GUINNESS Kerry National winner Ponmeoath is entered in Sunday week’s €120,000 Munster National at Greenmount Park in Patrickswell.

But, McNamara’s stable-star has paid the penalty to the handicapper for his win of the Harvest Festival feature at Listowel.  It was his second win on the trot in the festival highlight.  “He’s in good form and it was great to win a big one like that,” said McNamara.  “He’s entered in the Munster National, but I wouldn’t want to run him with top weight as he’s not very big – only 15 hands and three.

“He’s gone up another 10lb for that, so we’ll just have to hope something rated higher is also entered.”

Last year’s winning trainer Michael Hourigan (Mossbank) is represented this time around by A New Story, while other interesting challengers for the jackpot are Dave Fitzgerald’s Mister Top Notch and General Striker for Enda Bolger, which finished fourth in the Kerry National.  Bolger, however, has pointed-out that General Striker could instead compete in the Czech Grand national.

Munster National Day boasts an eight-race card with a total prize fund of €300,000, including the €40,000 Grade Three Pricewaterhouse Coopers EBF Steeplechase and the NNA Listed Hurdle of €35,000.

Irwin Brothers Jewellers have come on board this year as sponsors of the Best Dressed Lady Competition, which has an overall top prize of a €5,000 diamond bracelet. Supports sponsors here include Debenham’s of Limerick, the Marriot Hotel and Source Photography.

Other Munster National Day attractions include family entertainment and a Ladies Day Marquee, which will host an array of fashion and well-being stalls, including a Jacob’s Creek Reception. Complimentary busses will run afterwards to the Trinity Rooms for the Aprés Race Soiree, with music and finger food.  An exclusive ladies day package is available from only €50.

An array of packages for Limerick’s richest racing day of the year are available, with further details obtainable at www.limerickraces.ie or 061/320000.

A SERIOUS gamble on the Emmett McNamara ridden Solwhit failed in the Hacketts Bookmakers Irish Cesarewitch of €80,000 at the Curragh.

McNamara’s mount was backed into 5/1 clear favourite but couldn’t find an opening in the closing stretch, with outright victory taken by Dermot Weld’s Suailce (14/1) – in the colours of the President of Ireland – with Billy Lee’s ride Eagle’s Pass (16/1) only a half-length behind in second and then a short-head to third-placed Solwhit.

Earlier in the extremely valuable Parknasilla Hotel Goffs Fillies Million, Chris Hayes wasn’t too far away from causing a monumental upset when piloting Samba School to a tremendous third-place finish at huge odds of 66/1.  Victory here went to Richard Hannon’s Minor Vamp, with Mick Kinnane in the plate, at generous odds of 10/1 – he had earlier scooped another cool €1 million when 5/2 favourite Soul City grabbed the day’s other feature.

ANDREW McNamara credited rookie trainer Eamon O’Connell with his first track winner at Clonmel with Powerstation (7/2).

O’Connell, a 38-year-old who works with Aer Lingus and only took out a licence in May, is based at Cullen in county Tipperary.  He has just five horses in his care and this was his first winner from just three runners on the track.  “If okay, he will run again next Sunday in a Grade Three at Tipperary,” O’Connell reported.

Arklow Gem (4/1) landed in front over the second last, but Powerstation was produced with impeccable timing by McNamara to edge ahead coming away from the final fence.

Worthy of mention also is JP McManus’s Lethal Weapon (7/4f) who made a fine start to his jumping career with a smooth victory in the Kilmore Three-Year-Old Maiden Hurdle.  Confidently handled by Alan Crowe and always travelling sweetly on the heels of the leaders, Lethal Weapon led two out and was soon clear. Trained on the flat by David Watchman, Lethal Weapon is now in the care of Christy Roche.

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