18:58 There was finally some relief for favourite backers with the final two contests going to the favourites.

16:38 Another short priced favourite and another favourite who falls, this time Judge Roy Bean who was sent off the 8/11 favourite but fell three out.

Another fall of note was Big Bess who fell at the flight in front of the stands on the first circuit and as I write this five minutes after the race the jockey “Slippers” Madden is still being attended to.

It has to be said that even if the favourite had stayed on his feet he still would still not have run.

Once again we saw a front running performance, this time from Jessies Dream, giving a double to jockey Paul Townend.

Carrigeen King was with the winner most of the way but as the winner ran on in the closing stages he was unable to respond and came home eight lengths behind but a distance ahead of third placed Chasers Chance.

16:09 I am surprised backers are not throwing themselves off the stands here this afternoon and, conversely, the bookies are not having a party.

If the favourites are not falling they are having the race nicked from them by some tactical riding.

The plaudits in this race must go to Davey Russell who stole a good lead on Just Friends, so good that the favourite Tawaagg, although closing at the last, was unable to overhaul the all the way leader, meaning the odds-on backers were unable to draw.

Although over the minimum distance the field were well strung out  by half way, an indication of the pace set by Russell.

The front pair came home sixteen lengths ahead of third placed Wickham Street (one of four runners in the McManus colours), who was doing his best work at the end and may well be suited to a step
up to 2m 4f.   

A further seven lengths back in fourth was Johnny Kilawee, who was with the pace early doors.

15:38 With the chases out of the way it was time for the first of four hurdles, the first over 2m 4f.

Ten went to post and it was one of those races where the majority of the race has little of any significance, with the runners hacking round and no real changes in the order.

Clan Tara and Glenquest set the pace, with the former having a fairly decent lead by half way.

The action started three out as they approached the turn for home. Glenquest faded leaving Clan
Tara in front but The Bishop Looney was soon challenging and battle commenced.

Neck and neck over the last two flights it came down to who would be best on the run in and it was second favourite Clan Tara who prevailed by a head.

The running-on Healys Bay was 1¾ lengths further back in third.

The 3/1 favourite Quiscover Fontaine was terribly disappointing, finishing last but one.

Equally disappointing was Caim Hill, who on todays performance would not stand any chance of picking up a prize at the festival.

15:10 Our longest race of the afternoon and the closest finish with a really exciting battle to the line with El Jo just getting the better of Island Wood, although it looked as though Island Wood had done enough when he headed the winner 50 yards from home. However Paul Carberry refused to give up and managed to get El Jo back in front where it mattered.

The Cub Wood had held the lead for quite a while but a mistake at the 15th put pay to any serious challenge.

The race saw several fallers, not least the 4/7 favourite, Rock Diplomat, who came down at the seventh.

14:37 Only five went to post in our second contest and the betting had it as a two horse contest with Sunday’s Naas winner Carthalawn heading the betting from Irish Invader, who was looking for a three timer.

They were the first two home with the second favourite, Irish Invader. coming home 4½ lengths clear of the favourite, for whom this race may just have come too soon.

It was a front running performance from the winner who was never headed at any point, although Nine O did sit on his quarters for a while before tailing off.

Tumbling Dice, with the pace throughout, came home third.

Ponmeoath tokk a sickening fall at the last but fortunately walked away.

14:08 Well the opening race may “only” have been a Mares Beginners Chase but you will have to go a long way to find a more dramatic race.

Fallers a plenty but all the big action was in the closing stages.

The first and second favourites Cru and Here Comes Sally had taken up the running at the second last and they looked set to battle the race out between them.

The approached the last stride for stride, took off together and both fell together, although independently.

This handed the contest to the long time leader Seepeeoh who had been fading.
Sorrentina was a running-on runner up, albeit seven lengths behind and Belladventure came home third.

12:40 Good afternoon from Thurles where the sky is slate grey but we are promised a dry afternoon - personally I am keeping my fingers crossed.

The offician going is Soft, yielding to soft in places .

We will be bringing you full coverage of the first six races and a results service for the final two.

