O’Reilly family dominate at Lyre

Cork Sunday

Tim Kelleher

THE O’Reilly family from Drimoleague (father, son, and cousin) dominated proceedings at Lyre Harness Races on Sunday, sending out three of the six winners.

Get Me Out Of Here, owned by Tadhg O’Reilly (father), set the ball rolling for the clan in the Grade E to F pace.

Christy Brown set the early fractions in the mile contest leading Streams Of whiskey to the half-mile marker.

Not much changed in the next quarter, but Get Me Out Of Here was stalking the leaders and went on turning for home to win by four lengths from the staying on Ayr Beach.

Totally Riley, a four-year-old home-bred, gave Matthew O’Reilly (son) his initial win in the Grade G and G1 pace. Sent to the front from the start, he was briefly headed by newcomer Still Game at the turn for home but stayed on to get up on the line by half a length.

Both winners were driven by Jamie Hurley, who came in for two catch drives as regular driver Matthew O’Reilly was not available. The double gives Hurley from Reenascreena seven winners from the first three days’ racing.

The O’Reilly domination was completed in the high-grade pace, when Chris O’Reilly (cousin) steered Biggins to his second win following the season opener at Harbour View. The handicapper got it right in this contest with a blanket finish.

IB Felicity was the hare and led Biggins and Someones Fantasy for the opening lap. When Someones Fantasy went off stride, Teddy Camden and IB Paddington closed in, but in the dash to the line, Biggins had half a length to spare over Teddy Camden.

Family affair

It was a good weekend for Jeremiah O’Mahony, the track manager at Dunmanway. Following a win in Annaghmore on Saturday with Lieutenant Dan, he sent out Fairplay Briolais with son Dan in the bike to take the top-grade trot. Graal Du Dollar was in warm order in the betting, despite a 50-yard handicap.

Fairplay Briolais overtook Gentleman Coglais after two furlongs of the mile and a half journey, going well clear. On the final circuit, Graal Du Dollar closed in on the leader who looked like a “sitting duck” in front, but Fairplay Briolais found extra and was not for catching.

Brutenor for the Hill Family from Hillside Farms in Leap proved that age is only a number, when the veteran trotter took the honours in the Grade E to F trot. Immodesto led for the opening two furlongs, but Patrick Hill cajoled Brutenor to the front for an untroubled two-length win.

“He loves it around here in Lyre and got things his own way in front. He’s getting on in age, but is enjoying his racing,” Hill was quoted post-race.

Comete Des Landes remains unbeaten for the season (three wins from three starts). Destin De Larre, a winner last week, looked a winner after seeing off Hotesse Du Chassin and Innis and Gunn, but Eoin Murphy produced Comete Des Landes late to win by a length.