Jessica Harrington's Cheltenham Team *

EXCITEMENT is building with the Cheltenham Festival now just two weeks away, thoughts are turning ever more to the biggest meeting on the national hunt calendar.

Moone’s Jessica Harrington is probably Ireland’s leading dual trainer at the moment and she is no stranger to success at the Festival. She has won seven races in Cheltenham and trained the brilliant Moscow Flyer, the dual Champion Chase winner and one of the greatest two mile chasers ever. This year she is travelling over with a small but select team of horses.

Steps to Freedom 

Steps to Freedom image: horse-racing.ie

He is currently vying for favourite with Dermot Weld’s Galileo’s Choice for the opening race of the festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and is probably Mrs Harrington’s best chance of adding to her Cheltenham winners.

He is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles. Steps to Freedom won his maiden hurdle in impressive fashion at Fairyhouse back in September. He was then upped in class and took on second season novices in a Grade Three at Punchestown in October. He took it all in his stride and showed he had star potential, defeating Sailors Warn.

Mrs Harrington then took him to Cheltenham in December to see if he would handle the track and the journey and he passed the test with flying colours, defeating Paul Nicholls’ well regarded Prospect Wells in a Grade Two.

Steps to Freedom was due to run in a bumper on the all-weather at Dundalk last week but Jessica Harrington decided not to run him. He is reported to be in good form and working well. He has a great chance of getting the week off to a flying start for the Irish.

Oscars Well

Oscars Well image: irishracing.com

 

This horse was desperately unlucky at the Festival last year. He looked to be every inch the winner of the Neptune Investments Novices’ Hurdle but he sprawled on landing after the last. He did well to stay on his feet but he lost all chance of winning and ended up in fourth.

This season he has run four times and been placed in each race. Oscars Well will run in the Champion Hurdle and although this race looks to be at the mercy of the imperious Hurricane Fly, Oscars Well will love the fast gallop and quicker ground he should get in that race. At 12/1 he is definite each way value and probably the horse to chase Hurricane Fly up the Cheltenham hill.

Citizenship 

Citizenship winning the Boylesports.com hurdle image:irishracing.com

 

He was an impressive winner of the Boylesports Hurdle at Leopardstown a month ago and holds entries in the County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle. Although festival handicaps can be tricky to plot a course through, Citizenship’s trainer knows what it takes having won the County Hurdle with Spirit Leader in 2003. She is leaning towards that race with Citizenship and he is currently 14/1 for that race.

Jetson

Jetson (left) irishracing.com

He won a competitive handicap hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival and holds an entry in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle. He is a best priced 16/1 shot for the listed contest.

Her Cheltenham entries are completed by The Quiet Hawk in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle, The Bull Hayes in the County Hurdle and Saludos, who was third to Seabass at Naas on Sunday is entered in the Grand Annual Chase.

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist 28 February 2012

A good afternoon for Ruby and Ted *

Zaarito jumps the last ahead of Seabass image: irishtimes.com

IT was Cheltenham Trials Day at Naas on Sunday but Seabass was on trial for Aintree and he passed his test with flying colours. His determined victory in the Grade 2 paddypower.com Chase earned him a tilt at the Aintree Grand National on April.

Seabass continued a remarkable winning sequence on Sunday. His victory was the seventh on the bounce for Ted Walsh since he won at Punchestown in January 2010.

His six previous wins had all been over further and the drop back to the minimum trip on Sunday presented a different test to the one he will be faced with in six weeks. Seabass made most of the running with Saludos but galloping up the home straight the rejuvenated Zaarito posed a major threat to Seabass’s ambitions.

Zaarito went past Seabass between the last two fences and when he jumped the final fence much better than the market leader it looked like the end of the winning streak for Seabass. However he showed class and courage, essential qualities for Aintree, to battle back bravely for Ruby Walsh on the run to the line to win by a length.

Afterwards Ted Walsh was thrilled with Seabass’s battling performance over an inadequate trip. “Seabass got under the last but was gutsy. He was probably out of his comfort zone over two miles and they were probably going a bit faster than he wanted to but he battled well,” he said.

Seabass (left) and Saludos (right) image: independent.ie

The Kill trainer confirmed that Aintree is the next stop for Seabass if he starys fit and healthy but that there are no guarantees when it comes to that race.

“If he stays sound we will go to Aintree for the National. There is no ideal type of horse for that trip and you won’t know until you get there. Nobody knows if he will get the trip, he’s never been beyond three miles. I’d imagine looking at him he is the right type. However the biggest problem is keeping him sound – he’s been on the scrapheap three times already,” he added!

Ruby Walsh will have a choice of rides for the National but Ted has already lined up a replacement. His daughter, Katie, has won on Seabass twice this season, and she will take over the reins at Aintree if Ruby is claimed by either of his two trainers.

“The choice will be Ruby`s and he rides for Willie (Mullins) or Paul (Nicholls) but if for some reason they went by the wayside he might decide to ride this fellow. If he doesn't, I have a very able substitute in Katie,” Ted explained.

Seabass is set to carry 10 – 12 in the National and his brave performance meant that bookmakers slashed his odds for the Aintree marathon. He is just 16/1 with both Boylesports and Paddy Power to give Ted Walsh his second winner in the legendary race, twelve years after Papillion’s famous triumph. Maybe there’s an omen of things to come for Seabass because Papillion finished fourth in this race before going on to Aintree glory.

Felix Yonger gets over the last image: irishracing.com

Ruby Walsh had just two rides at Naas yesterday and he went home with a perfect record. His other winner was in another of the day’s Grade Two contests – the paddypower.com novice hurdle. Felix Yonger is one of the Wylie horses transferred to Willie Mullins after Howard Johnson’s ban and subsequent retirement.

Felix Yonger was sent off the 2/1 favourite but had to work hard for his victory. His hurdling wasn’t very slick throughout the race. He made a mistake at the second last flight but took over the lead on the run to the last.  A far from fluid jump at the last appeared to put him under pressure. However he showed his class to recover well from that mistake and win by three lengths from the staying on Dressedtothenines.

Afterwards Willie Mullins confirmed that Felix Yonger’s performance showed he would be good enough to go to Cheltenham and that better ground would enable him to show his true class.

“He is a super mover and I don’t think he is a winter horse. I think he will be better on better ground in the spring. Ruby always thought he would have no problem staying but he is well able to compete over two miles on better ground. He shows me plenty of gears at home and I think he will improve again,’ he said.

Felix Yonger is entered in all three novice hurdles at the Festival and his trainer will discuss which race he runs in with Graham Wylie

Davy Russell was victorious in the day’s other Grade Two but Ruby’s double means that there is now just 13 between the pair in the race to be crowned champion jockey.

