Sport

Bashashah is best

Dermot Weld moved onto the 50 mark "for the second time" this season when Bashashah made a winning debut in the Mean Fiddler …

Sat Aug 14 1999 - 01:00

Dermot Weld moved onto the 50 mark "for the second time" this season when Bashashah made a winning debut in the Mean Fiddler EBF Fillies Maiden on the second evening of the successful Tramore Festival meeting.

The master of Rosewell House had recorded his half century on the Flat at Cork on Monday with Anthem Of Love but lost one the following day when Galway winner Grand Ambition was demoted after an appeal to the Turf Club.

Pat Smullen gave the Kris filly, supported from 5 to 2 to 2 to 1, a strong drive to head Sharavogue Cookie in the final 25 yards for a half length victory.

Trainer Charlie Swan went one better an hour later in the Killone Estates Handicap Chase with well-backed favourite Sparkey Smith. David Casey's mount and Barnamire Bay dominated throughout, with the seven-year-old asserting before two out to score by a very easy three and a half lengths.

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"He jumped super, and I will probably run him over two and a half miles at Tralee to see if he gets the trip," said the Cloughjordan handler.

Beacon Lane got punters off to a bright start in the opening Hibernian Insurances (QR) Handicap Hurdle. Charles Byrnes' charge, always travelling well in front, cruised clear in the hands of Philip O'Brien on the uphill climb to the line, and may bid for a quick follow-up at Dundalk tomorrow.

Geoff Lewis, who retires from training next month, appeared in court in Britain yesterday charged with terrorising a former employee with a shotgun. Lewis, who as a jockey was the regular partner of the brilliant Mill Reef, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing a firearm with an intent to cause fear of violence.

The 63-year-old is alleged to have caused former worker Mark McElroy to believe he would hurt him with the Webley .410 shotgun on February 20th this year.

Lewis, looked relaxed as he appeared at Guildford Crown Court, represented by David Brock, who requested a trial date of October 25th, which would follow further legal discussions with his counterpart from the Crown Prosecution Service, Derek Zeitlin, on September 13th.