Annaghmore Saturday

ANNAGHMORE last Saturday had the ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Ball‘ feel about it, falling between the glitzy Vincent Delaney and another classic fixture ‘The Breeders Crown’ on Tuesday 19th, also in North Wales.

Coalford Henry H kicked off a good week for the Duggans from Galbally and the Maws from Sunderland, who breed the Coalford horses.

Henry H is not overly big, but he has an engine like his half-brother Coalford Tetrick. Tiernan Loughran was in the bike on this occasion. Tiernan allowed One Cool Touch (John Boy Roche) to lead, but the Tyrone runner always had his measure. A 2.00 dead was the clock with One Cool Touch carried out on his shield.

Simon Duggan told The Irish Field: “Tiernan sings to this horse when he’s jogging him, that’s the key.”

Jonny Cowden was seen to good effect aboard his father’s Kickinginthesand in the opening maiden pace. The filly ran very green and still won, one for your horse tracker if harness racing had such a thing.

Kickinginthesand was shifting in the hobbles on the first turn, but Jonny took back, allowed her to find her rhythm and came sweeping around the more experienced The Groomsman (Patrick Kane jnr). The winner was well-backed and clocked a lifetime best of 2.01.6

Class horse

Elysium d’Ostal has found his way to Grade F in the handicap. He was the class horse of the race and ran out a four-length winner over Kepi De Chrismi and Mark Kane.

John Boy Roche was in the sulky following a whip ban. “It’s nice to be back,” said the placid native of Baskin, near Dublin airport.

Epsom Des Corvees (Darren Timlin, touched 3/1) kept up his recent excellent form in beating Italia Du Mont (John Richardson) in the top grade trot. The win made it three in a row for the 11-year-old who has been trained in Fermanagh throughout his career.

Adam Corey had the misfortune of being disqualified the previous week with Isba Quick. On the day, the young Glengormley man stayed out of trouble with Arts Princess to win the Grade F pace. The winner was no bigger than 6/4 on a bad day for the layers. The grey American Rogue and Cracker Mach dead-heated for second place.

Mary Kane’s teak tough little mare Hot To Trot (Sean Kane) was put into the race early in the Grade E to F trot. ‘Lolly’ (her stable name) is a stout stayer and put nine lengths between herself and Hydra Ouest (Neil McDermott). The runner-up should be followed.

“Hot To Trot has kept the lights on in our barn for the past four years,” said Sean Kane.

Homa is trained near the Tyrella point-to-point course by Ciaran Morrison and owned by the Murphys from Baltimore. The deep-barrelled mare led out, made all to win the C to D trot from Isora De Source (Freddie Kavanagh).

FOLLOWING 14 winners from 19 races at the VDM Festival, Irish trainers also dominated during The Breeders Crown meeting on Tuesday night at Tir Prince Raceway, North Wales.

The visitors won five of nine races. In running order, the winners and drivers from this side of the Irish Sea were; Ayrodrome - Patrick Kane junior, Coalford Look At Me - Simon Duggan, Another Smile - Eoin Joyce, Always B Puffin - Billy Roche, Coalford Annabelle - Troy McAleer.

Jamie Hurley searching for dangers in the Grade E Trot. \ Lydia Kelleher Equine Photography.

Dunmanway Sunday

by Tim Kelleher

EOIN Murphy cemented his position at the top of the leader board for leading driver in the Southern Region when the Baltimore-based apprentice electrician drove three winners at Dunmanway on Sunday.

All three winners were for his retainers IB Stables and a fourth winner for the Innisbeg team came later in the day with his uncle Donal driving.

Murphy (Eoin) kicked off his treble with Hippie Sisu for Enniskeane-based publican Angelo Hannon in the apprentice drivers’ series.

Hippie Sisu had led for most of the contest, but was caught in the final 100 metres by Destin De Larre. Following a stewards’ enquiry, the first past the post was judged to have broken his handicap at the start and was disqualified.

Paddy Kane’s Anglesey Hall was the second leg of the Murphy treble when landing the odds in the Grade E to F pace. The Meath raider shook off early challenger Spartan Warrior and thereafter did not see another rival.

The mare had a comfortable two-length winning margin at the finish. She is from one of the last crops of the remarkable Hasty Hall.

Treble up

The treble was completed for Murphy with Always Skye in the three-runner top Grade Pace. Getmeoutofhere was the hare in this one, but Always Skye had all the moves covered and ran out a two-length winner from his stable companion IB Paddington.

This was the third win in as many weeks for this talented five-year-old mare. Owner Lawrence Stewart from Portrush in Co Antrim made a good decision leaving her in Cork after the Ballabuidhe Festival.

In recent seasons, Eoin Murphy has taken over the top drivers’ job at IB Stables, but his mentor Uncle Donal was not to be outdone when he landed the Top-Grade trot aboard Comete Des Landes.

The almost black mare was passed by Fairplay Briolais in the early stages. Heading into the final stages, Fair Play Briolais looked to have the race sealed but Comete Des Landes was produced with the best-timed finish to get the judges nod by half a length.

Jamie Hurley from Reenascreena has had a quiet few weeks by his high standards, but bounced back to winning ways on Sunday afternoon driving two winners.

Fandango De Nile, who is owned by Hannah Richardson, Hurley’s partner, was an all-the-way winner of the Grade E to F trot. Empereur Souverain wasn’t giving the winner any easy passage in this and put it up Fandango De Nile but eventually had to settle for a two-length defeat.

IB Felicity was installed favourite in the Grade F pace. Heading to the road crossing, IB Felicity was in front from Streams Of Whiskey and Christy Brown who was boxed in on the rail.

Turning for home, Christy Brown saw daylight but Hurley produced Down By Crecora on the wide outside to prevail by half a length.

Storming finish

The Ladies Pace only attracted three runners, but produced a storming finish with Ayr Harbour driven by Charlie Flanagan holding off a spirited challenge from Teddy Camden with Chelsie O’Driscoll in the driver’s seat to hold on for a half a length victory. Conor Hurley trains the winner for Dunmanway man Mike Healy.

Miki Taker has been knocking on the door in recent outings and broke her maiden tag at prohibitive odds in the Grade G & G1 Pace.

Rewrite Sport really pressurised Miki Taker for most of the journey, but Jamie Cross pulled away in the final 100 yards to win for his brother John Cross jnr. The journey home to Limerick City felt shorter after a win.

Annaghmore race today. The Cork region hosts Lyre an IHRA Memorial Day tomorrow. Replays of all races can be seen on IHRA YouTube channel. Racecards, results and wider information are available at www.irishharnessracing.com