UNSURPRISINGLY, Portmarnock on All-Ireland Sunday drew a small crowd. Apart from the obvious counter attraction of the big match, IHRA decided to skip the three-year-old Trotter Français series for the first time since June.

Tomorrow is D-Day for the ‘E Generation’, as they are known in their homeland, so most of the youngsters got a day on the easy list.

Efficacite, from the Billy Roche yard, and Esles De Brocage, from the Duggan outfit, both went in the qualifier, the former running well but Esles De Brocage not impressing.

In the absence of the three-year-olds, their more experienced compatriots provided some good sport. In the A to C trot, Noely Ryan put Maxie Collins’ Beach De Bellouet into the race at the half, at one stage going about three lengths clear.

Noely had reckoned without the tenacious Audabe A Helene with the man in form, Patrick Hill. The pair wore down the long-time leader to win by the width of a fiver.

Noely also had to play second fiddle in the top grade pace. As John Richardson was on holiday, Noely’s cousin Joe Caffrey came in for the drive on Bath Lane, bred by Joe’s grandfather.

In trotting the followers of form set great store by the times recorded. Certainly Bath Lane’s 2.00.3 off 30 yards the previous Sunday was a sign that the gelding was back to his former self.

On Sunday past, Joe was content to hunt around until the top of the stretch. A change in the tone of the driver’s voice and they left the other four runners for dead.

Ryan was second with Lyons Nant Hall, his best run for some time.

OPENING EVENT

Eyes On The Prize shed his maiden tag at the tender age of seven in the opening event.

It was Wallace from Wallace as Alan junior won from his father on the filly Newtown Amber.

In race two, a Grade F trot, the steady Rohan Des Thirons (Patrick Kane jnr) ran out the winner from cousin Sean aboard Soir De Printemps. All trots on Sunday were over a mile, and 2.05.5 is respectable for this grade.

The Hanson name used to feature prominently in Dave Baker’s The Irish Field reports from Portmarnock. Uncles Bobby and Lawrence (still alive and well) and his father, the late Joe, would be proud to see Eugene Hanson drive a fine waiting race on Mystical Carbs.

The combination just touched off No Big Deal (P Kane jnr), owned by fellow northerner Jonathon Nixon, in another very close finish. Portrush to Portmarnock is a long haul, so the affable Eugene deserved his turn. The runner-up will be warm order at the big Annaghmore meeting today.

Billy Roche and Valiant De Gueham flew the start like a greyhound to build up an unassailable lead in the D to E trot. The diminutive Bravoure De Mai ran her usual game race for the Cooley raider Martin Loughran to take the second slot.

Roche brought up his double with West End Pro. The tall son of Pro Bono Best did not cut much ice in England but has now won three from the last four runs in the red and white of the Roche yard.

West End Pro drifted in the betting, probably because the usual coach load of Billy Roche supporters were actually at Croker cheering on the Dubs. Seemingly a 4/9 shot beat a 3/1 shot by a nose in that two horse race. But, hell, a win’s a win.

Full results can be viewed on www.irishharnessracing.com.

Meeting

THERE is a meeting with generous sponsorship from the Dunne family at Annaghmore (J13 M1) Co Armagh today (First race 2pm)