Rathlin comes home alone image: irishracing.com

Rathlin was an impressive winner of the Grade Two Woodlands Park 100 Club Nas na Riogh Chase for Russell and Mouse Morris but he will not be making the trip to Prestbury Park in two weeks. Instead he will probably wait for the Powers’ Gold Cup in Fairyhouse at Easter.

One winner yesterday who did book his Cheltenham ticket was Idarah. The topweight put up a battling performance in the hands of newly wed Nina Carberry to land the handicap hurdle over two miles. Nina had the grey in the vanguard all the way round and he showed courage and determination to fight all the way from the back of the last to the line. He has multiple Cheltenham entries but trainer Paul Cashman is leaning towards the Grand Annual for the grey.

“That was great but a bit unexpected. I thought he’d need the run badly. He did a nice bit of work during the week but it is four months since he ran,” said the happy and surprised trainer.

“He hates that ground and hopefully he will get nicer ground at Cheltenham. He is entered in the County hurdle, the Grand Annual and the conditional jockeys’ hurdle and we are leaning towards the Grand Annual," he added.

* This article first appeared in The Nationalist 28 February 2012 

DCU's Sublime Second Half Destroys NUI Maynooth

DCU 2 -17

NUI Maynooth 0-07

A POWERFUL second half performance from DCU blew Maynooth out of the water in the Sigerson Cup final at Pearse Stadium this afternoon. The Dublin college stepped up to another level after the break and Maynooth had no answer to the questions they posed.

It was the performance DCU had threatened throughout this competition and the warning signs were there right from the beginning. They settled into the game straight away and had three points on the board before Maynooth got their opening score.

The Kildare college were four points down inside twenty minutes but they persevered and rattled off three unanswered scores to get themselves back into the game. David Quinn’s point just before half time was a superb effort and reduced the deficit to a single point but Dean Rock, who again starred in the forwards, had the last say of the half and DCU went into the break 0-6 to 0-4 in front.

DCU had been wayward with their shooting in the opening thirty minutes and it seemed as if complacency had set in. Their over-confidence allowed Maynooth back into the game when DCU were clearly the better side.

Whatever Niall Moyna said to them at half time worked spectacularly. They re-emerged a team transformed and let loose in the second half. The introduction of David Kelly had an immediate impact and he scored within a minute. Paul Flynn’s 45 found its way to the back of the net on 44 minutes and from there DCU never looked back.

The situation went from bad to worse for Maynooth, who managed just three second half points, when Kelly netted in the 47^th minute. Quick, slick interchanging passes put the Sligo star through on goal

DCU have an embarrassment of riches in their side and the strength in depth on the bench was put to good use. Donegal captain Michael Murphy was also brought into the fray in the second half and scored DCU’s final point in injury time to wrap up a comprehensive victory.

DCU’s second half display was outstanding. They were on another level to their opponents. Their movement was clever and purposeful and they passed slickly and with precision. DCU dominated completely after the break but with the footballers they can call on, the performance wasn’t a surprise.

The forwards had a fantastic day and among their ranks were Dublin stars and All-Ireland winners Eoghan O’Gara and Paul Flynn, along with another Dubliner Dean Rock. These three were outstanding for DCU. Flynn was rewarded for his scoring prowess with the man of the match award.

Scorers – DCU: P Flynn (1-3); D Kelly (1-1); D Rock (0-4, 0-1f); E O’Gara (0-4); D Keenan (0-2); C Begley (0-1); M Murphy (0-1); G Sweeney (0-1). NUI Maynooth: M Newman (0-2, 0-1f); D Dalton (0-1); T Moolick (0-1); C Berrigan (0-1); P Cahillane (0-1); D Quinn (0-1).

DCU: M Boyle (R Hennelly 57); P McMahon; K Gavin; E Culligan; N Collins; J Cooper; J McCarthy; F O'Shea; C Begley; P Flynn; D Rock (G Sweeney 48); D Keenan (Murphy 40); J Brady (D Kelly halftime); E O'Gara (F O’Curraoin 57); A McFadden.

NUI Maynooth: S Connolly; K O'Brien; K Lynch (W Ryan 49); D Dalton; T Moolick ; J McDermott; S Denvir (T Johnson 38); C Berrigan (D Quinn 45); C Brophy; P Cahillane; S Hurley; C Mullins (P Óg Ó Gríofa 54); M Newman; J Califf (S Fahey 34); D Quinn.

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).

DCU's power packed bench crush UUJ

DCU: 0-17

UUJ: 1-05

A powerful second half performance from DCU’s star studded side ended UUJ’s  chances of reaching the final for the second year running.

The O’Byrne Cup winners have an unrivalled strength in depth and they were able to call on the services of inter county stars David Kelly and Michael Murphy to help them turn around their performance in the second half.

The first half was evenly contested and a well taken shot by UUJ’s Antoin McFadden gave fellow Donegal start Michael Boyle no chance in the DCU net. The northern team went into the break a point ahead, 1-3 to 0-5, with no hint of what was to come.

Jordanstown faded badly in the second half and could only manage to add two more points to that tally. DCU’s ability to spring inter county stars from the bench contributed to that.

A power packed DCU performance helped them to take control in midfield with Fiontán O’Curraoin running the show. All-Ireland winning Dublin star Paul O’Flynn had another good day scoring four points.

His Dublin teammate Eoghan O’Gara was causing problems for the Jordanstown defence, winning frees which the reliable boot of Dean Rock converted with metronomic precision.

UUJ reverted to piling bodies behind the ball but they looked bereft of ideas in attack and the loss of Tyrone forward Matty Donnelly early in the second half was a huge blow to their chances of winning.

DCU are now overwhelming favourites to win today’s final.

Scorers – DCU: D Rock 0-8 (6f); P Flynn 0-4; P McMahon 0-1; N Collins 0-1; C Begley 0-1; D Kelly 0-1; M Murphy 0-1 (f). UUJ: A McArdle 1-0; C McGinley 0-2; P Hughes 0-2; D McNulty 0-1.

DCU: M Boyle; P McMahon; K Gavin; E Culligan; J McCarthy; J Cooper; N Collins; F O Curraoin (F O’Shea 46); C Begley; P Flynn (C Sheridan 52); D Rock (D Kelly 55); D Keenan; J Brady; E O'Gara; A McFadden (M Murphy 43).

UUJ: S McCormack; R McNabb; R Pickering; A McClean; E Wade; G McCartan; C McGinley; N McAdam; A McArdle; M Donnelly (C Donnelly 41); L McLoone; P Hughes; P Devlin; K Hughes; D McNulty.

Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo).

NUIM Upset the odds

NUIM: 2 -11

UCC: 2-08

NUI MAYNOOTH have suffered heartache at this stage of the Sigerson Cup in recent years but yesterday they finally got a taste of glory as they defeated UCC to qualify for their first final since 1976.

The Kildare side, lining out in their county colours, were the underdogs going into this clash with the defending champions, despite knocking out a strong UCD side in the quarter finals.

An early goal from Mark Collins suggested that the favourites might just run away with the match but Maynooth stuck their heads down an battled back to take a one point lead into the break.

They started the second half in scintillating fashion and goals from Michael Newman and David Quinn helped them race into an eight point lead.

Cork were not going to relinquish their title without a fight and they rallied in the final quarter. A goal from John Buckley brought them right back into the match.

UCC rattled off four unanswered points to reduce the deficit to just two with six minutes remaining but Maynooth were in no mood to be denied. Points from Paul Cahillane and Michael Newman ensured Maynooth gained the victory they deserved.

UCC manager Billy Morgan was fuming after a late point was called wide by the umpires but his side’s second goal appeared to be saved by Maynooth keeper Shane Connolly.

Maynooth coach Seán Cotter expressed his sides’ joy at finally reaching the final after their third attempt. “For two years in a row we have lost in semi finals and there was no way we were going to come down here and be beaten,” he said.

They were expecting UCC to come out fighting in the second half but were determined to hang on for the win. “We knew UCC would throw the kitchen sink at us in the second half and they gave us a bit of a scare but we came back. We threw the bath at them and all,” he added!

NUIM manager John Divilly won an All-Ireland medal with Galway in 1998 and is the only person involved with the team to have a Sigerson medal. He told his side after the game that he wants that to change today. It will be tough against DCU but after all the heartache of recent years, today may just be their day.

Scorers – NUIM: M Newman 1-4 (3f); D Quinn 1-1; P Cahillane 0-2; S Hurley 0-2; S Denvir 0-1; T Moolick 0-1. UCC: S O’Brien 1-1; M Collins 1-1 (1f), B O'Driscoll 0-2 (1 '45'); P Geaney 0-1; M Reen 0-1; J Buckley 0-1; K O'Driscoll 0-1.

NUIM: S Connolly; D Dalton; K O'Brien; K Lynch; T Moolick; J McDermott; S Denvir; C Berrigan; C Brophy; M Newman; S Hurley; C Mullins (S O’Hanlon 47); P Cahillane; J Califf (O’Griofa 40); D Quinn (S Fahey 57).

UCC: D Ferry; S Enright; E O'Mahony; J O'Sullivan; P Crowley; N Daly; B Daly; J Buckley; K O'Driscoll; D Nation (M Reen 38); M Collins; JB Spillane; S O'Brien (B Moran 56); P Geaney; B O'Driscoll.
Referee: S Carroll (Westmeath).

At Last!

Connacht 26

Edinburgh Rugby 13

MICHAEL Bradley did not enjoy a happy return to the Sportsgrounds last night as his former team not only beat Edinburgh but denied them a bonus point with a try at the death.

That last minute try ensured Connacht got their first league win since September and also meant they leap frogged the visitors in the table. The westerners now lie ninth and are unbeaten in three games.

After an evenly contested opening quarter Connacht struck first. Niall O’Connor’s well taken penalty gave the home side the early advantage. They stretched that even further shortly afterwards through excellent work in the scrum. The pack got a shove on and turned an Edinburgh scrum inside the visitors’ 22. Scrum half Murphy pounced on the ball and after Kyle Tonnetti was stopped short of the line, possession was retained through Mike McCarthy and Michael Swift. The ball found its way to Fetu Vainikolo who sprinted across the line for his first league try for Connacht. O’Connor added the conversion to give Connacht a 10 -0 lead going into the break.

Another good penalty from O’Connor shortly after the match resumed stretched that lead to 13 points. Falling further behind seemed to bring Edinburgh alive. O’Connor’s attempted clearance kick inside his 22 was charged down and Tim Visser grabbed the opportunity to score his 15^th try of the season. Godman missed the conversion.

Despite that mini revival Connacht looked to be in control of the game when winger Tom Brown was sinbinned and O’Connor scored the resulting penalty. That wasn’t the case. The sinbinning reinvigorated Edinburgh. Scrumhalf Leck broke inside the Connacht half and two quick passes later the ball was in the safe hands of Chris Paterson who ran in for Edinburgh’s second try. Godman’s conversion attempt struck the post.

However, Godman made no mistake with his penalty right in front of the posts and with sixty minutes on the clock, Connacht’s lead had been reduced to three. Matthew Jarvis came on for O’Connor and his sixty ninth minute penalty steadied the nerves around the Sportsground.

Mike McCarthy’s try in the right corner was greeted by elation and relief around the Sportsground as it gave Connacht their first win since they beat the Dragons way back on September 23.

Eric Elwood as hugely relieved to see his side finally secure a league victory after so long. “Thankfully we hung on at the end and got ourselves back into it. Good persistence down near their line and a good reward when Mike got his try. We could breathe a sigh of relief when the final whistle went,” he said.

Scorers - Connacht: N O’Connor 11 (3 pens, 1 con); M Jarvis 5 (1 pen, 1 con); F Vainikolo 5 (1 try); M McCarthy 5 (1 try). Edinburgh: T Visser 5 (1 try); C Patterson 5 (1 try); P Godman 3 (1 pen).

Connacht: G Duffy (capt); F Vainikolo; K Tonetti; H Faafili (E Griffin 49 mins); T O’Halloran; N O’Connor (M Jarvis 57 mins); F Murphy; D Buckley (B Wilkinson 54 mins); A Flavin (E Reynecke 61 mins); R Loughney ( S Magurie 76 mins); M Swift; M McCarthy; J Muldoon; E Grace; G Naoupu.
Edinburgh: C Paterson (D Fife 71 mins); T Brown; J Thompson; M Scott; T Visser; G Hunter (P Godman half time) C Leck; K Traynor; A Kelly; J Gilding ( U Gamboa 59 mins); G Gilchrist; S Cox (E Lozada 73 mins); S McInally; R Grant (capt); N Talei.
Referee: C Damasco (Italy). 

Three time winner Loftus launches Sigerson Cup *

Dr Mick Loftus launches the Sigerson Cup image: mediacontact.ie

DR MICK LOFTUS returned to his old college last week and reminded everyone present of the importance of the Sigerson Cup in the lives of young footballers. At a time when the tussle between counties and colleges over players is so intense his words have a special resonance.

