in. Jonjo Walsh's Nickel Creek (Phardante, brother to Keano) ran a promising third. Paul Cashman reported that By Degree, unusually for a Roselier, would be seen to better effect on good ground, and felt that he was good enough to win a bumper.

The second division looked weaker, and the laurels went to Paul Nolan's Mister Bruce (Over The River) who battled bravely to just outstay American Paddy (Phardante). The well-backed favourite Ashstorm (Glacial Storm)(4/1 to 2/1) was travelling strongly in the lead when taking a soft fall at the 8th fence, and is sure to gain compensation. John Berry's pair of newcomers Boom Economy ( Black Monday) & Boys Hurrah ( Phardante, 1/2 brother to Strong Deel) showed little, both pulled up on the final circuit.

Sober Performance (8 Bruff Crozier) (3/1) blitzed the opposition in the open, making all, and never in danger at any point. Liz Doyle's exciting front-runner, has a few kinks, but was recording his third victory of 2002, the second horse to record such a feat.

Recent Dungarvan winner The Lios (9 King Luthier) (6/4 fav) also made all in the Winners of 1, his only hairy moment came when he survived a bad mistake at the 3rd last. Jubileeman (6 Mandalus) was a clear second, but chasing in vain, when falling at the second last, but he looks up to winning one of these contests. Clearly In Motion (5 Clearly Bust) ill at ease on the tacky ground, eventually gained the second spot.

Racing concluded with two divisions of the 5/6 year old mares maiden. In the first division the hard pulling Chione (6 Mandalus) looked all at sea on this left handed track, and ran out at the fifth when challenging Lady Molean (6 Ashmolean) for the lead. Lady Molean then established a big lead, but was tiring entering the final 1/4 mile, and Dead Right Too (5 Good Thyne) came from the rear with a wet sail, to lead close home. Acumen (6 Phardante, sister to Albemarle) caught the eye in third. The favourite Dellaheena Lass (6 Safety Catch) (9/4) fell at the 3rd.

There was a highly controversial conclusion to the second division. Kennedy's Lass (6 Husyan) & Deise Rose (5 Glacial Storm) fought out a good battle over the last two fences, with Kennedy's Lass gaining the verdict by a half length or more. However the judge did not think so, and to the absolute amazement of all, he announced Deise Rose the winner by a neck. This was the poorest judging decision seen for a number of years. The only crumb of comfort for connections of Kennedy's Lass is that in most people's eyes, the next time she runs, she will be a winner running in a maiden event, and is bound to be very heavily supported.

Horses in red considered future winners

Tallow- 3 & 1/4 circuits,15 fences, left handed. Going Heavy, tacky in places.

1-Confined Maiden (5yr+) 
1-See More Bills---T Lombard
2-Davs Delight
3-Jimmy's Pride            1l,10l. 10 ran.

2-Geldings Maiden 5 Yr Only 
1-Shady Lad---J T McNamara
2-Canterbury Jack
3-Castlequarter King       2l,10l. 17 Ran.

3A-Geldings Maiden 6 Yr Only--Powers Qualifier---Div 1 
1-By Degree---P Cashman
2-Poor Tactics
3-Nickel Creek                 2l,4l. 17 Ran.

3B-Geldings Maiden 6 Yr Only---Powers Qualifier---Div 2 
1-Mister Bruce---T Cloke
2-American Paddy
3-Silver Castle                 3l,15l. 16 Ran.

4-Open 
1-Sober Performance---Liz Doyle
2-Desertmore
3-Irvine                            10l,2l. 13 Ran.

5-Winners Of 1 
1-The Lios---M Hartrey
2-Clearly In Motion
3-Kilcaskin Gold               Dist,2l. 8 Ran.

6A-Mares Maiden 5/6 Yr Old ---Div 1 
1-Dead Right Too---C Sweeney
2-Lady Molean
3-Acumen                         1l,20l. 18 Ran.

