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Gone To The Dogs E-mail
Written by Cormac Liddy   
Wednesday, 04 March 2009
IT WAS a pity in some respects that the Limerick Champion Stakes final could not have been the headline maker at the Market’s Field on Saturday rather than a week earlier.
With thousands of track and coursing supporters at the Irish Cup fixture it would surely have brought a huge crowd to the venue.
As it was there was one sweep final and heats of a number of other sweepstakes and these provided some keen racing and by a co-incidence very little separated the winners in most of them.
In an A1 semi-final over 550 yards there was a very good performance by Glenadda Beauty (Head Bound-Clover Panther). She and Lenas Fitzy (3) were both out well but once Glenadda Beauty (4) hit the front at the second bend she went on to make the rest for a two lengths win in 30.01 for Joseph O’Shaughnessy of Ballyhahill, near Glin.
There was a very close finish to both semi-finals in an A2 bitch sweep over 525 but only one locally owned runner is through to the final.
Knockbawn Socks (Ballymac Maeve-Confident Aoife) set off in front from trap three. She was always in front and then held on to score by a head in 28.97 for Michael Shine in Athea as she held off the strong challenge from Rafa Baby (4).
The other heat was won in 28.93 which should guarantee a close final next Saturday.
And the same can be said with regard to an A3 sweep when the winning times were 29.01 and 29.03.
Fastest of the two was Megans Amy (Honcho Classic-League Princess). Scala Sadie (3), owned by Joe Brazill in Kilmallock and the Joe Williams, Rathkeale, owned Jessies Boy (4) both showed good early pace but  Scala Sadie faded. In what was a close finish Megans Amy (5), owned by Joseph O’Donnell of Cappamore, came through with a strong finish to beat the Pat O’Connor, Tarbert, trained and Con O’Connor owned, Saleen Maggie (2) by half a length in 29.01 with Jessies Boy a head off, third.
In the other heat there was a great battle between Gortown Wish (2) and Orlando Bethoven (2) who looked a winner at one stage. However Gortown Wish came again in the home straight and got up to win by two lengths from Orlando Bethoven, owned by Misss Susan Hayes and trained by her father, John, in Oola. Geeandtee (4) who did not start all that well finished well to take her place in the final for Gavin Meehan and T Brennan of Shannon.Gortown Wish won in 29.03.
There could not have been a closer finish in the Mike Ryan Memorial novice 3 second semi-final. Even the camera could not separate Toems Champ (3) and Barnagrane Alvin (4). The former is owned by John O’Neill in Cappawhite while Barnagrane Alvin is the property of Paudie O’Keeffe in Charleville. They finished in 29.42 which is just over half a length faster than the other heat winner.
That went to Tigers Returned (Razldazl Billy-Fine Maiden) who finished very fast to win by two lengths  in 29.46 for Gerard Collins of Charleville. Coolruss Tina (1) was fast away and led for most of the way for J Murphy of Granagh while Paudie O’Keffee will have two runners in the final after Barnagrane Alan (4) finished a length behind.
Proceedings got underway with an A2 in which Origami (Droopys Vieri-Band Of Merlin) had an overdue success when he set a cracking pace from trap two. Owned by Mrs Jennifer Murphy , Origami was always in front and never looked like being overtaken. He went on for his first win since last October and his sixth success in 26 starts.
Leamaneigh Hill (3) was second for Paddy Hennessy in Kilteely when four lengths clear of Ballycummin Lad (5) owned by the Well Four syndicate in Patrickswell.

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