Dr Loftus was the special guest at the launch of the 2012 Sigerson Cup finals which was held on Monday 13 February. The finals are in NUIG this Friday and Saturday, 24 and 25 February and before the ceremony he shared some of his memories of the Sigerson Cup.

He reminisced about the six years he played football for UCG (now NUIG) and the three Sigerson Cup winning teams he played on. His memories are not just of matches won and lost but of the friendships forged on the college football field that have lasted a lifetime.

These friendships and the bonds formed between players are what have endured in the decades since. “I think it was one of the greatest benefits I accrued from it, being involved in the Sigerson. What it meant, not alone playing and meeting all the players and being involved and all the travelling but also the friendships. Those friendships have lasted up to this day and that’s 64 years ago.

“To be involved in the Sigerson meant so much and in so many ways, the commitment, the involvement, the friendships. What it meant, away from the games was the friendships,” he added.

The young Mick Loftus embarked on his career as a medical student after winning an All-Ireland minor medal with Mayo and that victory brought him to the attention of the football captain. He recalls in vivid detail the day he was asked to join the team.

“I came to college here in October 1947 and that year I played in the minor All-Ireland with Mayo. I always remember I was just down in Johnny Ward’s, a little store down by the canal, and Billy Kenny who was captain of the team at the time came over to me and says ‘Would you care to be involved with the team?’ and I says ‘Sure.” He knew I had played in the All-Ireland and he was getting his panel together.

The launch was held in the Aula Maxima and it was an apt venue for the occasion for it was where he spent many hours training indoors with the football team. “We did our main training, the running and that, out in Fahey’s Field out the Dublin Road and believe it or not we used to have to run out there. They were hard sessions and we were very fit.”

Modern football managers employ many strategies and techniques in their quest for glory but even sixty years ago, managers were using innovative ideas in their to bid develop and improve their teams. NUIG’s Aula Maxima was the venue for novel training sessions for the football team.

“We used to come in here to do our press ups and all the rest and Paddy Higgins, God be good to him, even had somebody with us doing ballet sessions. It was here in the Aula we used to do it, at night time and then we’d go down to the boat club for a shower afterwards. Out in Fahy’s field the showers were cold and that in November wasn’t great,” Dr Loftus adds.

Dr Loftus won three Sigerson Cups during his six years as a medical student in UCG, in 1948, 1950 and 1954. The second of those triumphs came during a glorious year for Gaelic Games in the college. “I remember in 1950 we won the Fitzgibbon (hurling), the Ashbourne (camogie) and the Sigerson and they gave a free day here in the college,” he recounts.

Dr Loftus not only recalls his former teammates but he has fond memories too of the men who guided the football team. “When I think of the people who were in charge of us, Paddy Higgins, Mick Higgins and Professor Eoin McKenna, was the chairman of the club and the supervisor of exams, and he didn’t do us any harm on occasions that he was in charge of that area!” he smiled.

Dr Loftus said that it was an honour and a privilege to be asked back to NUIG to launch this year’s competition and had one wish for his countymen on this year’s team. “Thinking of 1950 and 1951 I hope that the Mayomen on the team can do this year what they did in ’50 and ’51.”

Sadly those Mayomen will not be following in Dr Loftus’s Sigerson footprints this year as NUIG bowed out in the quarter finals last Wednesday. Hopefully come next September they will be climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift the Sam Maguire just as he did all those years ago.

* This article first appeared in the Western People on 21 February 2012

Remembering Ronan Lawlor *

Ronan Lawlor image: irishracing.com

RACING at Gowran Park on Saturday was about so much more than Cheltenham clues or having winners, important as they are. It was about celebrating the life of a young man who died doing what he loved.

Ronan Lawlor was just 21 when he died tragically on 16 February 2010 and his life and memory were celebrated by his family and friends in the Ronan Lawlor Memorial Pro Am Flat Race.  The idea of having a race in Ronan’s memory at his local track came from his friends.

Patrick Mullins, who approached Margaret Fogarty of Gowran Park, explains why Ronan’s friends wanted to remember him on this day. “Myself, Emmet Mullins, Gavin Shiels, Conor Fahy and William Morrissey wanted to do something to remember Ronan and we thought of having the race. The accident happened on the Tuesday and we had all been racing in Gowran on Red Mills Day. His last day racing was that Saturday and that’s why we wanted to have the race on Red Mills Day.

“He was a fantastic friend. No one ever said a bad word about Ronan. He got on with everyone. He was just a very rare person and we were all very lucky to know him. We just want to keep his memory alive,” said Patrick.

“Me and Ronan went to primary school together in Leighlinbridge and we were best friends from first class the whole way up through primary school.”

Ronan regularly went racing with the Mullins family growing up and was a lucky charm for their great chaser, Florida Pearl, on his triumphant days at Leopardstown. Patrick and the Mullins family have some treasured memories of Ronan’s time with them.

“He went racing with us and he was there for all of Florida Pearl’s Hennessy’s. It was a bit of a tradition. We have a picture of myself, Emmet and Ronan with the Hennessy Gold Cup after Florida Pearl won it in 2002. Ronan was part of the team.”

Patrick explains how his friend came to be a jump jockey. “Eventually he learned to ride and he started to ride out in Pat Fahy’s up the road. He was great friends with Pat’s son Connor. He rode out there for a couple of years during school and then he went down to David Wachman’s to become an apprentice. He rode 20 or 30 races for David Wachman but he got too tall and heavy so he came back to Pat’s with a view to becoming a jump jockey.”

Ronan was also a talented footballer and hurler. He played for Leighlinbridge and Naomh Bríd. He was part of the minor football panel which made history by reaching the Leinster final in 2007 and Ronan proudest day in the Carlow colours was when he scored 1-2 in a victory over MEath.

Last year was the first ever Ronan Lawlor Memorial Race. It was a beginners’ chase and had a very apt and poignant winner. Tawaagg, the winner, was trained by Willie Mullins. Winning owner, Eamonn Duignan, has also helped to remember Ronan.

“We were very lucky our own horse won the race last year. It was great to win it. Eamonn Duignan, who owned Tawaag, very kindly donated a perpetual trophy. He bought it for this year’s race. We are very grateful to Eamon and to Margaret Fogarty, general manger of Gowran Park.”

They decided to change the race to a bumper this year because Conor and Patrick are both amateur jockeys and would like to ride in it. Patrick didn’t get the chance this year but Conor came fourth on Busty Brown, trained by his father Pat.

