PORTMARNOCK SUNDAY

THERE was a hint of girl power at Portmarnock last Sunday when 19-year-old Erin Flanagan combined with the mare Belle De Bonneval to win comfortably from favourite Vaillant De Gueham (driven by Billy Roche) and Tornao Josselyn (Seamus Quill) in the Grade D & E handicap trot.

Erin works as a transport manager during the week for the mare’s owner Brian Redmond in a skip hire business. Jubilant in the winning enclosure, she told The Irish Field: “I’m going to ask Brian for overtime!”

Belle De Bonneval is a nice safe conveyance for Erin to learn on. The mare rarely, if ever, gallops. By contrast both Vaillant De Gueham and Diablesse Jisca (Simon Duggan) went off stride when in contention. That’s why it’s called trotting.

Jonny Cowden was a second John Richardson ‘pupil’ to score on the day when he took a weak looking Grade B trot aboard Cilando Des Temps. You can only beat what’s put in front of you and the pair did it well.

The win was Jonny’s first on home soil this season and this victory with one or two more would help his confidence going into the European Apprentice Championships in Spain on June 29th.

“That’s the best he has felt so far this season,” stated the soft-spoken Belfast man. Jonny has taken a year out of his studies and is riding out at Stuart Crawford’s National Hunt yard.

The master himself, John Richardson got on the scoreboard when Kick Up The Dust picked up the G and F pace. Richardson may be glad of the winner by season’s end as the champion drivers’ title looks open this year.

JR was awarded this one in unusual circumstances. Springhill Chisum (Patrick Kane junior) looked set to make it two-to-one from his recent meetings with Kick Up The Dust when he came gamely to pass the US import. However the men up in the tower deemed that he and two of the other runners had broken their mark and were therefore disqualified.

As Newtown Rose had pulled up this meant there was only one finisher. Only one finisher can happen now and again in point-to-points but is very unusual in harness racing.

Proceedings opened with a bloodless win for the good-looking Encorelle Du Messi (Allan Wallace). The second and third-placed horses were not knocked about and will win soon.

Jockeyship or rather drivership took the E and F trot. Silvano Bello races better when ‘on top’ (trotting speak for the lead). Wily old Donal Murphy kicked on when the pace slowed and Silvano Bello got the open road in front of him.

Going past Peters Paddock last time around, Murphy allowed Sean Kane to go on with Dynamite Brouets. However, Silvano Bello, who has career winning of €105,000, had enough in reserve to breeze past the mare in the straight.

DEDICATED

Buster Gilligan is an extremely dedicated trainer. If his horses need swimming, they get it, if they need uphill, they are trained that way.

The hard work paid off on Sunday as Bian Luis Porsguen stripped fit and saw off the Cooley runner Avenir De Vauvert (Martin Loughran) and Star De Fruitier (Noely Ryan).

Buster was quick to credit his father, also named Philip, for training the eight-year-old.

Ballyfermot man Benny Grendon is built more like a bodybuilder than a driver. On Sunday he gave Tarawood CJ a drive that would befit the great John Campbell in a sharp 2.00.9.

On Top Big C (Mark Kane) ran second and is worth following while Gentleman Jim (John Richardson) opened favourite but was never a factor. Indie Hanover (Fred Kavanagh) took the third-place cheque.

The gradual build up to the high season continues. With 44 runners, this was the most populated card so far this season. Furthermore, literally three lorry loads of horses ran in qualifiers before racing. Star of the show was the fluid gaited Benny Camden (Alan Wallace junior) who glided round the track in ‘58 and change’.

Racing continues tomorrow in Northern Ireland, at Annaghmore Raceway, just off Junction 13 of the M1, with the first race at 3pm.

Preparations continue for a 50th Anniversary Celebration Meeting on May 12th. Readers are urged to get in contact with the IHRA if they have any 1969 or 1970 progammes or other memorabilia.

RESULTS PORTMARNOCK RACEWAY April 28th

Race One – 1 Encorelle Du Messi A Wallace sen 2 El Tejar R Sheridan 3 Empereur Souverain P Kane jun Time 2.42.1 Dist: half length, nk

Race Two – 1 Silvano Bello D Murphy 2 Dynamite Brouets S Kane 3 Emeric du Perreux J Richardson Time 2.40.0 Dist: 1l, 9l

Race Three – 1 Kick Up The Dust J Richardson Time 2.01.4 Dist NA Owing to disqualifications only one finisher

Race Four – 1 Belle De Bonneval E Flanagan 2 Tornao Josselyn S Quill 3 Vaillant de Gueham B Roche Time 2.37.4 Dist: 3.5l, nk

Race Five – 1 Bian Luis Porsguen B Gilligan 2 Avenir de Vauvert M Loughran 3 Star Du Fruitier N Ryan 2.44.2 Dist: 1l, 0.5l

Race Six – 1 Tarawood CJ B Grendon 2 On Top Big C M Kane 3 Indie Hanover F Kavanagh Time 2.00.9 Dist: 6l, 1.25l

Race Seven – 1 Cilando des Temps J Cowden 2 Bingo Speed B Roche 3 Ultimo D’Ouville S Howard Time 2.36.3 Dist: 2.5l, 1l