Frenchman Vercruysse the star attraction

IN yet another superb piece of co-operation between IHRA and Le Trot, 2013 world champion driver Pierre Vercruysse (almost 2000 career victories) will be available for catch drives at Dundalk.

Vercruysse (53) trains out of the beautiful mansion at Grosbois near Paris. He has driven the winner of the Prix d’Amerique twice, Echo in 1998 and Quaker Jet in 2010.

IHRA chairman Mark Flanagan stated: “Pierre Vercruysse driving at our upcoming meeting and on the same day the second of our Le Trot three-year-old series - is further evidence of how Ireland is being taken seriously in the harness racing world.”

Fairytale stuff at Annaghmore

YOU’D be pretty tough if you weren’t choked up by the result of the top-class pace at Annaghmore on Wednesday, May 24th.

The Dungiven Warrior, Astounding finally got his head in front at the venue where the nine-year-old came so close on many occasions with the sadly departed Kyle McSparron.

Kyle’s father Martin put the old horse back into work this season, it can’t have been an easy decision.

For a few moments on the Wednesday the bad times were forgotten. His hand shaken sore, and still in his colours, the Derry man said: “The horse had eight second places with Kyle and got to within a length of Bath Lane last year - so this is sweet.” Rarely have we seen a winner cheered by everyone present.