The most interesting runner this afternoon is Caim Hill in the 3:25, looking for a five timer today, a good run this afternoon could well see him Cheltenham bound.

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

1:55
2 Be My Allstar
17 Wine And Spirits (reserve)
19 Fluxie (reserve)

2:25
5 Royal County Star

2:55
17 Mat Hill (reserve)
18 The Phantom Piper (reserve)
19 Jim's Last Chance (reserve)

3:55
15 Title Race
18 Teffia Rose
20 Stradbally (reserve)
21 Mo Passa Nada (reseve)

4:25
19 Rockfield Fox(reserve)
20 Oscar O Regan (reserve)
21 Benbaystar (reserve)

4:55
11 Any Bets
20 Cool Quest (reserve)

5:25
2 Ben More Assynt

Results

1:55

1st 12 Seepeeoh 12/1
2nd 13 Sorrentina 12/1
3rd 3 Belladventure 12/1
4th 1 Alkindly 20/1
16 Ran NR's 2, 17 & 19
Distances 7, 11 & 6
Fav 16 Cru 7/4 (fell)
Tote
Win £12.10
Places £1.70 £3.50 £2.20 £3.70 £
Exacta £134.70
CSF £147.41
Time 4' 57.2"

2:25

1st 2 Irish Invader 11/4
2nd 1 Carthalawn 4/5 fav
5 Ran NR 5
Distances 4½
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.20
Places £2.10 £1.10
Exacta £6.00
CSF £4,95
Time 4' 51.2"

2:55

1st 5 El Jo 8/1
2nd 9 Island Wood 12/1
3rd 6 Garryowen Star 5/1
4th 4 Club Derry 25/1
16 Ran Nr's 17, 18 & 19
Distances Neck, 11 & 7
Fav 13 Rock Diplomat 4/7 (Fell)
Tote
Win £8.60
Places £1.80 £2.80 £1.50 £4.50
Exacta £79.80
CSF £104.39
Time 6' 52.5"

3:25

1st 5 Clan Tara 4/1
2nd 3 The Bishop Looney 9/1
3rd 9 Healys Bar 14/1
10 Ran
Distances Neck & 1¾
Fav 2 Quiscover Fontaine 3/1 (9th)
Tote
Win £5.90
Places £1.70 £4.20 £4.10
Exacta £45.60
CSF £39.50
Time 5' 09.0"

3:55

1st 1 Just Friends 7/2
2nd 13 Tawaagg 4/6 fav
3rd 16 Wickham Street 12/1
4th 9 Johnny Kilawee 10/1
17 Ran NR's 15, 18, 20 & 21
Distances 1¾, 16 & 7
Fav second
Tote
Win £4.70
Places £1.40 £1.10 £3.90 £1.80
Exacta £11.40
CSF £7.18
Time 4' 09.3"

4:25

1st 3 Jessies Dream 3/1
2nd 1 Carigeen King 16/1
3rd 8 Chasers Chance 33/1
4th 6 Stony Grey Soil 7/1
18 Ran Nr's 19, 20 & 21
Distances 8, distance & 12
Fav 4 Judge Roy Bean 8/11 (Fell)
Tote
Win £3.90
Places £1.60 £4.90 £7.40 £2.80
Exacta £55.40
CSF £50.97
Time 4' 40.3"

4:55

1st 15 Tooman Lane 11/4 fav
2nd 17 Kylebeg Krystal 50/1
3rd 5 Alikadoo 14/1
4th 2 Boleybawn Quikstar 6/1
18 Ran NR's 11 & 20
Distances 1½ , 2½ & short head
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.30
Places £1.20 £9.80 £3.40 £2.30
Exacta £169.40
CSF £189.08
Tricast £1,869.94
Time 4' 48.2"

5:25

1st 7 One To Many 6/4 fav
2nd 5 Kilflora 10/1
3rd 12 Coole Avenue 8/1
4th Supreme Plan
16 Ran NR 2
Distances 2½ , 11 & 5½
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.80
Places £1.40 £4.00 £2.00 £2.80
Exacta £25.40
CSF £19.57
Time 4' 14.6"