BELFAST teenager Jonathan Cowden beat his elders on only his third start in a top level race last Sunday at Portmarnock.

The transition from races confined to C Class drivers to ‘open handicap’ races can be difficult but it looks like the 18-year-old is well able to take his place.

Also on the card, the Co Derry-based Europeen made it two on the bounce as did the Meath runner Arruffiac. The ‘Buster and Mary Show’ continued their good run and John Richardson got on the scoreboard with an old campaigner.

Jonathan Cowden’s win came in the A3 to F pace aboard the home-bred Sarahs Gift, a gelding by Kikicolt out of Gee And Tee). The gambled on Earnies Umpire (Matt O’Reilly) tried to make every post a winning post but got collared close home by Sarahs Gift.

STUDY

“John Richardson (trainer) said he worked well during the week and I knew he would come home strong,” said Jonathan who is currently studying for A Levels alongside his driving exploits.

New London Hanover (third) put in an improved run for Shane Howard, favourite On Top Big C was never a factor. A 2.03.9 was the time.

In the opener the imposing Europeen swooped late for Garvagh-based bread man Nigel Quigley. Last week’s winner in the four-year-old series, Espion d’Ecole, was a game second for Shane ‘Howie’ Howard. Howard had to use his horse early and eventually the likeable chestnut could give no more.

HOTLY CONTESTED

Buster Gilligan won with Streamside Skryne in a hotly-contested heat (G and G1 grades) where both One Cool Touch (Aidan Caffrey for Pat McDonogh) and Meadowbranch Titus (JR) came in for support in the ring.

Perhaps the two drivers on the market principals concentrated too much on each other, for Gilligan came with a fresh horse to score his first win since taking over training duties on yet another son of Kikicolt. The winner is owned by the intriguingly named Little Chef Syndicate.

Buster had to survive a stewards’ enquiry and was fined and picked up a whip ban for striking the animal with one hand.

In the apprentice drivers’ race immediately preceding, Buster’s wife Mary let Baron De Nganda bowl along in front for a facile victory over stable companion Saxo De Marrancourt, loaned to Jack Killeen for the day.

Buster was leading Baron De Nganda by the head while Mary was still in the sulky seat. “How do you explain his improvement this season?,” was the question.

“Married life,” answered Buster, while in the same breath Mary gave a more conventional response. “Loads of work. Baron gets twice as much jogging than anything else in the yard.”

In the E to F grade trot Sean Kane opted to stay with Delicadeza. Joe Caffrey came in for the catch drive on Sean’s other runner Brasilia Match. The daughter of top class French stallion Meaulnes Du Corta gave the substitute some spin. An all-the-way victory from the gambled on Twist Du Layon (P Kane jnr) in 3.13.9 was the result.

TO THE FRONT

Joe’s post race comment was a piece of classic American trotting jargon. When I asked him about the gutsy nature of the mare’s performance he gave a one-word summary “send”.

“Send” is the phrase used by US drivers when they send a horse to the front. In thoroughbred circles they might say “to force the pace”. Whatever the terminology, you’ll not see a better example all season.

Sean was out to educate Delicadeza about the nuances of the Portmarnock track and she ran quite well into the bargain. The Naul yard have a strong hand this year.

In the B to D trot Tamalou Perrine (John Richardson) looked to be in a bit easier than last week. The deep chested 11-year-old is a rugged sort and probably came on from his previous race. He opened at ‘Evens’ in the ring on Sunday and didn’t stray much from that price.

The shrewdies helped themselves and JR duly delivered. Colline d’Orval (Noely Ryan for the Kellehers of Macroom) cut the pace and will be a winner soon.

“He’s like fine wine,” said JR of his veteran. John must be getting his cards marked as he is of course, teetotal.

The final race of the day lost its allure when the chasing pack appeared to give too much ground to the gate horse Arruffiac and Mark Kane. Going into the race Arruffiac had won a poor two-horse race a fortnight ago on his sole Irish start. This was a taking performance and maybe Mark Kane and girlfriend Chelsea Hanley have pulled a star out of the hat. The 3.11.2 was a respectable clip.

Dollar’s record falls in Wales

SOME of the crowd in attendance on Sunday were just home from Tir Prince Raceway’s opening meeting. The North Wales venue races under floodlights on a Saturday night.

On the card Shane and Claire Fletcher’s Rhyds Rock Star (A Haythornthwaite) lowered the track record held by Walter and Carmel Stewart’s For A Few Dollars more. The fact that the record had withstood all comers since 2010 is a testimony to Dollar’s ability.

Rhyds Rock Star’s new lifetime best of 1.56.1 beat the Coleraine-based stallion’s time by 0.1 of a second, or a pimple on a nose.

Shane and Claire, who hail from Wolverhampton, are regular visitors to Ireland and are a very gracious and sporting couple. Their many friends over here will be delighted to see them own the ‘cock of the walk’ at Tir Prince.

There was one Irish-trained winner when Jonny Dunne scored in 2.00 aboard Teddy Camden for English owners. Jonny skipped his drives at Portmarnock on Sunday due to sore ribs incurred in a fall from a catch drive on Coffee Mate.

RESULTS

SUNDAY, MAY 6TH

Race One- 1 Europeen N Quigley, 2 Espion d’Ecole S Howard, 3 Ecrin De Bussiere S Kane, Dist ¼ l, 1l Time 3.20.6

Race Two- 1 Baron Nganda M Kane, 2 Saxo de Marrancourt J Killeen, 3 Belina Royale S Wallace, Dist- 7l 4l Time 3.14.1

Race Three- 1 Streamside Star B Gilligan 2 Meadowbranch Titus J Richardson 3 One Cool Touch A Caffrey, Dist- ¼ l, 2l Time 2.03.2

Race Four- 1 Brasilia Match J Caffrey 2 Twist Du Layon P Kane jun 3 Rohan des Thirons M Kane, Dist- 2 ½ l, 6l Time 3.13.9

Race Five- 1 Tamalou Perrine J Richardson 2 Colline d’Orval N Ryan 3 Bravoure De Mai M Loughran Dist- 2l ½ l Time 3.12.5

Race Six- 1 Sarahs Gift J Cowden 2 Earnies Umpire M O’ Reilly 3 New London Hanover S Howard, Dist- ¾ l, 1 l Time 2.03.9

Race Seven- 1 Aruffiac M Kane 2 Audabe A Helene P Hill 3 Umbratica J Richardson Dist- 13l, 8l, Time 3.11.2