DOUBLE Deuce, Vallanzana and Springhill Chisum all made it two-in-a-row at Portmarnock last Sunday. They are trained in different parts of the country (Belfast, Kenmare and Trim) and vary in experience with the geldings lightly-campaigned while the mare (Valanzana) has been well raced in both her homeland and Ireland.

Double Deuce is owned by Kevin Corey and driven by Jonny Cowden, the same team who won Horse of The Year in 2020 with Fairdays Western (see accompanying article). With a two-win advantage over most pacers who have yet to run, the son of Armbro Deuce should run up a sequence just like his older stable companion.

On Sunday, Double Deuce could have passed the other two runners at any time, but Jonny Cowden chose to educate the big horse a bit and waited while Veelas Imprint (Gabriel McDonogh) and Diplomatist (Matt O’Reilly) did their best to go round. The former rattled off a 30sec opening quarter, despite running very green.

Cowden moved at the five-eighths pole and went on to win by an official five and three-quarter lengths. “We were glad to get him out of that grade as those can be messy races,” was the relieved comment of owner Kevin Corey.

Gabriel McDonogh made good work to keep Veelas Imprint settled. Rogue Hall horses can be strong willed and this four-year-old should shed her maiden tag soon.

Springhill Chisum made it two from two in the D to F handicap. He got a confident drive from Patrick Kane junior. King Wills Arrival (Oisin Quill) came with a late run but the 20-yard handicap was a bridge too far.

Finbar Quill is listed in the programme as belonging to Finbar Quill but former owners Dublin bookmaker John Griffin and trainer Alan Wallace have followed Vallanzana’s progress closely. John and son John Joe were in the winner’s photo-finish once again following a gutsy win in the Grade E trot.

On the day Vallanzana looked to face a stiffer task than in her previous run. She really did it the hard way. Oisin Quill did not get the top leaving the gate and the pair were shuffled back. The pairing came again in the straight to beat Banderillero Piya (Donal Murphy).

Murphy went one better in the C and D trot. Bibi Dairpet is another example of the Baltimore team keeping a middle-aged trotter fresh, as they also did with Silvano Bello and Tenor Meslois.

Flatteur (Darren Timlin) actually led down the straight but the Cork runner pulled out and passed the Fermanagh representative in the shadow of the post. 2.06.2 was the official clock.

Billy Roche’s Vaillant De Gueham ran well behind Flatteur the previous Sunday. The 12-year-old was quick out of the gate in the Grade F trot and held off Ella De Fosse (Patrick Kane jnr) and Epopee Du Layon (Erin Flanagan).

The attendance was trainers and drivers only and this will again be the case tomorrow.

Replays of each race are shown on the IHRA Facebook page shortly after the finish.