HARNESS racing’s northern outpost, Annaghmore Raceway opened for the season last Sunday. The meeting saw a great moment when Kildare-based Myles Connors drove a winner on his first official start with his own For A Few Pearls More.

The race was the first leg of the Liam Wallace C Class Drivers Series organised and sponsored by Wayne McNevin. Wayne’s daughter Leah was on 4/5 shot Benny Camden, trailing 30 yards but a 29-second opening quarter set by Connors meant that the mare was hard to catch.

Myles drove with the calmness of the guy driving the chuck wagon being pursued by the Red Indians. ‘Pearls’ was swishing her tail, but the sire imparts ‘a few efforts more’ and she held on from a fast-finishing Larry Camden (Calvin McAleer). 2.01.2 was the clock, fast for the opening week of the season.

Full marks to Myles, who was determined to drive himself this season and lost a huge amount of weight to help his chances.

Apart from this victory by a newcomer, the fixture saw more of the same from last year’s top pacer and trotter.

Great mare

Always Skye (Jonny Cowden) made light of her 60-yard trail in the top grade pace for delighted owner and trainer, Lawrence Stewart. “She’s just a great mare,” said Lawrence. “We’ll race away and see what we can win.” Newtown Major ran well in second with Calvin McAleer.

Harry Knows swallowed up a 70 yards handicap with his customary ease. Krack Marancourt (Simon Duggan) stayed on well for second.

“We’ll try to get another few races into him and then head back to France, if he can get on their cards,” said Patrick Kane. The Harry Knows success story could have a few more chapters to run.

London-based John Ball and his brothers were present to see Dazzling Lou (5/4 best) open his account for the season. The well-backed Sweet Rock (Freddie Kavanagh) put up a fight, but Patrick Kane junior always had his measure.

“All the three-year-old races,” were the targets declared by a beaming trainer, Paddy Kane.

Freddie’s supporters got their money back in the following Grade F trot. He led out, made all on Joe Sheridan’s likeable mare Grande Galaxie. The 10-year-old, who came in late last year, gets her head down and gets on with it. Another nice prospect for the master of Springhill Stud.

Like Haufor (Patrick Kane jnr for Craig Malone) showed his well-being in second.Three cousins lined up for a three-horse Grade E trot, as Mary Kane (Hot To Trot) Sean (Kondor De Vandel) and Mark Kane (Kepi De Chrismi) went behind the car. In the end, it was Sean who gained the bragging rights, as Kondor De Vandel made every post a winning post.

Hot To Trot made an uncharacteristic break. She was probably too well within herself and was unlucky not to win.

The bar and parts of the grounds received a face lift in the closed season with Ivan Swindle contracted to do much of the work. The place looks well and full credit to the management.

Manch Sunday \ Tim Kelleher

RACING returned to Manch at the Cornfield Oval on Sunday and, with the lower track under corn, we raced on the outside track with some fantastic finishes and a few top-drawer performances.

Dunmanway-based Jeremiah O’Mahony, who is track manager at the Ballabuidhe track, saw his Fairplay Briolais take the featured A to E Trot. Driven by his son Dan, he led out but at halfway, Holloway Road and Graal Du Dollar (both off a 50-yard handicap) joined issue - though they couldn’t get to the leader, who won with a bit in hand.

“He loves it at the front, so I told Dan to lead out and let them catch him. He is tough and today showed that,” was O’ Mahony’s summary.

Top Dollar took the honours in the high grade pace for Reenascreena-based reinsman Jamie Hurley. Ayr Beach led for the opening two furlongs, but Top Dollar was soon in command and held on to beat Get Me Out Of Here.

Imported from Scotland towards the end of last year, the six-year-old rises a notch in the handicap, but won’t be out of place at that level.

Racing opened with a winner for the Limerick-based John Cross Jnr-owned and driven Bettonme. The shrewd money was on here and was never in doubt, as Bettonme overtook Rewrite Sport after the halfway point and won by an ever-increasing 11 lengths. The winner looks like one with a bright future on only his fifth lifetime start.

Winning debut

Empereur Souverain made his seasonal debut a winning one for Drimoleague native Niall Forbes. Brutenor was the hare in this one and led for most of the journey. Turning for home, he was joined by Empereur Souverain, but ran out a five-length winner.

The Grade F Pace saw a strong betting market, with all five runners well fancied. Christy Brown was sent to the front by Patrick Hill, who came in for a spare drive.

Hill dictated matters up front, setting even fractions and was too good for Emily Rose at the finish. The winner is owned by Liam O’Brien from Schull.

Finbarr Quill comes over the Cork/Kerry county boundaries from his Kenmare base every week. The team got a winner on the day in the shape of Destin De Larre in the Apprentice Trot with the horse moving to over €70,000 in lifetime prize money with a pillar to post win for driver Oisin Quill.

“He is an old warrior, who can be a bit enigmatic at times but has been good to us over the years,” the winning driver told The Irish Field.

Best finish of the day came in the four-runner D to E pace. Streams Of Whiskey was the medium of a gamble (6/4 to 4/7) and was away at the start. At the halfway point, he was still in front and the money looked to be going the punters’ way. Turning for home, he was still two lengths in front, but the field were closing in and Ayr Harbour saw daylight on the inside to get up near the post to foil the gamble.

Half a length, a short head and a neck separated the four runners at the finish.

Mike O’Mahony from Schull drove the winner for Dunmanway-based builder Mike Healy.

This weekend

Racing this weekend takes place tomorrow in Dunmanway at the Ballabuidhe track. Annaghmore race today, Sunday and Monday sees action at Holme Farm, Appleby, Cumbria, where Finbarr Quill has the sole Irish entry, Oakwood Dessie.