IT was a red-letter day for 15-year-old Fionn O’Reilly from Drimoleague when he drove his first winner under rules on Rhyds Panache at a sun-basked Dunmanway harness races last Saturday.

In the four-runner contest O’Reilly sent the veteran Rhyds Panache to the front at the start. Earnies Umpire and Hail Spartacus sat in behind the leader for the opening circuit. On the back straight Earnies Umpire was produced but couldn’t get by. All four were in contention on the final lap with Hail Spartacus next to take on the leader but again to no avail and Rhyds Panache stayed on best to win by four lengths.

Three generations of the O’Reilly family were on hand to welcome the winner into the winner’s enclosure along with friends. Fionn, a third-year student at MICC in Dunmanway, was delighted with his initial success.

“I drove my apprentice races and this is my third official drive and it’s great to get the win. Dad (Chris) and myself do the horses and Panache has been great to us over the years,” Fionn told The Irish Field.

Another branch of the O’Reilly family, Tadhg and his son Matthew were also on the scoresheet with Get Me Out Of Here in the Grade F Pace.

From the start

A winner of his previous outing in Cork since arriving from the UK, this four-year-old son of Rockerfeller Mentor led from the start. He was joined by Frankie Camden with two furlongs to pace but found another gear and ran out an easy four-length winner.

On Top Big C returned to winning ways in the Grade C-A Pace. Niall Forbes was back in the bike this week and was quick to leave the start. He was five lengths clear and was helped when there was a bit of a tangle behind him.

The fracas left On Top Big C him well clear. The manner of his win suggested that even without the mishap he would have taken a lot of beating. The winner was 10 lengths clear of Resolute Diamond.

Banderillo Piya who at times seems to do himself no favours, was on his A-game at the venue and landed the spoils in the Grade F and G trot. Again, Donal Murphy used front-running tactics and when his nearest challenger Highland Princess went off stride with two furlongs to go Murphy eased to a six-length winning margin.

“In the last few weeks winners have been hard to come by but when this fellow does it right, he is hard to beat,” Murphy was quoted after the race.

The top grade trot had drama aplenty. Devoument Absolu led from the start, a few runners of the runners in behind went off stride leaving him five lengths in front. Beach De Bellouet came out of the pack and had the leader in his sights on the final lap.

Just after the road crossing, the leader went off stride allowing Beach De Bellouet to hit the front. Luke Kelleher seemed to have all bases covered on the Dublin-owned and Kerry-trained Beach De Bellouet and her five-length winning margin flattered the rest a bit.

Harness action continues today at Annaghmore in Co Armagh (J13 M1). The card features heats of the All-Ireland pacing and trotting series and heats of the Black Horse juvenile competition. Tomorrow Dunmanway hosts The George Deane Memorial Race Day with a 2.30pm start time

Full results, racecards and information can be seen at www.irishharnessracing.com