In the freezing glow of the setting winter’s sun, Ronan’s family and friends gathered under the trees in Gowran’s winners’ enclosure to present the connections of Kilcrea with the silver trophy. The race is a fitting tribute to the memory of a wonderful friend who died following his dream. “We are hoping to keep the race there for as long as we are alive. We would like to keep his memory alive,” added Patrick.

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist on 21 February 2012

Rubi Lights up Gowran*

Rubi Light image:stanjames.com

A VICIOUS hailstorm and an unexpected flurry of snow lashed the bumper crowd at Gowran Park on Saturday but by the end of the evening the sun was shining once again and they headed home happy after Rubi Light and Zaidpour showcased their class and Cheltenham credentials in the day’s feature events.

Rubi Light was a shock winner of the Grade 2 Red Mills chase at this meeting last year but his subsequent performances have shown that success was no fluke. He was a close third in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham festival after his Gowran victory and followed that up with a win at the highest level in Punchestown’s John Durkan Memorial Chase.

Everything Rubi Light had achieved in the intervening 12 months meant he was sent off the red-hot favourite to record back to back victories in the two and a half mile event. He was sent to the front from flag fall by jockey Andrew Lynch and he never saw another horse for the rest of the race. His rivals could offer no challenge to him and the only threat to victory was a mistake at the second last when he slipped through the top. That was only a minor scare as he ran out an easy 16 length winner from Chicago Grey. A return trip to Prestbury Park is next up for Robbie Hennessy’s gelding after his facile victory in this year’s renewal.

Afterwards trainer Robbie Hennessy was delighted with Rubi Light’s performance. “Andrew said he was a long time in front and it was just like a school for him. He just popped round and was very good. He would probably be even better with a bit of company early on. Andrew was impressed with him and I was too.”

Robbie and his father Bill saw their colours carried to victory in Cheltenham’s Champion Hurdle by Sublimity and have high hopes that Rubi Light will bring them back into the winners’ enclosure in just over three weeks, as long as it rains. He is now 5/1 with Boylesports to do just that.

“He’ll be bang there if he gets a bit of soft ground. Andrew said when he got off him last year that he wouldn’t want the ground any quicker. By the Friday the ground would have been too fast for him so we’ll be praying for a bit of rain.”

image: thescore.ie

Andrew Lynch was completing a quickfire double, having steered Harpsy Chord to victory in the opening beginners’ chase for trainer Jim Dreaper in the colours of Sizing Europe’s owners Alan and Ann Potts.

Zaidpour was an equally impressive winner of the day’s other Grade 2 race, the Red Mills Trial Hurdle. Willie Mullins’ charge had been hyped as a novice last season but disappointed a little in a couple of Grade Ones.

However this season has seen him live up to that early promise and before Saturday’s race had run up a hat trick of wins this season, including beating Voler La Vedette over three miles at Gowran last time out.

Rich Ricci’s pale pink and green silks are now a familiar sight in Irish winners’ enclosures after big races and the drop back to two miles was no hindrance to Zaidpour carrying them to success here.

Zaidpour clears the last image: healy racing

Paul Townend was content to settle Zaidpour in behind the leaders in the early stages of the race as Gimli’s Rock took them along. He moved alongside the leaders on the run to four out and was travelling smoothly as he took the lead on the run to the second last flight. Townend never moved a muscle and Zaidpour never came out of a canter as his rivals struggled in behind and the pair coasted home by six and a half lengths.

Mullins was happy with his performance. “That was straight forward enough and he jumped well and showed lots of speed. He did it well and if I could find another nice race like that I would.”

Willie Mullins didn’t say where Zaidpour is headed next but he holds entries in both the Champion and World Hurdles.

Ballynacree had the race course buzzing with excitement after his sensational debut in the two mile maiden hurdle. The race was delayed slightly as first hail and then snow fell on the course but it was worth waiting for. Christy Roche’s charge was the least fancied of three JP McManus owned runners, sent off at 40/1.

Ballynacree swoops on the outside image: healy racing

As the field turned for home there were plenty of horses in with chances and Ballynacree was behind them. Even jumping the last he had a couple of lengths to find on the leaders. He quickened up in style for Jody McGarvey after that and flew up the run-in, six lengths clear of Enchanted Forest.

Afterwards, Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, was quietly impressed with the horse. “He did it well and quickened up well when the penny dropped. He’s a nice horse with a bit of size about him.”

* This article first appeared in The Nationalist on 21 February 2010

Edinburgh offer shot at redemption

image: thejournal.ie

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood admitted he was hugely disappointed with his side’s flat performance against Glasgow on Saturday. The province needed a last gasp penalty from Niall O’Connor to salvage a draw after a very poor opening half.

“We were disappointed with our performance particularly in the first forty minutes and we spoke again at our meeting about that. The good thing is that we made improvements in the second half, we did apply pressure and we got ourselves back into the game,” he said.

However Elwood was looking for the positives out of Saturday’s match, as the draw put an end to the team’s ten match losing streak in the league. ”The most pleasing thing of all, taking those two things out, is that we got two points out of a game that we felt at half time we didn’t look like we were going to get. To get something out of the game and to play as poorly as we did is a huge positive for us.”

The next step for Connacht is to get a win under their belts but to do this they will have to work on putting in a performance for the entire game and to eradicate the silly penalties which have blighted their season so far.

“The key for us now is to take it forward to this weekend where we can get the performance, the intensity and the tempo levels up in our game and get the four points which we are ultimately looking for this weekend,” he explained.

Elwood dismissed speculation that the return of Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley to Connacht for the first time since he left would overshadow the game or impinge on his side’s preparations for their crunch tie on Friday night. Winning against Edinburgh is their only motivation.

“The key for us is the four points. I know its very clichéd but that is the key. We need to put those two things together to put in a big performance and ultimately a good enough performance that is capable of winning the match. It is a big opportunity for four points,” he said.

Elwood anticipates a massive try scoring threat from Edinburgh. Dutch star Tim Visser is the league’s top scorer for the third season and he and younger brother Seb offer a huge threat on the wings. Connacht will have to shackle both of them to win.

“They have scored a hell of a lot of points and they have scored a lot of tries because that’s the nature of their play. They haven’t deviated from that, even with personnel missing. They will play a wide expansive game for sure.

The match gives Connacht the opportunity to move up the league table. Victory over the Scottish side on Friday night, would mean that Connacht would over take Edinburgh and move up to ninth, enhancing their chances of remaining in the Heineken Cup. Elwood fully believes in his team’s ability to do just that.

