FIGURES CONTAINED in the recentlypublished 2009 Fact Book published by Weatherbys General Stud Book show a marked decline in the numbers of Broodmares in Ireland.

With a fall from 20,038 to 18,851 for registered mares, this was matched with a subsequent reduction in live foal registrations from 11,242 to 9,623. The figures for Co. Wexford show the county as the fourth most prolific breeding centre, behind Cork with 1,269, Tipperary on 1,132 and Kildare showing 1,081 breeders, but with a 10% reduction in the numbers of registered breeders for the 2008 statistics to 802 locally.

This was closely mirrored by an equivalent 10% reduction in the mares in the county, with only 1,563 now officially on the books. What is an even starker statistic is the drop in foal registration in the county from 981 in 2008 down to 806 for 2009, which is an 18% reduction, clearly indicating a real drop in the breeding sector as many breeders chose not to register their younger stock and not have to pay stallion fees and registration fees.

Maybe the time has come for the industry to be seriously considering a scrappage scheme for Mares, Stallions, second-hand horse dealers and delusional owners if we are to get out of this sorry state - just an idea!

BETWEEN THE FLAGS

It's not much help to Jamie Codd's title hopes when his brother, William, gives Derek O'Connor, the current leader of the national jockeys' championship, the leg up on a winner at Kirkistown on Saturday week! But this he did when saddling the five-year-old 'Blueprint' mare, 'Lonely Sky', to win her maiden in the colours of Billy Devereux. This mare is a half-sister to the high class 'Tranquil Sea' and will ultimately be kept for breeding purposes.

On the same card, Denis Murphy and Shane Byrne combined forces to win the geldings' maiden with 'Back Bob Back' in a driving finish to claim a dead heat with the locallytrained 'Blue Signal'.

Jamie Codd did manage to raise a winning flag at Punchestown on Sunday week when winning on 'Cinder House', a son of ' Carroll House', for Robert Kenny in the second division of the six-year-old maiden.

Ann Lambert has obviously found the key to 'Shuil Coillte' as the nine-year-old son of 'Woods Of Windsor' won the Open at this meeting under Gerard Fox in her own colours. This was followed up in the next contest by the Liam Kenny-trained 'That Beats Banaher' in the winners' contest. This 'Beat All' six-year-old runs in the colours of the North Wexford-based Orphan Girl Syndicate and won well under Chris Cully.

The final two contests on the card at this meeting saw the two divides of the seven-and eight-year-old fall to local jockeys, with Benny Walsh getting 'Father Murty', an eight-year-old by 'Rock Hopper', home for John Walsh, while Andrew Doyle took the final race on 'Hisownman', a seven-year-old by 'Pierre', trained by Michael Hickey in Co. Kildare.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

The polar air took its toll on racing again last week, with a really good card at Naas being postponed on Saturday last. Colin Motherway must have been happy with his haul, however, as he booted home a couple of nice winners during the week.

Riding 'Munsaab' at Punchestown on Wednesday, Motherway struck late on the four-year-old son of 'Alhaarth' to win the bumper at 10/1 from the Willie Mullins-trained favourite, ' Allee Garde'. Trained in Co. Cork by James Motherway, this horse looks like a good prospect, particularly if getting a bit of better ground.

Motherway's second winner came at Fairyhouse on Saturday on 'Nedzer's Return'. This eight-year-old son of 'Bobs Return', trained by Gordon Elliot in Co. Meath, made all the running under Motherway to win this Hunters Chase at 7/2. Bred by P.M. Dwyer, reports indicate that a trip to Aintree could be on the cards for the Foxhunters for the former invalid.

Another one of our budding amateurs to do well was Michael Fogarty, who had to be at his best to land the Handicap Hurdle on 'Hot Or What' for John Berry at 8/1. This six-year-old 'Bobs Return' mare is more than paying her way for the Berry clan, and will no doubt go in again once a suitable opportunity arises after this good win at Clonmel on Thursday.

This meeting opened with a good win for the Colm Murphy-trained, Gigginstown House-owned 'Gates Of Rome' in the maiden hurdle. This even-money favourite won as such a price would suggest under Davy Russell, so it will be of interest where Murphy sends the six-year-old son of 'Luso' next.

Interestingly, this was ' Luso's third winner of the week as he was also sire of two point-to-point victors in the shape of 'Special Account' and 'Lusiad' at the Kildare Foxhounds meeting at Punchestown on Sunday week.