NEIL McDermott of Newtownbutler, Fermanagh had to kiss a few frogs in his search for a top-class pacer. However, he looks to have the real deal in the shape of Sweet Gossip, a five-year-old son of sire of the moment Sweet Lou.

Sweet Gossip’s task in the Grade G pace was made easier when his closest market rival Always Feeling Hungry (Patrick Kane jnr) was impeded on the first turn.

The clock doesn’t lie and the time of 1.59.5 means, with the all-important luck, there could be a big day in the well-made gelding. Driver Bernard Nicholson has a great record in Britain.

Always Feeling Hungry recovered well for second, but 17 lengths is a rout.

One respected judge told The Irish Field: “Neil has done his job well with Sweet Gossip. The horse has been allowed time to mature.”

Freak occurrence

The only way to beat Harry Knows at the moment is through a freak occurrence and that is exactly what happened in the top-grade trot. The pride of the Paddy Kane barn was coming to mow down long-time leader Hope De Guinette (Billy Roche) when he got a puncture.

A flat tyre at a key point in a race might happen twice in the 40-meeting calendar. The bookies pay on Hope De Guinette.

The horse has yet to be foaled that Joseph Caffrey can’t coax to win. Gingko Du Corbon’s Irish form has been in-and-out, but Saturday was a going day and the combination held off the in-form Emil Paco (Jonny Cowden) in 2.39.5 for a Grade C to D mile and a quarter contest.

Former champion apprentice Calvin Broughan was seen to good effect aboard The Professor as he upstaged the mares Forafewpearlsmore and Always Skye, although to be fair the winner was getting 40 and 50 yards in the A to F Grade handicap.

“Get out and get on”, was the game plan employed by Calvin on the Clive Kavanagh-owned winner, who touched 4/1.

Far the best

No Small Talk and Eoin Joyce remain unbeaten at Annaghmore. They were by far the best in the Horse Sport Ireland/Dept. of Agriculture four-year-old pace. Born In Isolation (Patrick Kane jnr for Wayne McNevin) stayed on for second money, but ‘seven and a half lengths’ and odds of 1/4 sums things up.

Homa (4/6 favourite) made it two from two for Tyrella-based trainer Ciaran Morrison and the Baltimore owners IB Stables. The eight-year-old bay did enough to beat Hydra Quest, driven by the owner Neil McDermott in the Grade E to F trot.

Tadhg Murphy was present: “He couldn’t win an argument on a grass track - Ciaran is doing a good job with him.”

The support of Horse Sport Ireland and DAFM made the prize money for the mares’ pace a hefty €5,400 of which €3,000 went to Ederney, Co Fermanagh as Sweet Dreams scored in 2.02.3 for driver Jonny Cowden and owner/trainer Neville Martin. IB Espresso (Eoin Murphy) paced well as runner-up and covered the expenses.

The four-year-old trot usually comes down to ‘which will stay trotting?’ as these youngsters are easily put off. On the day, the most experienced runner Lieutenant Dan (Sean Kane) ran out a wide margin winner from Looks Like Mom (Ciaran Morrison) who made a better shape in second. Some of the rest galloped like they were at the Curragh.

Lyre Sunday \ Tim Kelleher

DUC d’Arry, owned, trained and driven by Denis O’Reilly from Drimoleague, bounced back to winning ways when landing the top-grade trot at the Old Chapel Memorial Raceday (held at Lyre) on Sunday.

Comete des Landes led early in the race. Going into the final lap Duc D’Arry kicked clear. Comete Des Landes is as game as a pebble and came back at the winner. But Duc d’Arry held on by a neck and was presented with The Old Chapel Race Committee Deceased Members’ Cup.

“He loves it around Lyre and didn’t put a step wrong today. I knew Comete Des Landes would come back, but my fellow idled a bit in front. He picked up again in the last 100 yards,” was the winning driver’s comment.

Matthew O’Reilly, another Drimoleague native (a cousin of Denis), teamed up with his father Tadhg sending out Magical Bailey to break her maiden tag in the Grade G and G1 Handicap. The Groomsman was all the rage in the betting ring and looked to have matters in control getting an easy lead.

Magical Bailey coming on the inside to take the Paddy Desmond and Jerry O’Mahony Cup at Lyre \ LKS Equine Photos

Turning for home, the soft going seemed to take its toll on the leader. Matthew produced Magical Bailey with a perfectly-timed run to win by half a length. The three-year-old filly is home-bred, being by Bolt The Duer out of Elizabeth Ann.

The top-grade pace for the Mick Twomey and Donie Barry Cup went the way of IB Paddington, who defeated his sole rival Biggins. Eoin Murphy was in the seat this time for the family firm - IB Stables from Baltimore.

Poster boys

Visiting horses took four of the seven races on the day. Troy McAleer from St Margaret’s, North Dublin is one of the poster boys of the sport. He duly drove two winners on the day. Firstly, he teamed up with Thomas ‘TV Tom’ Heavey from Darndale in North Dublin to win the TJ Crowley Old Chapel Mills Cup with Newtown Major.

Newtown Major and One Cool Touch (John Boy Roche) had a fierce tussle, but Major got the inside berth.

McAleer completed his brace of winners with Lady Lou for Limerick-based Anthony O’Donnell in the John D Crowley Cup. Ayr Beach led for the opening circuit then Rockaday took it up.

Lady Lou was a remote fourth, however, McAleer was coolness personified and picked off his rivals with ease. Ayr Beach was not disgraced in second.

Rewarded

Ronan Norton from Killashee in Co Longford made the long journey down and was rewarded when Kerian Scott landed the PJ Collins Memorial Cup. Jalexia Scott and Hestia Malex traded blows early here.

Kerian Scott tried his case on the second lap, but Norton found himself out very wide. He took back to the rail in third. On the final lap, Norton moved and led home Elysium d’Ostal by three lengths.

Aidan Caffrey and Craig Pidgeon teamed up with Patrick Kane jnr to land the Brian Wilson Memorial Cup with Ibiscus Du Juille. The winner was waited with until the final two furlongs. He joined Brutenor then went on by a quarter of a length.

“We train out of the late Hughie Richardson’s yard at The Wotton near Ashbourne, along with my cousin Joe Caffrey. It’s a grand spot and the horse settled in well here since we got him. It’s nice to win in Cork and we have been lucky enough here in Lyre,” Caffrey was quoted.

Fixtures

Racing is scheduled for the same field, Lyre today. Annaghmore, Co Armagh hosts the action tomorrow. A higher-grade pace has been mooted.

Results and entries can be viewed at www.irishharnessracing.com. Race replays can be watched on the IHRA You Tube channel.

The excitement ramps up another notch today as some of the better Irish pacers take their chance in the North Wales Championships at the fine facility that is Tir Prince Raceway, Rhyl.