Sense of expectation surrounds strong Oaks entry

SLIABH na mBan, the mountain of the women, is set deep in the south-east corner of Tipperary - Slievenamon derives its name from the fairy women of Feimheinn who enchanted Fionn MacCumhnaill and his Fianna, but such pesky history won’t concern the Limerick coursing fraternity next week when they descend on Clonmel’s Powerstown Park, in the shadow of that mountain, for coursing’s national meeting.
The national meeting, which has been hosted by the Clonmel Coursing Club since 1925, is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year with Limerick connections hoping to mark the occasion by carrying home at least one prestigious title.
A huge sense of expectation surrounds a bumper Limerick entry in the Hotel Minella Oaks. Go Nina is hotly fancied in the classic and is owned by the Yes-We-Will Syndicate which is headed up by Ger Carney (Patrickswell).
Go Nina won her trial stake at Oranmore in more than impressive fashion.
Another bitch likely to feature in the Oaks is Helens Diva owned by the Pick-Me Syndicate which is based in Clarina and headed up by Richie Quinn (junior) - she won her trial stake at the Regional meeting.
There have been several whispers too for Delotti.
This bitch is owned by Joe Collins and Mossy Aherne (Templeglantine), she won her trial stake in Kilflynn (Kerry) and is expected to go close.
Four other Limerick dogs feature in the Oaks.
Chinese (owned by Paddy Fitzgerald, Rathkeale) earned a last minute call up - she lost a trial final in Borris-Ileigh, but when the victor withdrew Chinese stepped in to fill the void.
John Brown’s (Kilmallock) Uptown Hope won her trial stake at the Limerick City meeting while Glinview Bitle (owned by Glin’s TMP Syndicate) is certain to have a bit following in Clonmel.
Finally, Kilpeacon Ambush (owned by the DMDH Syndicate, Rathkeale) won her trial stake in Newcastle West.
Four Limerick dogs are worth keeping a close eye on in the Boylesports.com Derby. Limerick’s main fancy in this classic is represented by Kyle Basil. The dog is currently priced at 12/1 and is owned by Patrickswell’s Marie Field.
Doon’s Shane McLoughlin will be hoping his dog, Cooga Ruby, hits top form - Cooga Ruby won his trial stake at the Borris-Ileigh meeting.
Abbeyfeale’s Gerry Griffin trains Brazing Serpent.
This dog won his trial stake in Loughrea and the Pistol Night Syndicate will be hoping that Brazing Serpent can fulfill his obvious potential.
Finally, Curious Man should not be discounted from the reckoning. Curious Man is owned by Oola’s Seamus Burke and won his trial stake at the Regional meeting.
Two hotly-fancied Limerickdogs also take part in the prestigious Classic Club Champion Stake and in the Grace Bruton Memorial Champion Bitch Stake next week. Blades of Glory, owned by Rathkeale’s Denis Guiney, is hotly fancied in the Champion Bitch Stake while in the Champion Stake Bexhill Brian will take some beating. The dog, Bexhill Brian, is owned by Glin’s Conor Sheehan and John Barrett.
Charlie Kickham’s book Knocknagow describes Clonmel as “the town with the cloud over it”, but not one prevailing condition will put the Limerick coursing public off that south Tipperary town next week.
After all the coursing public is defined by hardy, open-air types. And, nothing could keep the Limerick coursing public from one of the highlights of the racing year.

Brian McDonnell