ABERYSTWYTH

IRISH harness racing trainers and owners are nowadays in the pleasant position of racing for much improved prize money on their doorstep. No longer are the biggest pots to be found across the water.

Also, with an influx of better sponsors in recent years the prestige of the races in Ireland has risen. For example, in the last five weeks the players have raced for the Red John Memorial, the Grendon, the Sires Stakes and today sees the M50 Skip Hire weekend. All of these events offered more than €20,000 over the various divisions.

At the same time there is nothing like the challenge of stretching yourself against new competition. From a business point of view, a ring of 14 bookies, amongst them some decent layers, means that if you have an animal well-handicapped then Aberystwyth on the west coast of Wales was the place to be last weekend.

The Billy Roche and Paddy Kane yards were the only Irish outfits to send runners to the meeting. Unfortunately both stables failed to win over the two-day festival. Most trotting men in this country will admit that it is difficult to win in Wales. On day one Michael O’Mahony. in patriotic colours of green, white and gold kept the Irish flag flying with a treble. Michael was born in Golleen, spent time an an assistant trainer to John Richardson and now has a public yard in Wales which he runs with the help of his girlfriend Kayleigh Evans.

Durham-based William ‘Rocker’ Laidler brought an incredible 15 runners to the meeting over two days. The dedicated Laidler prefers to go home on the day rather than stable away. Considering its seven hours in a lorry from his base to Aberystwyth you’ve got to admire Team Laidler’s approach.

Five winners including the feature with the Garristown bred Springhill Glory made ‘Rocker’ the leading driver at the meeting. Michael O’Mahony drove another winner on day two, so also completed a good weekend’s work.

SPRINGHILL STUD

Joe Sheridan did not go racing at Aberystwyth as he had runners at Portmarnock but the Springhill Stud’s influence still loomed large over the meeting.

Springhill Glory, one of last year’s leading three-year-olds has certainly come on well for Rocker Laidler and Scottish owner Jackie O’Neill. The pairing took heat and final of the Park Lodge Hotel Classic, the latter paying a cool £6,000 for first place.

Springhill Catch from the same nursery took a heat on day one for another Scottish driver, Grant Cullen. Grant uses the whip in his left hand, which is unusual but he certainly comes in for some plum drives.

The apple of Carmel Stewart’s eye, For A Few Dollars More had his first winner as a sire when cleverly named Loose Change took a division of the two year pace for Scottish connections Hamish Muirhead (owner) and Kenny Menzies (driver). Hamish himself was scratched after a horse trod on his foot!

The Dunne family of Dublin sponsored the three-year-old races. The fillies went to Greenhill Debatable under a classic Mick Lord drive. The colts went to Merrington Moving Up (Laidler) proudly led in by Alexis Laidler.

Aberystwyth results can be viewed at www.bhrc.org.uk