AROUND 50 Irish trotting fans were in attendance at Vincennes to watch the big race and also, to a man, to cheer on Macroom’s Luke Kelleher. On an afternoon card on the eve of the Prix d’Amerique, the modest Macroom teenager gave the visiting Irish contingent something to cheer on.

Luke drew well in the selection of horses in the Coupe d’ Europe, confined to amateur drivers, his horse, Black Charm, had the fastest lifetime mark in the race.

It’s just as well that Black Charm doesn’t suffer from fear of big crowds as his stable in the build-up resembled scenes of a living room at an Irish wake!

Aidan Caffrey, Stephen Wallace and John O’Mahony all helped to yoke the horse, a task that can normally be comfortably performed by one person. But this is Vincennes!

Luke reports that the people who own Black Charm, the Hagege family, were lovely gracious hosts. The Hageges did warn that the horse had been racing on right-handed tracks in Normandy, whereas Vincennes is a left-hander. These words proved prophetic, unfortunately.

Kelleher had his horse in the perfect spot from start to finish. However, in the final 500 metres Black Charm started boring, and then went off-stride. Good night Irene!

Under the strict French rules, and the pair will forever be listed as ‘d’ for ‘disqualifique’.

“The owners were very nice about it,” said Luke.

“They thought I gave him very chance, and talked about getting me out to France again.”

Aside from the obvious disappointment, Luke was filled with awe at the sights he saw.

The organisers also put on a sale of racing stock and a trade show where one can buy everything from a snaffle bit to a starting car. Luke was fascinated by some of the equipment that he saw in use on horses.

Up in the third floor of the grandstand, on a par with Leopardstown or Dundalk, the Portmarnock regulars were all agreed that yes, champagne and king-sized prawns are hard to whack!