IF you had told the founding fathers of the modern sport that we would have cards with over 50% of the runners actually ‘square’ trotters, and indeed over 40 French-bred three-year-olds racing on a regular basis, they wouldn’t have believed it. Such is the distance we have come in recent years.

IHRA chairman Mark Flanagan and those who helped him bring the pipedream to fruition deserve a lot of credit.

Tomorrow sees another milestone when, thanks to a business arrangement with Le Trot of France, the IHRA will stage a finals day for this year’s intake of three-year-olds.

A sum in excess of €50,000 will be up for grabs – specific to the three-year-olds. A points system has been used to seed the runners into a Gold, Silver and Bronze Division, and even a consolation race.

The action starts at 2pm. Come along and see a form of racing where attendance, participation and prize money are actually on the increase every year.

Find St Olaves Chapel on the Balgriffin to Malahide Road and turn in at this building. The track is 1km from that point.

PREVIEW

Pressures of space do not allow a full analysis of all divisions but here follows the thoughts of all of the connections in the Gold Division Final. These runners are listed in draw order from the rail out. It is assumed they will score up in a row of five and a row of four.

1. From Naul, Co Dublin comes ELLA LOU LOU (f) (Sean Kane, trainer)

“She’ll be short enough in the betting with such a good draw. She hasn’t seen the gate all season. She’s laid back at home but becomes a racehorse at the track. I love her to bits and the girls and my father aren’t allowed near her. We’ll take a lot of beating as she can trot the bends. I wouldn’t be scared to lead.”

2. The powerful Wallace yard harnesses two runners,one of whom is EL TEJAR (g) (Alan Wallace senior, trainer)

“He has loads of ability but has had niggling problems. I would like to leave with him (trotting parlance for prominent early). He’d have the better chance of my two on the times that he has done. The trick is to drive with patience so you don’t knock these young horses off their legs. Nadina Ironia, the well-known photographer does everything with Tejar during the week.”

3. Anto Malone of Dublin pulled a lucky card from the hat when he drew EPSOM d’ OCCAGNES (c) in late 2016. Anto is joint-owner with his father, Tony, and trainer and driver. A victory for the small man if this horse goes in.

“Everybody has noticed that he’s massive and still growing. He’ll be better at four. However, we feel he is peaking at the right time. I’ll geld him this backend as his mind is not 100% on the job. We are pretty confident.”

4. The Wallace second string is ENCORELLE DU MESSI (f) – Alan Wallace senior again. “She is a good bit behind El Tejar on form. But when we worked a few horses on Friday 15th she went the best of all. My son Alan junior will drive and he has had a good season so far. She won’t be far away.”

5. The first of two northern raiders is ECLAT d’ OLAINE (g), trained at the Racebowl facility near Lisburn by the laid back Greg Dean.

“He’s only in the gold division due to an anomaly in the points system. He’s had setbacks but he’ll be decent with a bit of time. We’ll try to stay level for some prize money. It’s a good introduction for Sean Donaghy and the Mc Ateers, my partners as they are first time owners.”

6. The second Ulster-based runner is ESLES DU BROCAGE (f) who will be out to redeem Tyrone pride. The filly is owned by Shane Mc Connell and cousins Simon and Sean Duggan. Sean says: “She looked nailed on for this six weeks ago, but then lost her way a bit. That’s young horses for you. We’ve changed her shoeing a bit and also will try some new headgear come Sunday. If she runs to her best she’ll give them all they want.”

7. The first of two runners for Billy Roche is EFFICACITE (f). “The draw has not been kind to my two. I’m closer to Portmarnock beach than I am to the rail. Martin Loughran will drive her and he gets on well with her. To be honest, I fancy her more than the filly I drive myself, but Patrick Carberry has been a great owner for my yard.”

8. From the very heart of Cork harness racing comes ECRIN DE BUSSIERE (c) who is stabled and trained at the time-honoured race field at Dunmanway, also known as Ballabuidhe. Jeremiah O’Mahony owns this fellow, along with two partners.

“He is well within himself. The Dublin horses have the advantage of using Portmarnock mid-week for workouts. He has won on the grass and the hard. He will be driven by Patrick Hill who can do no wrong at the moment. If you had told me in April we’d have a runner in the Gold Division I’d have settled for that.”

9. Billy Roche opts to stay with EVE DU PARC (f) for the Boss from Cross, Patrick Carberry.

“She’s peaking at the right time. She won very well on the 10th at Portmarnock. She’d be a bit trickier to drive than Efficacite. For example, she wears a full face mesh which is usually the sign of a spirited one. If she stays down she is as good as any of these and we have a mile and a half to make up the ground.”