THE Murphys Stout/Hurley and White Grand Prix and the Paddy Connolly Memorial Trot were the features on the Monday of the Ballabuidhe Festival in Dunmanway last weekend.

Heading down the back straight in the Grand Prix, Get Me Out Of Here hit the front, but Troy McAleer produced Newtown Major (4/6 favourite) to collect the money for a second year.

The Paddy Connolly Memorial Trot produced a classic renewal. Comete Des Landes had Helios De Lara (Sean Kane) parked out early. However, a mistake on the final corner cost her the rail position and Helios De Lara went on to land the spoils for Aiden Caffrey and Craig Pidgeon from Swords.

The Free For All Pace went to Portrush, Co Antrim-based Lawrence Stewart with Always Skye.

Belfast native Jonny Cowden was on the winner who tracked Northern Pride for most of the contest until the latter went off stride.

The Free For all Trot looked a match between Graal Du Dollar and Duc D’Arry and so it transpired. Graal Du Dollar was away in front and, despite the best efforts of Duc D’Arry, was not for catching on the day. Jamie Hurley was in the bike on the John O’Sullivan-owned gelding.

Land the spoils

Mike O’Mahony drove two winners on the day. Firstly, he had Shut The Front Door in pole position to land the spoils for Bandon-based Liam Power in the Grade G1 and G2 Pace. Then 20 minutes later, O’Mahony teamed up with the Pete Hill-owned Humour De Cosse to win the Grade E to F trot.

Lieutenant Dan, the top four-year-old trotter, was a very warm favourite to collect in the aged race, but had one of his off days and this allowed Little Miss Sarah to get her day in the sun with Sean Kane.

Still Game has been a bit in and out of form since a promising debut in Lyre back in June, but returned to form on the day. Chris O’Reilly led from the start on this daughter of For A Few Dollars More and were well clear of the favourite Lisleen Skater.

Sunday

The Sunday provided a driving double for Drimoleague-based Matthew O’Reilly. In the B to C pace, Biggins made a skip at a crucial stage and Matthew O’Reilly on Get Me Out Of Here seized the initiative.

O’Reilly had earlier steered Spartan Warrior to victory in the Grade F pace. Down By Crecora had led for most of the contest and was joined by Cappuccino on the final circuit.

There was a coming together at the second last bend, but Spartan Warrior was in the slipstream of the leaders and hit the front and won with a bit in hand.

“It’s great to win a race here in Ballabuidhe but to get two winners is a great boost for us,” stated winning driver Matthew O’Reilly.

Hippie Sisu, partly owned by Enniskeane Publican Angelo Hannon, has been the bridesmaid on several occasions this season and got an overdue success in the Grade F Trot. Eoin Murphy was patient with the winner, hitting the front on the final corner to lead home Fandango de Nile.

Love affair

Newtown Major, with Troy McAleer in the bike, continued their love affair with the Dunmanway venue when landing the odds in the Grade D to F Pace.

McAleer jumped the favourite out in front and, despite a challenge from Anglesey Hall, was three lengths too good at the finish.

One Cool Touch was another winner for the large Dublin contingent. Out on the final circuit, IB Felicity was three lengths to the good, but Billy ‘The Red Baron’ Roche managed to get One Cool Touch back up to snatch victory by a half a length.

I Want You Back, driven by ‘The Cooley Magican’ Martin Loughran, was most impressive in the Grade B to C trot. Loughran sat behind Fiesta Tejy and Comete Des Landes and produced his horse late to run out a five-length winner.

Finbar Quill’s Immodesto bounced back to form when landing the Grade D to E trot. A slow pace allowed the Kenmare runner to get to Hot To Trot and Iron Paddy.

Pete Hill from Leap was inducted into the Hall Of Fame on the weekend and Hallow Way Road ensured a double celebration for Hill, when the eight-year-old came off a 40-yard handicap to reel in Ilda Manchotte in the Grade B to D trot. Patrick Hill drove the home-bred.

A fantastic atmosphere prevailed on both days and great credit goes to the hard-working committee for providing amusements for the kids and live music after racing.

Racing continues at both Lyre and Annaghmore tomorrow with a 2.30pm start.

Annaghmore Saturday

Ayroplane is still flying highest

THE championship races at Annaghmore last Saturday offered great prize money. Four winners broke the two-minute barrier, a measure of how far Irish breeding has come.

The aptly-named Ayroplane is the headline horse as his 1.58.4 just shaded the 1.58.6 posted by the filly Coalford Annabelle as the fastest mile of the day.

Over €50,000 was up for grabs. The Irish Harness Racing Association has done great work in bringing support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine/Horse Sport Ireland.

Ayroplane is jointly owned by Paddy Kane, who trains, and Londoner, John Ball. The Ball family have owned horses throughout Britain and America.

Therefore, it was high praise indeed when John Ball jnr told compere Sean Duggan: “This is the place to be. This is the place where we want to invest.” The price of yearlings stays high, everyone’s a winner.

For the record, Ayroplane won the three-year-old colts’ division.

Gavin Murdock went for an ‘’all duck or no dinner” move on the first bend, as he tried to pass Ayroplane and get to the rail.

Ayr Exchange broke due to the pure speed and this ended his chance.

Coalford Annabelle led out, made all to win the three-year-old fillies instigating a great weekend for driver Troy McAleer from St Margarets.

Great weekend

The Joyce family from Ashbourne will be buoyed by No Small Talk’s win in the four-year-old colts, while Perfect Smile did nothing wrong in a qualifier before racing.

Both horses are entered for the VDM, which will have a live stream hosted by American, Heather Wilder.

Three four-year-old mares went behind the mobile and the ‘cream cookies’ had bother separating them. As so often happens when they are well-matched, the draw proved crucial and Bobby Barry’s Fun In The Sun (drawn 1) dictated the pace with Gavin Murdock, winning in 1.59.6.

Sweet Dreams (Jonny Cowden) put in an uncharacteristic skip at the start and will be hoping for revenge in Rhyl.

Hope De Guinette is in a tough handicap grade. His owners, the Roches, like to aim for Grade Z! On the day, the likeable chesnut trotted level to beat the favoured Gentleman d’Alesa (Calvin Broughan) in the top grade trot.

The Red Baron himself, Billy Roche was in the bike.

I’m Great Hanover has been knocking on the door in recent weeks. Jonny Cowden buzzed the big daughter of Captain Treacherous out of the gate and they did not see a rival. Neville Martin trains the winner for owner David Curtin.

Wilderness

Arts Princess (9/4) showed potential at two and three, but has been in the wilderness since. Adam Corey stuck with his home-bred and they got some payback on Saturday, winning the Grade F pace. The favourite Stateside Bugsy was rumoured to have speed, but alas, he galloped.

Neil McDermott became the first resident of Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh to drive a winner at a licensed IHRA venue.

He guided his own Hydra Ouest to a comfortable win in the Grade F trot.

The 5/4 to 1/3 tells the story on a card where favourite-backers came out best.

Bobby Barry’s Always Feeling Hungry (Gavin Murdock) had to win to be eligible for a ‘winners of one’ at the VDM. The son of Stay Hungry won by seven lengths in 2.01.1.

Making Memories is improving with every run for Calvin Broughan and beat Made For Monsa by 22 lengths in a match.