“We know we are capable of beating them. We do have a good record against them and we would like to continue that on Friday. We leap frog Edinburgh if we beat them at the weekend so there’s a start and that’s what we are looking for.

We are not looking any further. All that matters is Edinburgh. If we beat Edinburgh on Friday we jump ahead of them,” he added.

Connacht capture White

Nathan White image:sportinglife.com

CONNACHT’s scrum is set for a serious injection of power with the capture of Nathan White from Leinster. He will move west at the end of this season, after signing a three year deal.

The move is coup for Connacht and a welcome boost to the forwards who have suffered from a lack of experience in the front row this season since Jamie Hagan’s move to Leinster.

White, who captained Waikato before moving to Leinster, is renowned for his ferocity in the scrum and his exceptional leadership ability. During his captaincy he led All Black legends Marty Holah, Mils Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu. White will add strength and experience to the Connacht pack.

“Nathan will bring some maturity and  a lot of experience to that, not only in his individual scrimmaging technique but also in his leadership across the front of the line. We are hoping he will compliment the guys that we have already and bring through the younger fellas,” explained Dan McFarland, assistant coach.

“He’s industrious. He’s a New Zealander, Waikato, known for their aggressive and work man like forward play. He does carry ball for Leinster but he’s a hard worker for a tight head prop,” he added.

Before signing for Connacht, White told the team’s management that he liked their style of rugby and the ethos of the club and these factors influenced his decision to move west.

It takes a certain type of player to play for Connacht and Eric Elwood is sure that Nathan White has what it takes to be a success in Galway. “The key for me when you meet someoneIt’s important for us that when you come to Connacht he has to be the right type of person and a good fit. From talking to Nathan and the three or four times I met him I could see that straight away,” he said.

Elwood was impressed with White’s knowledge and understanding of Connacht rugby and what the province is trying to build and achieve. He is certain that White will easily integrate into the team.

“He understands what this region is about as well because he was quite openly able to talk about and that was also pleasing. It wasn’t a case of ‘I’m going down there, I can get a contract.’ He knew exactly where he was coming to, what it was about, what it meant. He had done his homework. I know he’ll fit in,” he added.

Elwood is confident that White’s experience of captaining Waikato will be beneficial to Connacht and help to develop the province in the future. “We are talking about creating a culture and bringing on the younger boys and I can see him actually shaping the culture of some of our older, more experienced players and that’s only positive for us and the team,” he explained.

Same Circus, Different Clowns*

image: telegraph.co.uk

Rumours and whispers swirl around Stamford Bridge. Speculation about the manager intensifies. Roman Abramovich has another burst of one of his sporadic episodes of attention and intervention. The club he bought to bring him Champions League glory is in danger of missing out on qualifying for the tournament that so mesmerises him.

Chelsea has been here before, so many times during Abramovich’s nine year reign. It’s the same old circus but different clowns. Substitute Andre Villas Boas for Luiz Felipe Scolari or any of the other six managers who have been shown their way out of the revolving door at Stamford Bridge and you could be watching the same story unfold.

This time the story should have a different ending. If Abramovich is intent on building a club for the future then Villas Boas should be allowed to continue as manager. He is barely seven months into a monumental task – rebuilding an aging side and replacing them with one moulded in his likeness, not that of his former mentor and boss Jose Mourinho.

Abramovich should remember that is why he paid Porto such vast amounts in compensation for poaching their highly successful young coach away. Pampered players, past their prime and used to wielding far too much pressure and influence over the owner and the direction of the club, may not like it but they will have to get over themselves for the good of the club.

Seven months is not long enough to give anyone, let alone a manager confronted with such a huge burden. Villas Boas is looking towards the future and for once Abramovich should be too. The club is not doing all that badly, considering it is going through a prolonged and period of transition. The team may lie outside of the coveted Champions’ League positions but it is only one point worse off than this time last year so all is not lost.

The quest for the holy grail continues unabated. The Blues face Napoli in the knock out stages of that competition next week and although a trip to Italy is a tricky enough prospect Chelsea are also in the fifth round of the FA Cup but Championship side Birmingham stand in the way of progression on Saturday. It is a tie that has the potential for an upset but it’s not the hardest of draws.

Frank Lampard, a key figure in the dressing room, is reported to be unhappy with his treatment by Villas Boas. It must be hard to come to terms with taking instruction and advice from a manager who isn’t even a year older than you. Surely Lampard, with all his reputed intelligence, can see that Villas Boas treatment is for his benefit. Sir Alex Ferguson’s selective use of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs prolonged their careers at the highest level.

Villas Boas is striving to build a young, dynamic team that plays football according to his vision but his use of Lampard suggests that the older generation still have an important role to play. The older players in the squad don’t appear to share that vision and are unwilling or unable to embrace it.  On the pitch the sight of them carelessly losing possession and misplacing tackles has infuriated and disheartened in equal measures this season

The one player who has continued to shine during these difficult few months is Juan Mata. Villas Boas’ first major signing has been at the heart of all that has been good about Chelsea these past few months. He is the creative spark who can ignite Chelsea in the future. The manager’s other young signings - Oriol Romeu and Romelu Lukaka - have both shown promise for the future.

The Special One continues to be a spectral presence, hovering over Stamford Bridge like Banquo’s ghost at Macbeth’s feast. The only manager who has ever come close to replacing him in the affections of the fans and players was Guus Hiddink and he had the good sense to hightail it out of London after rescuing the club in 2009 and guiding them to FA Cup glory. It seems that Mourinho haunts his protégé’s every move. Reports this week suggest that some players still loyal to their former general text him regularly.

These relationships can only undermine Villas Boas and are detrimental to the well being of the team. For the sake of the future it is time to lay Mourinho’s ghost to rest and finally move on with André Villas Boas.

*This article first appeared on vavel.com

Cheltenham Countdown*

With only four weeks to the start of the Cheltenham Festival, the countdown is on in earnest. The Irish season has been dominated by one man – Willie Mullins - and he has assembled a formidable team for the four days. Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud is giving JP McManus a fight for the champion owner’s crown this season. O’Leary has some exciting novice hurdlers and chasers to go to war with in four weeks. Unsurprisingly, these two forces dominate the Irish Cheltenham challenge. So with time ticking by here are a few of their horses to put in your notebook for the four days in March.

Boston Bob

A muddy Boston Bob jumps the last at Leopardstown image:sportinglife.com

Transferred to Mullins’ yard after the retirement of trainer Howard Johnson, he is unbeaten in three starts in Ireland. His latest run was highly impressive winning the Grade Two hurdle at Leopardstown two weeks ago on ground he hated. He is entered in both the Neptune Investments Novice Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle and whichever race he goes for he is sure to have a huge chance.

