Portmarnock Sunday

DESPITE all the hassle and headaches that the Covid crisis has brought the IHRA has valiantly managed to keep racing going.

They have been rewarded with superb racing which has only been getting steadily better. It is a pity for the successful connections that the hallowed Portmarnock winners’ circle is a muted place these days. Most of the winning owners respected the ‘two people only’ ruling in the photos.

Newtownabbey man Andy McTaggart has been a permanent fixture on the scene north and south for over 20 years. Andy has not been blessed with the best of luck with horses but he stuck with it.

Congratulations abounded after his filly Feugeres Erem won the Grade E and F trot. The win was a double on the day for driver Sean Kane with Billy Roche second aboard Vaillant De Gueham. Feugeres Erem was well supported in the ring having drifted to 6s and 7s.

Sean’s opening winner was Homer Oakwood in the lower handicap for three-year-old trotters. In fairness, Sean did give his baby a strong mention on the ‘Mark and Sean podcast’ on the Irish Trotting Magazine website.

The podcast is required viewing as quite often the two cousins drop little insights that the casual spectator could miss. The liver chesnut Holloway Road (Pete Hill) is finally learning that the near fore and the off hind move at the same time and will win a race soon.

The ‘higher earners’ three-year-old trotters went to Hibernia and owner/trainer/driver Alan Richardson. A novicey break on lap one did not faze Alan and he let the filly find her rhythm again showing all the emotion of a sniper at work.

Hibernia has the unusual distinction of being the first Trotteur Français whose dam (Tiffany Monesto) raced at Portmarnock. So now regulars can say à la Ted Walsh ‘I drove her mother’. Sean Kane had to settle for second here with Happy Fifty.

Fermanagh farrier Wayne Swindle has his horses in super form at the moment. He followed up his win with the Dollar Vert last week by winning with a pacer, the hard-pulling Pan Cam Mystery. The nicely gaited son of Judge Cam actually wears an ‘appliance’ around his throatlash to stop him ‘choking down’.

Harness horseman are nothing if not inventive. John Richardsons and his Kikicolt filly Sharpasatack came with a late run but the bird had flown.

Fingers burned

Those following the driving arrangements had their fingers burned in the A to C trot. Joseph Caffrey came in for the catch drive on Curly Du Layon as usual driver Martin Loughran had two engaged. Loughran led for long enough with the flashy chesnut Donald but could not handle the finishing burst of Ashbourne-based Joseph. Beach De Bellouet (Billy Roche) and Cyclone Decouriere (Daniel McAteer) took the scraps in the end.

The problem for free-for-all horses like Master Plan is that they are either trailing a mile against lower grade horses or starting close to top-class horses. Either way, there are no easy races once you get up the grades.

Lawrence Stewart’s Master Plan has been running well in defeat but got his moment in the sun on Sunday. Patrick Kane crept into the race quietly. “Quiet” would not describe Lawrence’s jubilant reaction.

‘’He felt as good as ever,” Patrick told The Irish Field. This of a horse with proven form at Lyre (see accompanying preview).

The Meadowbranch string have been a bit in-and-out in the early season so John Richardson will be relieved that Emeric Perreux led out and made all in the Grade D trot.

“I wouldn’t have gone to the trouble I went to with this horse if I didn’t think he was decent,” said the perennial champion driver, “and there’s more improvement in him.” The horse of the moment, Dollar Vert was a game second for Wayne Swindle.

One of John’s protégés, Charlie Flanagan (that’s a lady driver) was seen to great effect on Crazy By Noce in the apprentice race. The eight-year-old gelding came with a storming run to outdo Bella d’ Epsana (Luke Kelleher) and Diamond Dash (Jonny Cowden).

First winner

The Grade E pace saw a bloodless win for Newtown Major – a first win of his career for young Troy McAleer. Major was a good schoolmaster for Troy’s brother Marcus. The six-year-old goes into this weekend’s flagship Red John Memorial, (main sponsors Bill Donovan and Le Trot) off a nice mark. 1.59.4 is a signal of intent.

Coalford Ollie has been a prolific winner at Annaghmore. The Monaghan-based Gabriel McDonogh senior and junior had the tough little racehorse well-tuned and he showed he can handle Portmarnock equally well. The pair won the Grade F pace in 2.01.6.

Last weekend was a successful time for Coalford Ollie’s sire Rogue Hall who also fathered the English Pacing Derby winner Im A Happy Fella. The Derby winner was trained and driven by Irishman abroad Michael O’Mahony originally from Schull and is owned by a great friend of Ireland, Geoff Robson of Durham.

Benny Grendon’s Rainbow Writer picked up the BHRC Oaks driven by ‘Kane junior’ and the Limerick owned Yerkes Hanover won the two-year-old colts’ division.

The action today and tomorrow switches to Lyre, Clonakilty, for a subdued Red John Memorial with a restricted crowd. (See below).

All Irish results and forthcoming cards can be viewed on www.portmarnockraceway.ie