NINETEEN-year-old Glengormley man Adam Corey was the driver to follow at a sparsely attended Annaghmore last Saturday. Extrem Ryld (6/4 favourite) capped a double on the day, coming from an impossible position to mug Hope De Guinnette (Billy Roche) on the line in the top-grade trot.
“Extrem Ryld is as tough as old boots. Today was my second ever double,” said Adam, a diesel fitter in the family haulage business.
The engines of the Corey trotters are certainly running sweetly as Isba Quick trotted well to take out the Grade F trot with Adam in the bike. Elysium d’Ostal was not knocked about in second place.
The harness reports often mention horses being ‘parked out’ (i.e. caught on the outside). It’s considered a big no-no if you are driving the horse that’s out wide, or clever tactics if you are the guy holding a rival out. In the USA, losing players (punters) have been known to hurl abuse at drivers who got a ‘parking ticket’.
On Saturday, the programme produced the unusual sight of two winners that survived being parked out for at least a quarter of a mile. Calvin Broughan had no choice but to sit two wide with The Professor (9/4), as One Cool Touch (John Boy Roche) made the running. Happily, Clive Kavanagh’s six-year-old had the class to go on and won the Grade B to F pace.
Hot To Trot (Mary Kane Gilligan) seems to relish a tough trip and she too was parked for a while as Juvenile (Bernard Nicholson) was on top. Eventually Mary crossed and went away from Iron Paddy (Ronan Norton). “I’ll not get another one like her - I thought I had blown it, but her heart carried us through,” said a delighted Mary.
Owner’s double
Clive Kavanagh drove his own Shes Hungry to win the Grade F pace in a shade over 2.00 giving him an owner’s double on the day.
The three-year-old filly has been to all the big dances this season and now heads for some autumn grass. Compere Sean Duggan called her ‘a lovely prospect’. Louis Vutton was second for the in-form McAteer yard.
Lisleen Skater was backed as if defeat was out of the question at Ballabuidhe but did not handle the track. Annaghmore is a billiard table by comparison and the five-year-old rewarded her backers in the Grade G pace by winning in 2.03.3 from Coalford Danceman and Bernard Mullan.
Making Memories continues to stamp his authority on the three-year-old trotters division. He won by 14 lengths on the day, opening a driving double on the card for Calvin Broughan. The McAteers from Randalstown were delighted with Mr Castlewood, who stayed on doggedly for €1,100 second money.
Welsh Classic
There is a huge entry for the Welsh Classic meeting at Tregaron this weekend, with only one Irish-based runner, Immodesto for the Quills from Kenmare.
The BHRC and the IHRA badly need to come to a better understanding on how Irish marks translate to the British system. Open class Irish runners are in too hard in England to even contemplate travelling. The UK festivals devoid of Irish raiders are like cornflakes without milk!
Lyre Sunday \ Tim Kelleher
TROY McAleer from St Margaret’s in north county Dublin was the driver in form at Lyre on Sunday, where he drove a treble.
The winning streak began with Northern Pride in the three-runner free-for-all pace. McAleer set this son of Bettors Delight alight at the start and was always in control. Always Skye was looking for her fourth win in a row, but Northern Pride pulled away in the home straight to an easy victory. The winner is owned by Darndale-based Thomas ‘TV’ Hevey.
McAleer teamed up with Limerick-based Anthony O’Donnell for his other two winners. In the Grade D trot, Kaline Des Racques was in front early and, having seen off Destin De Larre and then Humour De Cosse, McAleer surged on to a three-length winning margin.
The treble was completed in the Grade F Pace with Lady Lou. Spartan Warrior and Sexxy Socks traded blows early. They were joined by Big Bets at the two-furlong marker, but Lady Lou finished like a train and, if anything, was eased down.
Top-drawer performance
Harry Knows cemented his position as the leading trotter in the country with a top-drawer performance in the free for all Trot. Duc d’Arry led for the opening mile but surrendered the lead to Graal Du Dollar on the final circuit.
However, Harry Knows was on the premises with two furlongs to go and ran out an eight-length winner. The winner is owned and trained by Paddy Kane from Trim in Co Meath, with his son Patrick in the bike.
Patrick had earlier in the day guided The Groomsman to victory in the Grade G to G2 Pace completing a training double for his father. Miki Taker had tried to outrun his rivals, but Kane came late to win by a length from the pacesetter.
It was a good day for the Kane’s as another of their string, Anglesey Hall, took the Grade D and E pace. Ayr Beach was following Someones Fantasy with Anglesey Hall stuck in a pocket behind the front pair.
Eoin Murphy on Anglesey Hall was patient and a gap opened turning for him. The mare was away and gone to record her second win in as many weeks. This one is trained by Tadhg Murphy in Baltimore.
Two winning drives
Jamie Hurley from Reenascreena also recorded two winning drives on the day. Fandango De Nile a winner last week followed up to land the spoils in the Grade E and F trot. This race was a rather messy affair, but Hurley avoided most of the traffic to win for his partner Hannah Richardson.
Benny The Legend bounced back to winning ways for Hurley in the Grade E and F conditioned pace. IB Felicity was in front for most of the journey along with Check Out Lou but a well-timed run saw Benny The Legend collar the leaders in the final 100 metres to grab a one-length success.
Joseph Reenaghan made the long journey down from Keady, south Armagh and recorded his first winner under rules in the Grade E to F trot. Jalexia Scott led for the opening lap, but Reenaghan sent Jonquille De Via to the front and stayed on well to win by two lengths.
“This is only the second horse I’ve had and, after a good run in Dunmanway, we said we’d take our chances today. Grass racing seems to suit him, and we’ll come back down for The Red John Weekend in three weeks’ time,” Reenaghan told The Irish Field. Keady was also home to Tommy Makem, who played Carnegie Hall but did not drive a winner at Lyre.
Inspire Me has been running well of late and got an overdue success in the Grade B to C trot for Dunmanway-based owners John Healy and T.J. Farrell. Mike O’Mahony put Inspire Me to the front after a lap and the pair put in a faultless round of trotting to easily beat Italia Du Mont.
Larry Camden was all the rage in the concluding Grade C and B Pace, but never landed a blow. Getmeoutofhere was the pacesetter here and was closely attended to by Teddy Camden and Biggins. With two furlongs to pace, Chris O’Reilly produced Biggins to hit the front and win by three lengths. Racing continues tomorrow at Dunmanway. The northern region also race tomorrow at Annaghmore.
Full results, entries and information can be viewed at www.irishharnessracing.com Race replays can be watched on IHRA You Tube channel.