SPECTATORS at Annaghmore last Sunday had to make do with the daily special, which contrasted with the three-course table d’hote on offer at Dundalk the previous weekend.

John Richardson’s renaissance continues and he had a double on the day, courtesy of two pacing mares. KissMeKate (4/6 best) from his own Kickass Katie took out the first division of the Grade G pace from High Sees (Patrick Kane junior), who is from a Kit Bousfield mare. 2.03.4 is only a rung on the ladder for the winner, a nice prospect.

Meadowbranch Lil Mil is small like her dam (Meadowbranch Milli), but if they’re good enough, they’re big enough, as the saying goes. The attractive black filly led all the way to score in 2.01.3 in the Grade B to E pace. Coalford Henry H (Simon Duggan) ran really well in second and would have gone close with a clearer passage. The Groomsman did not run up to his best form.

“Lil Mil is getting better all the time, she’ll tip away in the autumn,’’ said 20-time champion driver Richardson.

Making Memories has been unbeaten at three and now four for owner/breeder Calvin Broughan. The partnership won the four-year-old trot, to bring his earnings to a healthy €26,000. Making Memories is by So Lovely Girl (yes, a stallion), loaned to Ireland in 2021 by the remarkable Jean Pierre Dubois, profiled in The Irish Field recently.

The runner-up, Joe Sheridan’s Moet of Springhill, is getting frustratingly close every time they meet, with his regular pilot Jonny Cowden. A time of 2.06 is a new lifetime best for the winner. “He eats up all the time, but I can’t keep weight on him,” said Joe. “He’s a lovely horse.”

Deserved win

Buster Gilligan’s win with Always B Brian in the other division of the Grade G was a triumph for persistence. Buster has stuck with the gangly son of Always B Miki - the consensus amongst horsemen is that Always B Miki’s are talented but quirky.

Sam Crow (Gabriel McDonogh) outran his SP in second. Check out race three 30/08/26 on the YouTube replays to see a proper close finish. Buster got a lovely run up the inside. The time was a modest 2.06.9.

Juvenile (4/6 best) won in Dundalk, driven by Eoin Murphy representing Ireland. Here she was driven by Noel Ryan representing Drumcondra. Willie Flanagan’s recent purchase made every post a winning post. Lieutenant Dan (4/1) put in his best run for some time for Sean Kane as runner-up. The home-bred chesnut should pick up a race if he gets a kind draw.

The entire crowd was delighted to see Gregory Dean win his first race at an IHRA meeting in perhaps 10 years. The promising Bowie finished well to be first past the post in the G1/G2 class, with Hidden Assets (Joseph Caffrey) in second.

Unfortunately, it emerged during the week that the stewards have disqualified Bowie, as the driver took both reins in one hand while using the whip, a contravention. Hopefully, Gregory can get another win soon, the son of Tom Hill is a racehorse.

Ilda Manchotte made all to win the B to D trot with Martin Loughran in the bike. Ecrin De Grimault (Noel Ryan for John Morgan) was runner-up, an Omeath 1-2. 2.04.2 is a sign that Ilda is coming back to form. The mare is part-owned by Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes, fresh from the Hurling For Cancer charity match.

Patrick Kane Junior got his customary winner as Cash Is King (evens to 1/2) saw off Sweet Gossip (Gavin Murdock) in the Grade F pace. The layers had the worst of the exchanges on the day.

A better standard of horses with more competitive racing will be seen at Lyre on August 12th and 13th.

Lyre Sunday \ Tim Kelleher

GAVIN Harrington was the man to follow at Lyre on Sunday afternoon, where the Caheragh-based owner/trainer sent out two winners.

Hianca HA kicked off the brace for Harrington in the five-runner Grade F to G trot. Highland Princess led for the opening quarter, but Kieran O’Driscoll took over at this point with Hianca HA. They soon had the measure of Looks Like Mom, eventually winning by a length.

Kyo Ferfay completed the double for Harrington in the Grade C to E trot. Homa was race favourite here, but failed to land a blow. Kyo Ferfay was quickly away from Gentleman Coglais and Humour De Cosse. In a sprint finish, Kyo Ferfay prevailed by a length and a half from Gentleman Coglais.

“My horses have been in good form of late without winning, but it’s nice to get two on the day. Hianca HA was unlucky in his last run, but did things right today. Kyo Ferfay had good early-season form, then took a bit of a dip, but ran well today,” Harrington stated after racing.

Pan Cam Corona, owned and driven by Dylan O’Neill from Charleville, looks a horse that can go to the very top when landing the spoils in the Grade G pace. IB Queen Bee and Meadowbranch Rí were the early pacesetters up front, with O’Neill allowing the leaders a free run - but he set this son of Kikicolt alight at the three-quarter pole and ran away from his rivals, pulling 12 lengths clear at the finish. The winner stopped the clock in 2.00.7, which is a lifetime best. Indeed, the earlier rain had the track running at least two seconds slow.

Top form

Comete Des Landes returned to winning ways in the Grade F trot for Donal Murphy. Brutenor made the running and looked to have enough in hand turning for home, but Murphy produced Comete Des Landes in the final 100 yards to deny Patrick Hill’s chesnut by half a length, with Lady Mil back in third.

