LAST Sunday’s meeting at Annaghmore had a flat feel to it, unsurprising when we consider that the two-day meeting commencing today at the new track in Lyre carries all the hype.
A few of the big guns of the current scene were rested, while racegoers were treated to the by now familiar sight of Harry Knows eating up a massive trail with consummate ease.
Harry Knows was giving 70 yards to some good journeymen trotters, such as Hope De Guinette and Extrem Ryld. Indeed, ‘Harry’ from ‘Extrem’ and ‘Hope’ was how they finished.
A confident Patrick Kane went three-wide at the mile point, a crazy tactic on a lesser horse, but he can read Harry’s mind and knows that the big horse does not like to be checked.
Kane could have stopped and tacked on a shoe, so superior is Harry Knows. 3.10.9 was the clock and the winner will be long odds-on in Lyre, as he prefers quarry dust to grass.
One of the sport’s standing dishes, Joe Sheridan from Garristown had a welcome winner when the likeable chesnut Korasonne d’Abourney led out, made all with usual partner Gavin Murdock in the Grade G to F trot. The time was an unspectacular 3.16.6. The runner-up Hydra Ouest was tenderly handled.
Joe Sheridan and Gavin Murdock compare notes following Kourasonne d'Abourney's win \ Dan Carlin
Lawrence Stewart has enjoyed more success than his father Walter in recent months. Stewart senior got the bragging rights at Monday’s breakfast, as his well-bred Big Bets returned to form in the Grade F pace.
Jonny Cowden was seen to good effect here, as Big Bets is a bit of a thinker. Check Out Lou was the winner everywhere but the line, until Cowden arrived with his customary gusto. Stateside Phoenix put in a clear round of pacing for Patrick Kane in third and can get readers their digs money in Clonakilty.
“It’s great to see Big Bets back on song. Jonny gave him a great drive,” said Lawrence Stewart.
Feel good story
Rhyds Rival was doubly a feel-good story in the top-grade pace, as the horse has been off for over a year with an injury and owner ‘Mouse’ Joyce has been battling ill-health.
Mouse got a nice tonic as the old war horse, now 12, showed he still enjoys the game in a sharp 1.57.4 under Eoin Joyce. The runner-up Larry Camden looked well beaten before coming back on the bridle for Billy Roche.
The winner was backed on the straight, without the ‘jolly’ and even on the forecast. Overall, this was a dirty day for the satchel men. Rhyds Rival may be long of the tooth, but he has been lightly raced and his re-emergence, livens up the higher grade paces, which had gone a bit predictable.
Eoin Joyce scored a double, the first leg being provided by Always A Heist (4/5 best), who beat last year’s Breeders’ Crown winner Coalford Look At Me (Simon Duggan) in the Grade G pace. The winner is from the same dam, Sweet Caroline (Exp).
Big races
“It’s good to get a win with the three-year-old, Heist, as he has some big races coming up.” said the 27-year-old Skryne man.
The Corey Stables fortunes took a turn for the better a fortnight previously, when old Extrem Ryld got them off the mark for 2026, Isba Quick doubled their tally on Sunday, as she ran out a convincing victor of the E to D trot.
The big eight-year-old mare went close in a final at the Red John last year and could be coming into form at the right time. Adam Corey was in the bike, with Ksar de Mone and Martin Loughran the runners up.
Jonny Cowden, who regularly drives Moet Of Springhill for Joe Sheridan, has tried following Making Memories. On Sunday, he tried to lead Making Memories. Alas, Calvin Broughan’s four-year-old seems to be the best of his age group although Trottin’ Joe’s gelding has guts aplenty.
Making Memories remains unbeaten. Both are good advertisements for the sire, the strangely-named So Lovely Girl, from the legendary Dubois bloodlines.
THE Kane yard can do no wrong at the moment. Patrick and his father Paddy were probably tired on Sunday, having caught the late boat out of Holyhead.
A few winners blow away the fatigue and a Group 1 treble in the North Wales Championships shortened the journey. Ayroplane equalled the track record of 1.55.7 in the four-year-old colts and geldings division.
His sister Ayrodrome clocked 1.59.4 in the three-year-old fillies. Finally, Cash Is King picked up the three-year-old colts prize in 2.00.8. Ayroplane and Ayrodrome are part-owned by John Ball of Brentford. Cash Is King is owned by Neil Holgate, whose family bred the ‘Red’ horses, such as Red Dancer, Red Cross and Red Ensign.
“We knew there was a big mile in Ayrodrome as his work has been unbelievable. I know this will sound strange, but he had more in the tank,” stated stable spokesman Mark Kane.
The Duggans from Cappagh in Co Tyrone have been hitting the crossbar at their local track.
However, Sean and Cousin Simon won the Prix Rhyl (£1,000 to the winner) with the hard knocking racehorse Krack Marancourt. The team will roll into Clonakilty with a bit of confidence.
THE only topic of conversation in Irish harness racing currently, is the new 880-yard oval at Lyre. The track will stage eight or more races today and tomorrow with an official opening on Sunday. The track is on the R588 from Clonakilty to Enniskeane.
Florida-based with a West Cork pedigree, Bill Donovan has been a financial backer to the Red John Memorial (the weekend’s raison d’etre) and a confidante to Donal Murphy, Finbar Quill and others. Bill missed our copy deadline last week so here follows his opinion. “I have been waiting 10 years for this! My hats off to Mark Flanagan and the committee for all the hard work they put in to achieve this. Lyre will now serve to elevate the sport in Ireland and I am excited for the future.”
As outlined in our main preview last week, all the normal attractions of a major meeting will be in place: bar, bookies, fast food, live music, children’s entertainment, even a dog show.
If you have not been ‘trotting’ before, this is a great place to start with races for two-year-olds, three-year-olds and open class horses. Ireland may not have qualified for USA 2026, but you can cheer on our best drivers against five French drivers including the polished Franck Ouvrie.
The card is not published at time of going to press, but the following will not be far away: Hydra Ouest, Check Out Lou, Martinez The Knife, Larry Camden, Shut The Front Door, Comete Des Landes, Biggins.