Lyre Saturday

LOCAL man Eoin Murphy warmed up for his tilt at the European Apprentice Drivers Championship in Dundalk tomorrow with a driving double at Lyre last Saturday.

Hotesse Du Chassin led out in the high grade trot. The order was unchanged for the opening mile. With two furlongs to trot, Eoin Murphy made his move with Kirio Scott to record a length and a half win from Gentleman Coglais. The winner is owned by Ger Cooke from Leap and trained by Tadhg Murphy. Kirio Scott was one of the best-supported winners in the betting ring for the day (1/1 to 4/7).

“We changed tactics a bit this week and I told Eoin to make his challenge late and it worked a treat. We head to Dundalk with him next weekend and I think he will handle the surface,” Cooke was quoted after racing.

Earlier in the afternoon, Murphy kicked off his double with Looks Like Mom in the Grade G trot. The pair were in front from the start and were left clear when Hianca HA went off-stride, going on to win by 10 lengths. The winner is owned by Micheal Duggan from Rosscarberry, one of the driving forces behind the development of the State-funded track in Lyre.

There was a real international flavour to the victory of Instinct De Jomax in the Grade D to F trot. Lady Mil had set good fractions in this and still led with two furlongs to trot, but Mike O’Mahony produced Instinct De Jomax on the outside to lead home Comete Des Landes. Both runners are trained in Baltimore by Tadhg Murphy.

The winner is owned by the VIP Syndicate, an American-based group who race horses at all the major tracks in the USA, including The Meadowlands. The €1,472 first prize will push syndicate earnings nearer the $4 million mark.

The marvels of live streaming allowed the syndicate members on the East Coast to watch the race live from Lyre. Talks of a syndicate tour in 2027 may strengthen after the win. Rumour has it that on a fine day the ‘Yanks’ on the east coast can see their horse working at the picturesque IB Stables in Baltimore, one of the most southerly harness racing stables in Ireland.

Jono Cowden is another driver who is in contention for The Irish Field National Drivers Championship and the long journey down from Glengormley produced a winner from two drives.

Kicking In The Sand went to post at prohibitive odds of 2/5 and led Northern Lights and Lady Lou from the start, setting decent fractions. At the three-quarter-mile pole, Cowden pushed the turbo button on the daughter of Cattle Wash and raced clear of his rivals to romp home in 1m 57.9secs. The winner is owned by Cowden’s father, Noel.

Two more prizes went north of the Jack Lynch Tunnel. Lily Lou opened her winning account in the Grade G and G1 pace. The four-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou has been hitting the crossbar in recent weeks and got an overdue success on the day.

Leading from the start, they were still in front turning for home, but a late surge from Montanas Prince and Pan Cam Corona produced a blanket finish and the photo went the way of Lily Lou by a short head. Robert Murnane from Caherconlish in East Limerick owns and trains the winner.

Bettonme is another youngster on an upward curve and the son of Betting Line made it three wins on the bounce in the Grade B to E handicap. Drawn in the number one position on the gate, he flew to the front. After seeing off Coalford Goodfella and Benny The Legend, he ran his nine rivals ragged, eventually coming home 11 lengths clear in a time of 1m 59.7secs which was a career best. Stephen Gallagher from Newport in Co Tipperary owns, trains and drives the winner.

Racing concluded with an apprentice trot. Drawn on the gate Irish Good Dream, the best-backed horse in the race, was still five lengths clear turning for home. However, disaster struck when he went off-stride allowing Keiran Scott and Kyo Ferfay to battle it out. Keiran Scott won by a short head for father and son team Jeremiah and Dan O’Mahony who mind the track in Dunmanway.