THE 2026 Irish harness racing season is set to commence on Sunday, May 3rd at Annaghmore. If you’re going to look at a few of the country’s leading stables then where better to start than at the very top?

Patrick Kane jnr picked up The Irish Field silver salver for national leading driver in 2025, his fourth win since this paper began sponsoring the award and his seventh or so in his lifetime.

Leading owner and trainer were not formally presented but Paddy snr and their main owner John Ball from Brentford were dominant.

“We had such a great year in 2025 that it’s impossible to pick one highlight,” says Patrick (39), who is based near Summerhill in Co Meath. “I suppose the Vincent Delaney Memorial weekend because everything went perfectly, very unusual. Ayroplane won heat and final of the three-year-olds, Ayrodrome the same in the two-year-olds.

“Harry Knows won the free-for-all trot and I also drove She’s Hungry to win for Clive Kavanagh. So I drove six winners from 18 races including three feature races. That doesn’t happen every day.”

“Then at the Pacing For Children charity weekend at York, Harry Knows took five seconds off the British mile and a half record. I think his new mark will stand when I am no longer around.“

“Finally, we had great results in the IHRA juvenile series, supported by the Department of Agriculture/Horse Sport Ireland. Hats off to the IHRA, we are going for serious money. We were lucky enough to have animals to compete.”

Stock soared

Success breeds success and the Kanes’ stock has soared since the Ball family from London and American Josh Grabber have got involved. Not surprisingly these owners have come back for more after good results.

The partners have taken a more international view, retaining and selling horses to the Australian couple, Shane and Lauren Tritton, based in New York. The Kanes have a leg in the aptly-named Global Action, a Swedish trotter along with John Ball. He has a win and a second to his name in the Big Apple.

Rhyds Superfly has won nine races Stateside for the Balls, while Patrick helped make the deal whereby One For The Road went from Britain to America. Both Rhyds Superfly and One For The Road have paced miles in 1.50, the modern measure of excellence.

“We all have day jobs alongside the horses. I work as a farrier, my brother Mark is an equine dentist while my father is in haulage, so we need all the help in the yard we can get. My wife Rachel, Hannah Lawless and Rocco Byrne all lend a hand. My children Eliza and Louis are starting to get involved."

Harry Knows - better than ever last year \ Chloé Nelson

Patrick Kane names six horses to follow from his establishment in 2026

HARRY KNOWS (IRE)

9yo g Armstrong Jet – Aurore

His is the first name on the team sheet. He is nine now and, if anything, was better than ever last year and I see no reason why he can’t be as good this year.

We qualified him to race in France last autumn but we had to pull that plan as we couldn’t get on a card and it wasn’t fair on the horse after a long season. We’ll let him get a few races in Ireland this spring and maybe give France a go again.

AYROPLANE (GB)

4yo g Stay Hungry - Talk Time

He was the best of his generation at two and three and we hope he can do it again at four. He got a great winter and has strengthened up well. He’ll go in the four-year-old races and we might try him against all ages if the conditions suit. You’d hope he could go to the States at some stage, but we won’t count our chickens just yet.

AYRODROME (GB)

3yo f Sweet Lou – Talk Time

She actually became the biggest prize money-winning two-year-old ever in Britain even though she was based in Ireland. She had nine wins and a second at two. She was big at two and is even bigger now. She is laidback.

AYROSPACE (GB)

2yo f Always B Miki – Talk Time

She is the third one from the dam we have tried. She is laid back like her big sister and if she went anywhere close to Ayrodrome, you’d be pleased. Obviously, we haven’t asked any of our two-year-olds yet but she is showing some nice spurts and is well gaited. Johnny Cross and Stephen Gallagher own this filly.

COALFORD SPELLBOUND (GB)

2yo f Henry Hill – Mystify

She is owned by Walter Stewart from Coleraine, his cousin Jim from Penrith and son Jimmy. The dam is a sister to Louisville and Louisiana so that’s nice breeding. She is very forward-going.

HIT THE ROAD JACK (GB)

2yo g See And Ski – Brown Eyed Girl

He is a typical big See And Ski. I’d say he has plenty of gears. He is owned by Ball, Kane and Josh Grabber of the USA. We are happy with where he is at the moment.