Manch, Sunday

WAYNE McNevin, originally from Dolphins Barn, Dublin and now residing in Lucan, has certainly hit the mother lode in recent weeks. Hot on the heels of an impressive win at Annaghmore on the 18th, Wayne drove his own IB A Magician to heat and final victories down in Manch last Sunday. The final was sponsored by Red Mills Feeds and Le Trot.

Better still, McNevin’s Benny Camden also qualified for the All Ireland pacing final at Portmarnock on September 29th after a hard fought victory over the game Sarah’s Gift (driven by Jonny Cowden). Donal Murphy drove Benny Camden for Wayne in this top grade pace and he needed all his tactical nous in a trappy four-runner affair.

However, what the heats lacked in quantity they made up for in quality. Only three trotters went behind the starting car in their All Ireland qualifier. The car, incidentally picked a bad afternoon to play up but the unflappable Con O’Sullivan and team got around the problem with a combination of flag starts and the use of a spare keep.

The Nixons of Belfast and local owners the Sheehys and the Hills must all surely have felt this was their day at different points of the mile-and-a-half race.

Firstly, Sean Kane, driving Brooklyn Trixie, attempted to run the heart out of the other two. Vigo De Bassiere, a catch drive for Donal Murphy, was just in behind but switched between uncharacteristic breaks and moments of trotting as fast as he ever has, not a winning recipe.

Meanwhile, in their slipstream, the genuine mare Audabe A Helene had not been asked by driver Patrick Hill. The mare came with a strong finish for an ever popular local win.

In the supporting races, Rory Bridgette’s A Kind of Magic was well supported in the opener. Despite Alan Wallace’s best efforts, the gelding had no answer to McNevin and IB A Magician.

John Boyle, aged 76, attempted to make all with Armoured Bear in the second heat and they had four of the five other runners covered only to find Earnies Umpire and young Jamie Hurley too strong on the outside.

Hail Spartacus traded at odds-on in the third heat but ran poorly for Kenmare coachman Oisin Quill. The beneficiaries were Fairdays Bret and Anthony McCarthy in the familiar red with white stars. Fairdays Bret stayed on well from the gallant Chelsie O’Driscoll and Rhyds Dilemma.

Rhyds Destiny and Timmy O’Leary were one of the few favourites to collect on the day. The 13-year-old, once described by part owner John Shanahan as ‘the perfect racehorse’ proved too good for his opposition, putting the race to bed in a matter of strides. King Wills Arrival and Oisin Quill gave chase but the bird had flown.

Jamie Hurley looks a driver for the future and he brought up a double with IB A Warrior. Sean Kane appears to have found the key to Dynamite Brouets at last. “The slower pace here suited her,” he told The Irish Field after the lightly made mare won a Grade F trot.

Oisin Quill scored a trotting double with Ariane Des Tithais and Valanzana. Ariane beat Tamalou Perrine who looked out of sorts, while Brutenor was shuffled back early in the next trot and while he ran well he could not peg back the gutsy Valanzana.

The meeting was tinged with sadness as husband-and-wife team Tom and Mary Forbes passed away at the weekend. Both Tom and Mary, from Drimoleague, had cancer and it was touching that they died within hours of each other. Cork harness horsemen recalled that the couple enjoyed plenty of success with the likes of Tyson Howard and Rhyds Ponder. Donal Murphy recalled that almost every jockey in the west Cork scene got a spin on Little Tailor when they were coming up.

A guard of honour was planned at the chapel on Sunday night.

Results on www.irishharnessracing.com