Donal O'Mahony Senior Draghunting: Outstanding win for High Miss
High Miss crosses the line first at Blarney. Picture: David Creedon
High Miss produced the performance of the season that culminated her winning the Singleton’s SuperValu Donal O’Mahony Senior Draghunt at Blarney on Sunday.
Trained by Donal O’Donovan of Griffin United, this hound possibly produced the most impressive display of this meeting in its 25th running at the north Cork venue.
Reports from the various vantage points suggested the hounds were driving the hunt at pace but when they appeared on the horizon to make their way to the finish one hound seemed to have a good lead.
As they dropped in before making the climb to the finishing tape the winner basically spread-eagled the field to win the title by a distance.
The highly fancied Blue Daisy ran her usual consistent draghunt to take runner-up slot for Southern/Carrigaline trainers Trina and Ken Long.
Gerry Murphy likes nothing better than on being on the winners' rostrum for big meetings but his current Senior All-Ireland champion Tiger’s Boy had to be content with third ticket.
Blue Lad ran his usual cracking draghunt to snatch fourth ahead of the reigning champion Authority and Penny’s Girl.
There was natural elation in the winners' camp after the race as trainer Donal O’Donovan who has suffered his fair share of illnesses over the last few years but this win brought a huge smile on his face.
“Just when you think that winning a draghunt of this magnitude is gone beyond my kennel High Miss springs this pleasant on me and with too many people to thank they will know I am very grateful for their help,” said Donal.
The Kerry association have been known to spring a surprise or two at this meeting over the years and in the Senior Maiden Draghunt the Vince Murphy trained Ferry Bill finished like a scolded cat to take the honours.
When the hounds made their way to the finish the winner showed his determination to cross the tape ahead of the Denise Rall Mayfield-trained Magic’s Pride with the John Crowley Griffin United-trained Danganmore Spot in third place.
The Puppy Draghunt honours went to the impressive Applause trained by John O’Callaghan of Northern Hunt who showed an incredible burst of speed on the finish to land the big prize.
1. High Miss (Griffin United); 2. Blue Daisy (Southern/Carrigaline Harriers); 3. Tiger’s Boy (Shanakiel Harriers); 5. Blue Lad (Southern/Carriglaine Harriers); 5. Authority (Northern Hunt); 6. Penny’s Girl (Shanakiel Harriers).
1. Ferry Bill (Kerry); 2. Magic’s Pride (Mayfield); 3. Danganmore Spot (Griffin United); 4. Riley (Shanakiel Harriers); 5. Danganmore Drifter (Griffin United); 6. Mrs Briggs (Shanakiel Harriers).
1. Applause (Northern Hunt); 2. Don’t Panic Lad (Mayfield); 3. Knockane Jack (Southern/Carrigaline Harriers); 4. Rodman (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers); 5. Travel Star (Shanakiel Harriers); 6. Not Now Al (Clogheen).
App?
