BASED in Trim, Co Meath, Patrick Kane senior with sons Patrick and Mark make a formidable team on the harness racing circuit. The horses are always fighting fit and with several owners not afraid of a gamble, it is always worth keeping an eye on the market.

Patrick is a farrier, while Mark is an equine dentist, so their runners should be good gaited and easy to steer which leaves poor Paddy senior to blame for the bits which lie between mouth and hoof.

Grounding

Patrick senior got a great grounding from his father, also named Patrick. The current Patrick senior got to drive some lovely specimens when he was growing up. His father’s was a dealing yard. In clothing terms this was a ‘clearance rail’ and sons Ger, Paddy and the sadly deceased Jason had to drive all manner of horses.

While everything in the Kane yard is still for sale, the sport has evolved and the boys now have a sound team of stakes grade horses all capable of covering the running costs if not sold.

Mark loves speaking about the string and details his thoughts on a select few below:

Stakes On The Pan

5yo g Mypanmar – High Stakes

Patrick junior owns him with his wife Rachel. He’s probably the stable star. He won the Red John Consolation and the M50 Skip Hire Final. He has run second to some top horses and will be campaigned at home.

Pixie Camden

2yo f Art Professor – Full of Gold

Buddy Donaghy gave a decent price for her at the York sales. Patrick junior is doing her. She’s a forward type of filly and so far has learned everything first time. She’s in the Delaney Memorial, the dream is still alive.

Lord Sugar

3yo g Foreclosure – Lyons Backinaflash

He ran some solid races last year when we were really trying to educate him. He’s got a great attitude and is at the right end of the handicap. He’s got great speed out of the gate which is an advantage on the tracks in this country.

Batman Du Relais

9yo g Lynx de Bellouet – Rackpotte

I was on the selection panel when we were shopping for new blood in France. I loved him then and we have followed his progress since. We bought him last autumn and he will need a bit of straightening out, but we have had success with his type before.

Aruffiac

10yo g Giant Cat – Lara de Lanoy

He is a pleasure to be around. He has a few issues but when he’s right he is a useful horse. We landed a touch with him at the Red John meeting last year. We’ll make that Lyre meeting his early season target again this year.

Harry Knows

3yo g Armstrong Jet – Je Ne Sais Pas

He’s part of the first crop of Trotteurs Françaises to be foaled and started in Ireland. Like all the other yards who have them, we’re feeling our way. Le Trot stipulated that all 2017 foal names had to begin with a ‘H’.

He’s named after my grandfather on my mum’s side. He’s big and strong with some funny quirks in the stable. Maybe he’ll be lucky – the prize money potential is immense.