Odds

Albert Bartlett 5/1

Neptune Investments 6/1

Champagne Fever

Champagne Fever leads the field at Fairyhouse image:racingpost.com

Willie Mullins record in the Champion Bumper is second to none. Each year the question everyone always wants to know the answer to is What’s Willie running in the bumper. He usually has a few runners and at the moment this horse looks to be the leading contender. His victory at Fairyhouse last month was eye catching and the bookies reacted by making him favourite for Cheltenham even though he still has to be entered.

Odds

Champion Bumper 8/1 – 10/1

Sir Des Champs

Sir Des Champs and Emmet Mullins image:wpmullins.com

Gigginstown House Stud and Willie Mullins combine with this horse. Unbeaten in two starts over fences, he is already a festival winner. He looks to be improving with each run over the larger obstacles. The English believe defeat for Grands Crus in the RSA Chase is out of the question but if Sir Des Champs takes his place in the line up, they just might have to think the unthinkable.

Odds

Arkle Novices’ Chase 25/ - 40/1

Jewson Novices’ Chase 5/1 – 7/1

RSA Chase 10/1 – 12/1

First Lieutenant

First Lieutenant and Davy Russell image:irishracing.com

Another Gigginstown House Stud horse, this time trained by Mouse Morris. He too is a festival winner, having won last year’s Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle. This time around he has been overshadowed by another Gigginstown runner, Last Instalment, who has swept all before him this season. However First Lieutenant was the unconsidered Irish horse in the race last year. Form on the track and on the likely good ground are important at Cheltenham and First Lieutenant has both. He is not one to be ignored.

Odds

Jewson Novices’ Chase 12/1 – 20/1

RSA Chase 8/1

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist 14 February 2010

Mullins delivers another glorious Sunday*

Ruby Walsh and Quel Esprit jumping the last image:irishtimes.com

Another Sunday, another Grade One winner for trainer Willie Mullins. The Closutton trainer is in scintillating form this season and his unstoppable run continued at Leopardstown on Sunday when Quel Esprit won one of the most prestigious races of the Irish season, the Hennessy Gold Cup. The grey gave Willie Mullins his eight victory in the race and he was a second winner for jockey Ruby Walsh.

It was an ingenious ride by Ruby Walsh who let Quel Esprit move into the lead from Bostons Angel after jumping the third fence. Bowling along in front, the leader made one blunder at the fence before the stands on the first circuit but it didn’t affect his momentum. Jumping down the back straight he put in tremendous leaps at a couple, taking a length or two out of the chasing pack. While the others were jostling for position in behind, Quel Esprit was travelling best of all as the field turned for home. Another fine leap at the last sealed victory for Quel Esprit and although Roberto Goldback emerged from the pack to give chase he was well held by the winner at the line by two lengths with Treacle staying on for third five and a half lengths adrift.

image: telegraph.co.uk

It was a masterful training performance by Mullins and demonstrated exactly why he is champion trainer. Quel Esprit was a highly promising novice chaser but had a confidence sapping 2011. In three Grade One novice chases in a row last season Quel Esprit suffered two falls and was brought down in the third. Mullins started him off in lower grade races this year, first in Naas and then in Thurles to build his confidence back up before stepping him up to Grade One company. The plan worked to perfection on Sunday with just one mistake in an otherwise faultless round of jumping from Quel Esprit.

After the race Mullins was delighted with Quel Esprit, who fulfilled the potential he had shown at home, and with Ruby Walsh’s tactics. “The horse galloped and jumped all day which is what we were hoping he would do as a younger horse. Things just fell apart last year but he got it all together this year. When he needed jumps, Ruby asked him and he gave him the jumps. Ruby gave him a very brave ride and it paid off. He wasn’t afraid to let him to the front and just jump from fence to fence. He didn’t wait around for anyone. He just let the horse do the talking and got him jumping fantastically.”

“We are not worried about the next day. Today’s the day and he wins the Irish Gold Cup for these owners. We’ll worry about the next day after a few drinks tonight and we’ll chat to the owners!” he smiled.

image: sportinglife.com

Ruby Walsh, who was riding his first winner in the race for Mullins said that Robbie Power had made it a test of stamina. “He travelled well and jumped well. We didn’t hang around. We went a real good gallop. Puppy was fairly intent on making it a good gallop and he was pushing me along on Bostons Angel. We didn’t steady up at any stage. It was more like riding in a Grade One in England than in Ireland.”

He was impressed with Quel Esprit’s jumping, but the horse had always shown lots of talent at home. “He got in a little bit close to the last on the first circuit and maybe one down the back but other than that he was very good. He was unlucky last year. When we schooled all these horses as novices 18 months ago he was the best of them. From day one he was the stand out jumper. He just got a bit unlucky and when a horse gets unlucky it dents their confidence and Willie’s done a lot with him since to get that back.”

Mullins confirmed that Quel Esprit’s next intended run is in the Betfred Gold Cup at Cheltenham on 16 March for which he is now 14/1. “I often think that if you have one you should go for it. That would be my attitude anyway!” he added.

Quel Esprit was the highlight of a treble on the card for his trainer but his winning stablemates are not certain to join him on the boat to Cheltenham in four weeks time.

Catleen and Ruby Walsh image:irishracing.com

Catleen and Ruby Walsh took the mare’s handicap hurdle while Pique Sous was a well backed favourite for the bumper and accelerated like a rocket when asked to by Patrick Mullins rounding the home turn to come home four lengths clear in ground the trainer and jockey said didn’t suit. He is now 10/1 second favourite for the Champion Bumper.

However it wasn’t all smiles for the all-conquering team. Ut de Sivola disappointed when finishing a well beaten favourite in the opening Grade One for four year olds. Afterwards Mullins said. “He’s been having training problems. He looked like he needed more experience and he jumped too big. Maybe the training problems impacted on him.” Sous Les Cieux made a blunder at the second last in the Grade One Deloitte novice hurdle that stopped him in his tracks but by the time he got going again Benefficient had got away to spring a shock victory at 50/1. Sous Les Cieux was closing all the way to the line.

Pique Sous and Pstrick Mullins irishracing.com

Curragh trainer Dermot Weld won the opening Grade One Spring Juvenile hurdle for the second year in a row. Victorious last year with top class filly Unaccompanied, this time round it was Hisaabat in the winner’s enclosure. Dr. Ronan Lambe’s gelding had been second on his three starts before Sunday and had been running well in defeat.

Winning trainer Dermot Weld felt that jockey Andrew Lynch got the tactics spot on and that made all the difference to a horse that had been running good races but just coming up short.

