Lyre Saturday

THE Richard Phelan Memorial is run in honour of a popular young man from Limerick city who passed away in 2023.

Therefore, it was fitting that six out of 16 races run over Saturday and Sunday went to horses with Treaty County connections.

‘Star Of The Show’ is debatable between the skewbald mare Sweet Royalty and another mare, the trotter Ilda Manchotte. The coloured pacer is owned by Johnny Cross while the French mare is owned by Johnny’s son Jamie, Stephen Gallagher and well-known county hurler Kyle Hayes. Ilda Manchotte (3/1) won the Grade C trot on Saturday outdoing the gallant veteran Epsom De Corvees (Luke Timlin) and went on to win the Richard Phelan Memorial Trot on the Sunday at 7/2 from the indefatigable Hot To Trot (Sean Kane).

She earned both wins the hard way, grinding it out on the outside. The eight-year-old is a treat to watch with her white face, long stride and low head carriage.

“She is lovely to do and winning from a two-wide position comes easily to her,” said driver Martin Loughran aka ‘The Cooley Magician’.

Sweet Royalty was only a decent second on her Saturday trip but was driven with more intent by Bernard Nicholson in Sunday’s Richard Phelan Memorial Pace. She was soon into second place despite her back marker draw on the gate and the layers (4/5 to 4/9) soon knew their fate. She paced an official 1.57.7 (quicker pillar to post) which is an Irish record for a coloured mare to go with the 1.56.9 that she clocked in North Wales on August 9th.

Some journey

“She is one in a million. She has taken us on some journey,” said Cootehiil, Co Cavan based trainer/driver Bernard.

Lady Lou was a staying on second for Troy McAleer and owner Anthony O’Donnell which kept up the Limerick theme. The weekend began with a victory for Schull-based trainer/driver Michael O’Mahony. Michael got a slightly fortuitous run up the inside to foil IB Queen Bee (Patrick Kane jnr for the Murphys) who had cut the pace. The result is a Cattlewash 1-2, another example of the largesse extended to Ireland, the stallion’s owner American backer Bill Donovan.Robert Murnane from Caherconlish (in Limerick, wouldn’t you know?) got a win at a gala meeting when his Lily Lou upset the well-backed pair KissMeKate and Newtown Electra in a respectable 2.01.4.

Billy Roche opened up a training treble on the weekend when Hulk Chantereine defied ‘the 8 hole’ to beat Helios De Lara (Johnny Cowden) in the C to D trot. Johhny got a nice tune out of the runner-up, the nine-year-old’s best run for some time. The Red Baron (Billy) made it a chesnut gelding double when Hope De Guinette (5/4 best) took out a competitive looking B to C trot from Instinct De Jomax (Michael O’Mahony) owned by American syndicate VIP Racing.

Kept up the honour

Finally, John Roche jnr (John Boy to his friends) kept up the honour of the red and white livery as he drove Churchview Saka to win the C Class drivers’ race as a 1/3 shot should. Fifteen lengths in 2.01 flat tells the story.

Emily Rose (4/1), driven by owner Derry McCarthy, showed great guts to come four wide in the Grade D and E pace. Dublin raider Elwood (Mark Kane) got the silver medal. Drinks on the house in Mc Carthy’s Bar, Drimoleague was a possibility.

Bet On Me (Johnny Cross jnr) put the icing on the sentimental cake as he sluiced up in 1.59.5 in the Grade B to D pace. The son of Betting Line showed Delaware-like pace (58.2 to the half) and kept going to beat stable companion Sweet Royalty. Fittingly, Bet On Me was the last horse bred by the late Richie Phelan, whose family were present. Bet On Me is a rare Tipperary-trained pacer, Stephen Gallagher gets the credit.

Lyre Sunday

Day two kicked off with a facile victory for John Richardson aboard the three-year-old Platinum Guy over his nephew Joseph Caffrey on Hidden Assets. The winner is owned by ‘The Boss From Cross’, Patrick Carberry.

“Platinum Guy was not trained at two - I’m really looking forward to next year with him,” said JR. The time of 1.58.9 bodes well.

Patrick Kane jnr now has a cushion at the top of The Irish Field drivers’ championship thanks to a double on the weekend. The Groomsman and Sweet Gossip vied for favouritism in the Grade F pace with the former going off at 4/5 favourite. The race saw a neat working of the ‘give and go’ as Gavin Murdock and Patrick Kane jnr exchanged the lead position. This is best explained as an unwritten understanding between two good drivers that the lead horse will not hang the ‘second over’ horse on the outside – therefore they both come home stronger. The Groomsman outstayed Sweet Gossip in an unspectacular 2.02.2

Patrick’s double came when Harry Knows showed his old spark to dominate the Free-For-All trot in 3.07.5 for a mile and a half with Iron Paddy (Ronan Norton) 10 lengths adrift. As Harry seemed to get better into the autumn of 2025, the outlook for his opponents in the top grade is not great.

Battle of wits

Patrick’s cousin Sean Kane has kept faith in his home bred Lieutenant Dan. The son of Apprenti Sourcier has speed but the amount of equipment he wears would suggest he it was a battle of wits.

However, Sean has arrived and the five-year-old trotted straight as a gun barrel. Sean was able to sit behind horses and then ask him. All in all, an impressive performance in 3.09.1 for 12 furlongs. Second favourite Eliano Love ran well for second with owner Anthony Malone.

Jeremiah O’Mahony who runs the Dunmanway venue part owns Lieutenant Dan.

The race was the last run before retirement of Brutenor, 2.06.8 (Ire) 1.17 km FR€96,500. It was nice to see Pete Hill’s old warrior paraded along the track and we hope to profile his career in the closed season. The brief tribute was hard to hear, the public address system at Lyre needs to be improved.

Lady Mill kept Jamie Hurley in the hunt for the drivers’ title as she arrived late to hold off Ksar De Mone (Buster Gilligan) a nice run on stable debut for Buster.

“Two wins in two weeks. I changed her shoeing, head gear and bits. The owner Thomas Martin is a great guy,” said Jamie of his Grade E winner. The Free-For-All pace (top class, no allowances) was much anticipated. The youngest driver in the field, Troy McAleer, gunned Northern Prise out of the gate and the gutsy little Canadian-bred held off the run of Oakwood Paddy (Gavin Murdock). As so often in the top class ranks, the draw was crucial. If Paddy had got the rail, who knows?

Troy McAleer and Northern Pride have the field stacked up in the Free-For-All \ Lydia Kelleher Equine Photography

But for now, the trophy goes home to the McAleers from St Margarets, who also sponsored the race. “What a great horse he has been for us. Fingers crossed he will keep going,” stated Troy McAleer.

Race day commentator Cian Cassidy came in for a ‘catch drive’ with a difference as Tim Kelleher (The Irish Field, also a greyhound caller) was double booked on Saturday night. Cian stood in at Curraheen Park (Cork dogs) to good reviews.

SAD news broke at time of writing of the passing of Matt Murphy, Innis Beg Baltimore.

Although Matt had gotten out of the habit of attending meetings he was respected for his achievements with Schell Smoke, HT Adios and Stoneriggs Cuddy in the early days.

He is father to Donal and Tadhg, frequent winners as drivers and trainers, and of course grandfather to European Champion Apprentice, Eoin (22). Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

The Irish Field National

Drivers’ Title