ANNAGHMORE last Sunday was buzzing for the first major meeting of 2026. Several of last year’s classic winners had their first competitive start of the year. A few spectators from England and Scotland livened things up.

There were healthy skirmishes in the betting ring and on the track. Patrick Kane jnr was top dog with a four-timer, while Martin Loughran and Troy McAleer both drove doubles.

Ten of the 13 races went to the best backed horse in the race.

Patrick’s achievement is not as grand as it sounds. Unfortunately, the pacing races for young horses are hard to fill and Kane won two four-horse races, a three-horse race and a match.

You can only beat what’s put in front of you. The clock doesn’t lie and, with Ayroplane in 1.57.5 and Ayrodrome in ’59 and change’, the Summerhill team would probably have beaten bigger fields. Harry Knows was set to line up against 12 runners in Normandy on Thursday.

For the record, Dazzling Lou (touched evens) won a trappy-looking opener in a slow 2.05.1. Ayroplane beat Tarawood Larry, who is not showing his best just yet, by 28 lengths. Ayrodrome beat Shesnoangel (Eoin Joyce) in the three-year-old fillies. The runner-up looks one to follow, she is green but has speed.

Harry Knows beat Graal Du Dollar again. He was great value at 2/5 with one firm.

The Kanes own two of the pacers with John Ball of London and American Josh Grabber. John Ball told The Irish Field: “We’re very happy with the horses (‘osses in Ball language). Ayroplane’s mile would be a 1.50 trip at The Meadowlands.”

Moved early

The Cooley Magician Martin Loughran wastes no bullets. Loughran moved early on newcomers Lady Mil (3/1 to 5/4) and Ksar De Mone (backed from 7/4). Both horses could be called the winner a long way from home.

“They look like not bad horses. They were weak as the journey from France was hard on them. We changed a few bits of equipment, as Annaghmore is smaller than they are used to.”

‘Different tactics were employed than previous run’ would best sum up the run by Larry Camden and Troy McAleer in the Irish-American Pace. The St Margarets-based reinsman was lively out of the gate and led all the way to see off the gallant Benny Camden (Patrick Kane jnr for Wayne McNevin). The race clocked 1.58.5.

Northern Pride (Troy McAleer) gave a last hurrah to Scottish producer John Gilvear (see obituary), as the plucky little Canadian-bred ran away from the top-class Always Skye in a two-runner Free-For-All. “Musselburgh plus a few free-for-alls in Ireland” are the targets, according to Troy.

Well supported

The Grade G pace was like days gone by, as RD Five Star and John Richardson, well supported in the village, emphatically beat the original favourite Coalford Look At Me (Simon Duggan). The three-year-old gelding won by six lengths in a shade over two minutes. The winner is owned by Wayne McNevin of Rathcoole. He looks the type to go up the grades.

“I’ve liked him since the day Wayne dropped him down,” said JR, whose swans are never geese.

Sweet Joe, driven by owner Rhyce Carroll got the loudest cheer of the day following the E and F pace. Rhyce and fellow Dubliner Freddie Kavanagh bring a load of enthusiastic young supporters who cheer like they are on Hill 16. Carroll got shuffled back on the son of Sweet Lou, but came at the line to beat Meadowbranch Lilmil (JR).

Iron Paddy, Sweet Pa and Feugeres Erem provided some respite for the embattled bookies.

In a competitive-looking Irish-American Trot, the public wanted Isba Quick (Adam Corey) and Hotesse Du Chassin (Jamie Hurley). However, Longford-based farrier Ronan Norton got first run with Iron Paddy and the tough eight-year-old kept going. Hot To Trot ran out of her skin for Mary Gilligan to be second.

‘’He probably lost his form a bit last year, but he was still running well in defeat,” said Ronan.

The Norton family and friends with Iron Paddy \ Chloe Nelson

Pacing head

Neville Martin’s Sweet Pa was only third-favourite for the three-year-old pace, probably due to an uncharacteristic gallop on seasonal debut. He had his pacing head on for Sunday and, when Jonny Cowden moved his hands, he took off like a VDM winner should. Always A Heist was second for Eoin Joyce, with Cash Is King rare setback for Team Kane in fourth.

“Looks like he’s back,” said Ederney-based Neville. “The wee break last week was just an off-day. He’s entered in all the big three-year-old races.”

Andy McTaggart loves to call his Feugeres Erem ‘the wee mare from Ballyclare’. She really is a trotting purist’s delight.

The mare loves having something to chase and, once she got within two lengths of Joy Da Vinci (Freddie Kavanagh), the writing was on the wall. Feugeres Erem (Sean Kane) went on to score by two lengths from a never-closer Gingko Du Corbon (Joe Caffrey).

“A great performance for [her] first run of the year. There’s more to come. I want to thank Sean for the great drive he gave her,” was Andy’s summary.

Racing continues at Annaghmore tomorrow with a meeting (subject to ambulance cover) at Bishopsland, West Cork today. Check www.irishharnessracing.com for entries, results and news. Race replays can be seen at IHRA You Tube channel.

Scottish owner with Irish links passes away

JOHN Gilvear from Stirling succumbed to cancer at the age of 75 on May 22nd. A farmer, cattle dealer and mart owner, his breeding of standardbreds had an influence in Ireland and beyond.

When Irish trainers were racing in Britain, they could be sure that ‘Gilvear’s’ on the card would be well prepared and hard to beat.

Probably the first horse he sold to Ireland was Barn Behave around 1985.

The fact that Astounding, Master Plan and Northern Pride all ran well for three or four seasons in this country is testimony to the good care horses receive at Auchenbowie Farm.

He sustained the ‘Dillys’ line of horses started by Dilys Dowell. In recent years, Louisville, Louisiana and Montana were sold or sent to race in America.

Queens won for the Gilvears at Appleby on May 25th and Northern Pride paid him a salute last Sunday at Annaghmore.

Sympathies are extended to the family.

ON Monday the Kanes learned that Harry Knows was declared on a card at Mauquenchy on Thursday. For a few days it looked like the dream of an Irish-based trotter winning in France was on. He finished a tired looking 10th of 13, driven by Patrick Kane jnr.

Mark Kane provided the Irish press with a summary even though the Kanes must have been gutted. “It could have been the long journey at short notice. My guess is that he’ll race in Ireland and Britain now as he owes nothing.”