“He did it well and he got a lovely ride from Andrew. He’s run three seconds and he’s had three runs and I just felt that maybe there was a little more in him. I think Andrew learned from when he rode him here the last day. He gave him the perfect ride. I just thought if he waited a little longer he would deliver the goods and he did today,” he explained.

Weld confirmed that Hisaabet will line up for the Triumph hurdle at the festival. “I think he will be going. He’s got a realistic chance. He’s progressive, he’s consistent and he should run well.”
*This article first appeared in The Nationalist  14 February 2012

Elwood Targets Glasgow Victory

Eric Elwood

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood is hopeful that his side can bounce back from yet another tight defeat in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 when they take on Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.

The province suffered yet another agonizingly close loss in Cardiff last Friday, going down by 22 points to 15 and the issues that have plagued them all season, conceding penalties and not taking scoring chances, were again to blame in Wales.

“It’s becoming a familiar story and it’s like the theme of this year,” Elwood admitted on Monday evening. “We are disappointed and we weren’t at our very best. We did create enough of opportunities – four or five opportunities – and just the final pass and a little bit of accuracy in our execution we could have won the game.”

Discipline, again, was an issue for the westerners. They conceded five penalties in kickable positions and the Blues’ Ben Blair gratefully accepted the scoring opportunities Connacht offered him.

Elwood was disappointed by the concession of so many penalties as they gave Cardiff a platform to build their victory on.

“Again we were disappointed with our discipline. They got five kicks at goal and he got the five of them. Again we outscored a team by two tries to one and we lost the game because of our discipline and because we didn’t take our chances. So it’s very difficult from that point of view as it’s another missed opportunity for sure,” he said.

Elwood and his staff have a lot of hard work lined up for the team in training this week, as they bid to eradicate the errors that have blighted some terrific performances this season.

“We need to have a bit more bite in our training and need to be tougher on ourselves and more accurate when we are running our plays and practicing our drills. It’s very important to recognize that what you do in training has a huge bearing on how you play. It’s about training hard, working hard and certainly being good at the basic skills of catching and passing. We tried to replicate that today.”

The breakdown will be key in determining the outcome of Friday’s clash with Glasgow and it is an area they will be spending a lot of time on in heavier training sessions tomorrow and later in the week.

Connacht picked up a couple of knocks in the defeat to Cardiff on Friday night, with Ray Ofisa a doubt for Friday’s game against Glasgow Warriors in the Sportsground. He suffered a medial ligament injury and a chipped elbow on last Friday night.

There was some positive news on the injury front with Elwood hopeful that Eoin Griffin and Frank Murphy would be able to return to the squad for Friday’s home clash. “They haven’t had a lot of training underneath their belts as regards rugby. It might be a bit too soon for Frank but hopefully Eoin Griffin will be back,” he added.

Elwood and his men are hurting after that defeat and they are determined to take their pain out on Glasgow this weekend, he warned. “We really have got to make Glasgow pay for the disappointment of last week. The key for us is to get that win at home to give ourselves a chance against Edinburgh the following week. Two home games, two games we targeted. It’s up to us to front up on Friday and get the four points we are looking for.”

Old Failings Haunt Connacht

George Naoupu image:rabodirectpro12.com

Cardiff Blues 22
Connacht 15
THE old failings which haunted Connacht before the win over Harlequins and the two week break returned to with a vengeance in the old Arms Park last night. With chances to win the game in the second half they simply were not clinical enough in possession.

They notched up another worryingly high penalty count again, conceding seven penalties to Cardiff’s one though some of referee Andrew McMenemy’s calls were debatable to say the least. Connacht were punished for their indiscipline through the boot of Blues full back Ben Blair who kicked 17 of his side’s total.

Replacement scrum half Dave Moore came off the bench for his third cap and rescued a bonus point for the Westerners at the death but it was cold comfort for Eric Elwood and his side as they fell to a tenth straight defeat in the league.

It had all been so different 80 minutes previously. A bright start by the visitors meant that they were 3 -0 up inside three minutes, through a Niall O’Connor penalty. Things got even better for the westerners when Tiernan O’Halloran put them in the lead after great build up play from a line out. A lovely looped pass from Duffy sent O’Halloran over in the corner for his fifth try of the season. However the unerring boot of Ben Blair meant they went in at the break 12 – 10 down.

It was an entertaining contest with both sides willing to spread the ball wide and run at the opposition defence. Blair put the home side further in front with another penalty. Then the try that the Blues had threatened to score all evening finally came. Martyn Williams, on his first start for five months, made the break but there was more than a hint of a knock on when he got the ball. The Blues went through the phases and eventually Sam Hobbs crashed over beneath the posts.

Connacht tried to force their way back into the game and had a couple of chances to score their second try. Duffy an O’Halloran combined well throughout the match and good interlinking between the pair sent scrumhalf Paul O’Donoghue  free but he was hauled down close to the line. Duffy again was involved in another Connacht attack that broke down when his pass to Mike McCarthy didn’t go to hand. However, his chipped kick to O’Halloran, inside his 22, was grabbed by the winger, who then ran almost the entire pitch, before offloading to Moore. His first try for Connacht secured the bonus point.

Elwood, and captain Gavin Duffy, had stated earlier this week that their ambition for the remainder of the season was to achieve Connacht’s highest ever finish in the league. However they will have to iron out those penalty problems and develop a ruthless streak if they are to have any chance of doing so.

Spring is a time for hope and new beginnings and Connacht will certainly hope for a fresh start at home to Edinburgh next weekend if they are to achieve their goals.

Scorers - Cardiff Blues: B Blair 17(5 pens, 1 con); S Hobbs 5 (1 try). Connacht: N O’Connor 5 (1 pen, 1 con); T O’Halloran 5 (1 try); D Moore 5 (1 try).

CARDIFF BLUES: B Blair; R Mustoe; T James; C Laulala (G Davies 35); C Czekaj; C Sweeney; R Rees; J Yapp (Trevett 75); T Thomas (Tyrell 48); S Hobbs (Harford 68); M Paterson; P Tito (capt.)(Cook 75); M Molitika (Hill 57); M Williams; X Rush.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; F Vainikolo; K Tonetti; D McSharry (H Fa’afili 44); T O’Halloran; N O’Connor (M Jarvis 68); P O’Donohoe (D Moore 68); B Wilkinson (D Buckley 74); A Flavin (E Reynecke 53); R Loughney; M Swift; M McCarthy; J Muldoon; R Ofisa (D Gannon 24); G Naoupu (M Kearney).

Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)