Mexican Jet wins the John Hennessy Memorial Puppy Draghunt at Coppeen

Mexican Jet produced her best run of the season to win the John Hennessy memorial Puppy draghunt at Coppeen.

Credit to the organisers they provided a top class draghunt with the hounds enjoying the open clean running terrain.

Reports from the vantage points suggested the hounds were travelling at pace and there was a great view when they came into sight on the finish.

As the hounds came closer to the finishing tape it was evident the winner looked in full stride and he had little problem holding kennelmate Kempes both from the Gerry Murphy and Sheila Cummins Shanakiel harriers kennel.

The mother and daughter training partnership of Lorraine and Julie Freyne have certainly a promising hound in the aptly named Born to Run as he ran another cracking draghunting race to snatch third ticket.

The connections who started with Clogheen before moving to Northern Hunt and they have started this season in very impressive fashion.

Border Tom ran his usual consistent race to fill fourth place with Casey Jack bouncing back to form for Southern/Carrigaline trainers Ger and Jennifer Kenneally.

Barry O’Keeffe and Thomas Cochrane completed a good race for the Shanakiel club when taking the final ticket in sixth.

Naturally the winning connections were elated to witness their hound win his first draghunt of the campaign.

“I suppose when you have them from six weeks old and rear them only to see them race after setting them off before witnessing their first win is always a special feeling,” Gerry Murphy said.

In the Puppy maiden draghunt Shanakiel harriers completed the double when Lewis Lass trained by Mary Barrett done the business in style.

In another fine draghunts the hounds raced at pace before they made their way back to the finish.

When the call went up the winner showed her class to cross the tape ahead of the clubmate Tiger’s Bell trained by Sheila Cummins.

Thomas and Chloe Murray of Shanakiel harriers who also competed with The Dreamer at Cahirciveen ran another fine draghunt to fill third place.

Indeed, it was a great day for Shanakiel harriers as they made it a 1.2.3.4 when Guinness filled fourth ticket with the remaining tickets going to Knock’s Ozzie and The Model.

For the popular and dedicated winning trainer Mary Barrett it was another day to savour.

“Lewis Lass has been running well for us all season and winning a third Puppy maiden draghunt shows her appetite for the sport,” Mary Barrett said.

Results:

John Hennessy Puppy Memorial Coppeen: 

1. Mexican Jet (Shanakiel harriers); 2. Kempes (Shanakiel harriers); 3. Born to Run (Northern Hunt); 4. Border Tom (Shanakiel harriers); 5.Casey Jack (Southern/Carrigaline harriers); 6. Border Mystery (Shanakiel harriers).

Puppy Maiden:

1. Lewis Lass (Shanakiel harriers); 2. Tiger Bell (Southern harriers); 3. The Dreamer (Shanakiel harriers); 4. Guinness (Shanakiel harriers); 5. Knock’s Ozzie (Griffin United); 6. The Model (Clogheen).