ANNAGHMORE

HIS official papers state “USA” but they might have read “Hollywood, USA” judging by Astounding’s ability to serve up fairytale endings.

During the closed season of 2016, the horse’s young owner Kyle McSparron passed away, in tragic circumstances.

At Annaghmore’s opening meeting of 2017 back in May, the hardy 10-year-old gelding ended a string of near misses, driven by the deceased’s father Martin.

Fast forward to the closing meeting of the season and the Kleenex were out again.

On Saturday, the son of Artiscape was quick out of the gate, while first season driver Tiernan Loughran on Rhyds Boots “let him go”, as they say in trotting circles. The horse known as The Dungiven Warrior kept piling on the pressure and ran out a convincing two-length winner of the first running of the Kyle McSparron Memorial Trophy.

“He seems to know when it’s a big occasion,” said Martin McSparron after the photos. Carmel Stewart, receiver of entries at Annaghmore said the following day. “It’s results like this that make all the work worthwhile.”

Another piece of worthwhile work was turned in by Carmel’s youngest son, Lawrence, and the family’s Porterstown Courage as they took the Patsy Dean Memorial. Father Walter loves to outsmart the handicapper and Lawrence got a 10-yard “drop” due to the class of his licence. Lawrence drove like an A Class driver, stalking Lucky Cam (G Dean) and saving his effort for the home straight.

Traditionally the final meeting of the year in Northern Ireland has always been an “all trophy” affair. Saturday’s meeting enjoyed generous sponsorship from far and wide.

The opener was the Anto Russell Trophy and went all the way to Strabane as the filly Porterstown Jess and Gabriel Mc Donogh held off Derrybeg and fellow north west man Shane Gallagher.

New London Hanover justified favouritism in the Bobby Hanson Memorial guided by John Richardson who barely had to flick the whip. Second favourite IB Cymro was runner-up driven by Simon Duggan for Matthew McDonogh. A time of 2.02 bodes well for next season.

The public made JR and Umbratica favourite for the George Nixon Trophy for French Trotters. For once the champion came unstuck as the combination of a plucky little mare and a plucky little driver (Bravoure De Mai with Martin Loughran) stuck the nose out on the line to deny the Meadowbranch runner.

The programme featured a lovely photograph of George “Geordie” Nixon, a horseman of the old school.

Full results both meetings can be seen on www.irishharnessracing.com