6B-Mares Maiden 5/6 Yr Old ----Div 2 
1-Deise Rose---M Hartrey
2-Kennedy's Lass
3-Terquogan Thyne            nk,10l. 17 Ran.

Belharbour 
The County Clare Foxhounds staged their first point of the season at a brand new and unique venue. Belharbour is surrounded on one side by the Burren and on the other side by the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately most present did not enjoy the scenery as the Atlantic stripped its teeth, sweeping a strong gale across the course combined with persistent rain.

Punters had a good start when Denis Quinn's Tommy Casur(6 Mr Lord) (2/1 to 6/4) had an easy win in the confined maiden. His market rivals Work Away Horse & Woodyouever both  ran out in the event.

The class horse of the day was on view in the first division of the 5/6 maiden, when Tom Costello's Over The Storm(5 Over The River) (5/2 to 5/4) won without breaking sweat. This 5 year old had run out on its debut back in October, but provided Tony Costello with an armchair ride. It would be difficult to gauge his long term worth on this run, but he can at least collect a winners event.

The runner up Equivocal (6 Roselier) ran a fine race for trainer Ger Hourigan and should have little difficulty finding a small race.

The second division was won by Before I Forget (6 Broken Hearted) given a clever front running ride by trainer Andrew Younghusband, in the end just lasting home from fast finishing Robbie Junior (6 Weld) representing the Eric McNamara stable. The disappointment of the race was the well-backed favourite Hidden Weapon (4/1 to 5/4) from the Hassett camp which failed to handle the testing conditions.

The most dramatic finish of the day was in the first division of the older horses maiden. Asabache (7 Alphabatim) set out to make all, but was tiring on the approach to the last, at the same time Muscadier (7 Roselier) was finishing very strongly and looked set to score. Asabache arrived at the last fence just in front of Muscadier, but ducked out and refused, and in the process baulked Muscadier who lost his rider. Remote 3rd Buy A Bundle then walked out through the fence and came to a standstill, but managed to trot over the line in front of the only other completer Beggars Bridge.

Timpeall An Ti (7 Ikdam) came from last to first to win division two impressively for trainer Billy Flavin, father of jockeys Des and Ron. This horse might do well in UK points. Second home Large Attraction (7 Good Thyne) can be found a winning opportunity in similar class.

The Hassett family were among the winners when their mare Nana Max (6 Be My Native) notched an easy win in the 5/6 mares maiden. The favourite here Paddy's Girl (5 Aristocracy) challenged strongly at the second last, but folded tamely to finish fourth, but might be worth another chance in less testing conditions.

Belharbour--3 circuits,15 fences, left handed. Going Heavy.  

1-Confined Maiden 5Yr+ 
1-Tommy Casur---M Grant
2-Bridgeville Queen
3-Jame's Return            4l,10l. 12 Ran. 

2A-Geldings Maiden 5/6 Yr Old ---Div 1 
1-Over the Storm---Tony Costello
2-Equivocal
3-Mussel Buoy              3l,15l. 12 Ran.

2B-Geldings Maiden 5/6 Yr Old---Div 2 
1-Before I Forget---A Younghusband
2-Robbie Junior
3-Toal Bridge                  2l,12l. 12 Ran.

3A-Geldings Maiden 7 Yr+ ----Div 1 
1-Buy A Bundle----P Costello
2-Beggars Bridge                2l. 12 Ran.  

3B-Geldings Maiden 7 Yr+ -----Div 2 
1-Timpeall An Ti---D Finn
2-Large Attraction
3-Colin's Leader                10l,1l. 12 Ran. 

4-Open 
1-Icy Calm---D O Connor
2-Oh What A Day
3-Over the Liffey                  6l,3l. 5 Ran.  

5-Mares Maiden 5/6 Yrs Only 
1-Nana Max---B Hassett
2-Damers Venture
3-Princess Perk                 7l,11l. 7 Ran.

6-Mares Maiden 7 Yrs+ 
1-Pitfire---P Cloke
2-Legal Lady
3-Dancehall Days               2l,3l. 14 Ran.