“She is as consistent as you get, but has been finding one or two better in her last few runs. She was in top form today,” Murphy told The Irish Field.

Graal Du Dollar has been the flagbearer for the Reenascreena yard of Jamie Hurley and added another win for Goleen-based owner John O’Sullivan in the High Grade trot. The pair were on a 30-yard trail in the handicap. Duc D’Arry led from Instinct De Jomax and Kirio Scott. Hurley made his move on Graal Du Dollar at the three-quarter pole and hit the line a half length clear of Kirio Scott.

Nine went to post in the High Grade pace, which looked a wide open contest. Anglesey Hall and Oakwood Maestro were the early leaders, but Lady Lou took up the running after three furlongs and slipped three lengths clear down the back straight.

The field were closing in on the leader, but Lady Lou had enough in hand to stay on by a length and a half to beat Oakwood Maestro and the fast-finishing Biggins. Anthony O’Donnell from Limerick took the winning drive.

The meeting at Annaghmore today features some talented youngsters in the Irish Harness Racing Association juvenile series. Lyre tomorrow will have more of an emphasis on aged racehorses for the George Deane Memorial Day. Next weekend sees the two-day meeting for the Richard Phelan Memorial. Friends of the late Richie Phelan have shaken all the right trees for sponsorship.

Replays of all meetings can be seen at IHRA You Tube channel. Entries, results and information can be seen at www.irishharnessracing.com

THE 42nd Welsh Classic meeting was held at Tregaron, Ceredigionshire last Friday and Saturday. The village is about the same size as Aughrim in Wicklow. The track is at Dolyrychain Farm, against a dramatic backdrop of mountains. Red Kites hover majestically over the very flat field, oblivious to Laidler and Kane fighting tooth and nail on the first bend.

As mentioned last week, financial costs, paperwork and anomalies in the British versus Irish handicap system have reduced the Irish entries dramatically. That much said, there are many links between Wales and Ireland in harness racing.

Gwenan Thomas for many years ran a successful artificial insemination centre, ‘collecting’ for several Irish stallion owners. Gwenan’s brother Huw Evans, club chairman and involved in several businesses in the locality, is a great ambassador for the sport and provides stabling to many.

There have been five Irish-based winners of the Welsh Classic and seven Irish winners of their free-for-all. The welcome is such that Irish owners keep coming back, even if they have no runners. Alan Wallace, John Richardson, Derry McCarthy, Oisin Quill, Patrick Kane Junior and Wayne McNevin were in the crowd.

Favourite meeting

The 2026 Welsh Classic was sponsored by family and friends of the late Jack Manning of Limerick, who was said to have loved this meeting. The Jack Manning Final was worth £10,000 to the winner, the richest handicap in Britain.

Compere Mandy Stanley trained for Jack, alongside her partner Jim McInally. Mandy read out a lovely eulogy praising Jack’s wheeling, dealing and humour. Mandy’s voice was strained at times and the affection was obvious.

On the track, there were two Irish winners. Immodesto (Oisin Quill from Kenmare) won a trot at a general 3/1. RD Diamond Wash, owned by Dubliner Wayne McNevin and trained in Durham by Alexis Lailder, won his heat and was second in the final of the Strata Florida Handicap.

A true amateur, a postman in fact, Alan Jones trained the Friday final winner, driven by the tidy Jamie Davies.

Patrick Kane Junior was at his clinical best, as he won a heat of the Classic for Welsh owner Lane Dyer with Victimised. The runner-up Oakwood Louis came out and won the final for Watson Harrop Junior. The track was slippy and the talk was that nails with bigger heads helped Louis get a grip in the final.

The Durham-based Harrops have bought and sold in Ireland for years.

Jonny Cowden had a luckless weekend - Kicking Up The Sand slipped at a crucial point, while Montanas Prince had to come around beaten horses.

Big things

The intriguingly-named Jimmy The Sniff was one of three winners by Tom Hill over the weekend. He is trained and driven by Gareth Price. Jimmy The Sniff won a novice pace, despite losing a good 40 yards due to a gallop and he is widely tipped to be the next big thing.

The big thing of the last decade, Evenwood Son Of A Gun, went out with a bang. The Laidlers, who trained ‘Gunner’, did not tell a soul that they intended to retire the old warhorse on the day. He won the Free-For-All like a five-year-old (he is 14) and immediately Darren Owen was asked to announce that he was now retired.

What followed were scenes to melt even the hardest hearts. The Laidlers took the harness off Evenwood Son Of A Gun right at the winning post. Then Rocker Laidler jogged the great champion up and down the track on a lead rope to the delight of the crowd.

The gelding by The Firepan was winning this race for the fifth time, his first was in 2017. With countless wins in Britain, Ireland and Canada, the apple of Alexis’ eye is easily the most mentioned British-based pacer ever in The Irish Field.

He was bred by John Nicholson, started by Dougie McKenzie and Davy Douglas and was owned in his prime by Raymond Huschka from Appleby. Happily, he retires sound and Alexis Laidler intends to ride him in a leisurely way.