THE old master bounced back to form at Portmarnock last Sunday putting two winners on the scoreboard.

However, the young pretender snapped back with two of his own.

The day’s work by John Richardson and Patrick Kane jnr at the Barney Gilligan Memorial meeting meant that there was no material change in the battle for The Irish Field silver salver for leading driver.

Commentator James Griffin observed “what a way to come back into form” as JR has had a quiet few weeks and he picked up the two feature races.

The meeting was in honour of Barney Gilligan. The winner’s enclosure was decked out with flowers and the family black and amber colours were much in evidence. Barney’s son Philip was once part of the Army Equitation unit at McKee Barracks and his grandson Buster runs a busy barn at Portmarnock.

John Richardson had to wait until his third drive of the day to visit that winner’s enclosure. Colombia d’Oysse goes with her neck stretched out a bit but in the event, the mare did not need it as she prevailed by a length from Andy McTaggart’s Feugeres Erem (Sean Kane). The runner-up raced gamely, as always.

The connections of recent import Cash All will have derived great pleasure from his win in the top-class pace.

When you put down your money for a top-class performer on the unforgiving Scottish circuit, there would always be doubts how will Corbie Wood form translate to Portmarnock. Also, will an older horse thrive away from his home stable, as the Bannockburn trainers are no fools? The answer to both questions was an emphatic ‘yes’.

Top of the stretch

Richardson was content to track young Troy McAleer on Northern Pride, and produced Cash All at the top of the stretch. The seven-year-old Cash All is fittingly by the Meadowbranch stalwart Kikilcolt. The race was robbed of some of its lustre by the withdrawal of Transparency and One Cool Touch. The winner clocked 1:59.4.

“He’s a lovely horse. I can race him covered up or off the front end. I’m only getting to know him,” was John’s comment.

Meanwhile, the current leader in the drivers’ title, Patrick Kane jnr, kept up his rich vein of form. The red and black colours were carried to victory by Ladyford Dollar and the two-year-old Rhyds Scoundrel.

In the D to E pace, Oakwood Cowboy and Ladyford Dollar vied for favouritism. As the race unfolded Patrick Kane was decisive with Ladyford Dollar and went on at Peters Paddock first time around.

Meanwhile, Gavin Murdock on Oakwood Cowboy had a race he will want to forget. He chose to keep Oakwood Cowboy covered up and then there were no gaps until it was too late. 1-0 to Coleraine you might say. The Stewarts were delighted as ‘young Dollar’ was out of sorts in the early season.

Patrick’s other win was a bloodless one when Rhyds Scoundrel dispatched two other two-year-old colts. The son of See And Ski will face sterner tasks in his career.

Better luck

Gavin Murdock had better luck elsewhere on the card and recorded a double. The Market man opened up in the Black Horse two-year-old fillies pace with Sweet Sunset, a regally bred daughter of Sweet Lou owned by Clive Richardson. The time was an uninspiring 2:07.3.

However, Gavin was only clicking his tongue at his filly while Billy Roche was throwing everything at the runner-up, Kelly Camden.

Murdock’s double came for an old-time trotting family. John Nixon senior was in attendance to see Brooklyn Trixie lead from pillar-to-post in the E to F trot.

The late George Nixon would love this fellow, who takes a strong hold and has a ground devouring stride. Trotting specialist Sean Kane chased the 6/4 shot home; he was on Eureka d’Eronville.

Long-standing family

Proceedings opened with a win for another long-standing family, the Sheridans from Garristown. Frisson d’Yvel got up by a nose for Ashbourne farrier Freddy Kavanagh. Ella du Fosse and Patrick Kane came out on the wrong side of the tussle.

The apprentice races seem to fluctuate between Jonny Cowden and the Flanagan girls. This week it was Jonny’s turn as he outstayed Charlie Flanagan on Biniou du Beuvron.

Jonny had no luck the previous afternoon when the Coreys tried a cheeky Stuart Crawford-type raid in Scotland with Fairdays Western.

As was documented last week, race caller James Griffin is a keen participant in the thoroughbred code. Griffin seems amused that a horse named after Frankel appears to be similarly invincible. Churchview Frankel made it four in a row for Bernard Nicholson in the Black Horse three-year-olds contest. The filly Pixie Camden was a gallant second.

Horses don’t always realise the significance of their names. Your correspondent spent two years working with Castlewood Arkle only to find that his sole talent was for eating!

Jamie Hurley was out of luck the previous weekend when Foxfield Ranger was well beaten on Cork. The young trainer/driver gained compensation in the G grade pace wherein the three-year-old deposed the well-backed Happy As Larry driven by Ray Sheridan.

Another Munster runner upset a favourite when Awesome Dude ended a long barren spell at Portmarnock for Finbar Quill jnr. Moorside Captain (Alan Richardson) at 4/5 was all the rage but for once Awesome Dude lived up to his American bloodlines.

Sean Kane picked up a Portmarnock winner to go with his win aboard Highland Princess at Bishopsland the previous evening. Sean made it two from two with the appropriately named Flash Mac de Couet who looks like he can go up the grades.

The winner was confidently driven and always looked to have the measure of Eliano Love (Anthony Malone).

Flash Mac de Couet is owned by Seamus Corey who has been an enthusiastic supporter of LeTROT initiative.