Sunday Portmarnock

THE Sunday card in Dublin saw eight different drivers in the deserted winners’ circle. They say that Portmarnock is a tough place to win at, and this statistic would bear that out.

A cheer of sorts went up for John Moloney who drove his first official winner when Cartouche Jemiska, a scopey big mare, threw out a 2.33.2 mile and a quarter mile with contemptuous ease.

Broadford, Co Clare may yet become a trotting stronghold, but so far she is the first winner from that part of the Banner County. Banderillero Piya and Donal Murphy had to make do with the second-placed money.

Murphy emulated the Clareman’s easy win, when he and Bibi Dairpet skated up in the Grade E trot. The only problem Donal had was getting Bibi Dairpet pulled up. Belfast owner Jonathan Nixon attained his best run for ages with Brooklyn Trixie who led and was eventually second.

The opener saw Ruairi McNulty give a competent drive to his recent purchase A Kind Of Magic for a four-length win in 2.00.6. Laneside Louis (Ray Sheridan) was the bridesmaid.

Vallanzana has become something of an each-way certainty in the last two seasons at Portmarnock. On Sunday, the 11-year-old got a confident drive from another stylish apprentice Oisin Quill to score in 2.36.4 from the Fermanagh runner Durandal Jihaime (Luke Timlin).

Skills

“She has lasted better than any of the rest that she came in with,” stated part owner John Griffin. John was recently spotted sharpening his monté skills in an indoor arena, perhaps a comeback is on the cards.

John Richardson rarely leaves Portmarnock without a winner. Meadowbranch Rio won the G and G1 pace, beating Lord Sugar (Patrick Kane jnr). Both horses are three-year-olds in a year where no one colt dominated the Irish scene.

Luke Kelleher is in the form of his young life at the moment. The Macroom man won the grade F trot from the trickiest of post positions aboard Bella d’Espana. The pair were helped a bit by some scrimmaging on the inside at the railway last time around. Kelleher was not involved although some of the other trotters had to check.

The tough roan Tarawood Messi seems to have been around forever. He was a convincing winner of the C and D pace driven by The Iceman, Alan Richardson.

The 10-year-old clocked a respectable 1.59.9 and is owned and trained by the Bennetts who are based near the track. Noeleen Bennet explained that the horse has a nice half-brother, Tarawood Will at York with Andrew Cairns.

Proceedings closed with the familiar site of Billy Roche winning a right-handed trot without even shaking his whip. Buliano was Billy’s willing partner in a swift 2.03.1.

At time of going to press, this weekend’s M50 Skip Hire/Sire Stakes meetings were due to go ahead.

As with all current events, this will be dependent on protocol, which so far has been rigidly observed.

Check www.portmarnockracway.ie for details. The events will be ‘participants’ but a live stream may be arranged.