Coursing: Hare has the last laugh for Mel boys
Members of the winning syndicate celebrate after Go Home Hare won the Derby at the Irish National Coursing meeting in Clonmel yesterday
A MASSIVE crowd thronged Powerstown Park yesterday in cold but glorious weather conditions and were served up some top-class sport before the day ended with a major shock and an anti-climax.
Blueview Sam and Go Home Hare progressed to meet in the final of the Boylesports.com Derby, with the latter assuming the favourite's role previously held by Blueview.
Go Home Hare still held plenty of support and there was tension in the air as the dogs were placed in slips for the final.
The huge crowd was then left flat as Blueview Sam suddenly checked after just a few yards and was obviously in trouble.
He tried to run on, but Go Home Hare was left to race home alone and so rewarded all the punters who had backed him overnight to capture the €35,000 prize.
Go Home Hare is trained in Derry by Dessie Kerrigan for the large Mel Syndicate which is based in Glin, County Limerick.
Fives Treasure was an evens favourite yesterday morning for the Greyhound & Petworld Oaks, but was challenged for favouritism by Emmas Goldrush after the first round.
They clashed in the semi-final and it was Emmas Goldrush that scored by two lengths.
After getting away smartly, Fives Treasure eventually had to give best to Emmas for the enthusiastic Goldrush Syndicate and was immediately installed as 1/3 favourite to land the Classic outright.
But, again, there was an upset as Emmas Goldrush trailed Dale Roisin all the way and there was three lengths between them at the turn. It was a terrific success for Brendan Farrelly from Raharney outside Mullingar as he bred, owns and trains the daughter of Eoin Rua and Two Cforar Trap.
Marie Field from Patrickswell got her two dogs Kyle Ranger and Kyle King through to the final of the Classics Club Champion Stakes, but King was withdrawn injured, so Ranger was declared the winner without running.
Earlier, there was a thrilling final to the Grace Bruton Memorial Champion Bitch Stakes, with the Maurice Collins owned and trained Portinard Nine leaving a tired defending champion Class Attraction trailing in her wake for a five-length win.
