Reporting by Mark Phillips (WLR Racing Correspondent)
Weekend fixtures;
Saturday March 12th:
Gowran Park (National Hunt) 1.25pm.
Navan (National Hunt) 1.40pm.
Ayr (National Hunt) 1.00pm.
Kempton Park (All Weather) 5.00pm.
Hereford (National Hunt) 1.56pm.
Lingfield Park (All Weather) 1.46pm.
Sandown Park (National Hunt) 1.15pm.
Wolverhampton (All Weather) 1.31pm.
Sunday March 13th:
Limerick (National Hunt) 1.20pm.
Naas (National Hunt) 1.45pm.
Bangor (National Hunt) 2.02pm,
Warwick (National Hunt) 1.35pm.
There is plenty of action on both sides of the Irish sea on Saturday. Gowran Park and Navan both stage eight race cards . There is no shortage of runners at each venue but it's a case of quantity rather than quality.
After his cracking effort when second at the Dublin Racing festival Paddy Corkery's Master McShee turns out in the Webster Chase (4.00pm) at Navan as does the Henry De Bromhead trained Notebook.
Davy Russell is very selective in his choice of mounts recently and has two rides at Navan, Dartington in the 2.15 and Jaycean in the 3.25 both trained by Gordon Elliott.
Across the channel we have the £100,000 Imperial Cup at Sandown Park . In a wide open affair 22 runners head to post at 2.25. There is just one Irish challenger Surprise Package trained in County Kildare by Peter Fahey.
There are plenty of Waterford trained runners at Limerick on Sunday. In a Grade 3 hurdle Con O Keeffe, Henry De Bromhead, Dermot O Brien, Shane O Brien and Declan Queally all have entries.
The showcase race at Naas is the Leinster National over 3 miles at 4.40pm. Cappoquin trainer Rob Murphy runs Darrens Hope who is down at the bottom of the handicap.
Horse Racing Notes
War torn Ukraine has just the one thoroughbred race track at Odessa which is situated on the southern coast. The racing season is from May to October and a popular sire there is the former Grade 1 winner Alandi who was trained by John Oxx.
Back in the spring of 2018 Honeysuckle, Minella Indo and Appreciate It all won their maiden points at Dromahane. The victory list is as follows,
18.03.2018 Minella Indo ridden by Johnny Barry.
18.03.2018 Appreciate It ridden by Derek O Connor.
22.04.2018 Honeysuckle ridden by Mark O Haire.
6 new stamps were unveiled recently to celebrate the achievement of Irish women in sport and one of the stamps features Rachael Blackmore winning the Aintree Grand National on the Henry De Bromhead trained Minella Times.
Greyhound Racing
There is a twelve race card for patrons to enjoy in Kilcohan Park this evening (Saturday) .Showcasing the menu of racing is the final of the Paddy and Ciara Sharkey Bookmakers & W.T.S.C. A2/A3 575 yards competition (Race 7) plus 2 semi-finals of the Michael Kelly sponsored Transcages Ireland ON2/ON3 Unraced sweepstake (Races 1 and 2)
First race 7.50pm.
Via the live inter track link patrons can also view the action from Shelbourne Park. where a 12 race card features the final of the 2022 Easter Cup (Race 8)
which carries a first prize of €25,000..
2019 & 2020 KILCOHAN PARK GREYHOUND AWARDS
Kindly sponsored by the Maguire family from Portlaw the 2019 & 2020 greyhound recognition awards take place on Saturday March 12th in Kilcohan Park, Waterford.
2019 award winners:
Dog of the year - Ballyhi Bay, 13 wins. Owner Michael Furlong, Co Wexford.
Bitch of the year – Suirview Kea, 15 wins. Owner Derek Larkin, Portlaw, Co Waterford.
Leading owner – The late Jim Duggan, Portlaw, Co Waterford. 38 winners.
Leading public trainer – Michael Meade, Crooke, Passage East, Co Waterford. 63 winners.
Leading private trainer – Donal Kehoe, Tomahurra, Co Wexford. 33 winners.
Hall of fame awards – Paddy Phelan and Paddy Murphy (South Kilkenny).
2020 award winners:
Dog of the year – Missing Postman, 7 wins. Owner Al Hanley, Rockfield Park, Waterford City.
Bitch of the year – Kingsmill Asia, 12 wins. Owner George Roche, Barntown, Co Wexford.
Leading owner – Eleanor Turner, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. 27 winners.
Leading public trainer – Michael Meade, Crooke, Passage East, Co Waterford. 51 winners.
Leading private trainer – Vincent Morris, Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford. 38 winners.
Hall of fame awards – Tom Power (Waterford City) and John Flavin (Tramore)
