THE Jack Galway / Gerry Keenan meeting commemorates two followers of harness racing who rarely missed a meeting and were always involved in skirmishes with the old enemy, the dreaded bookies. Jackie and Gerry got a fitting tribute on Sunday with tight finishes and healthy exchanges in the betting ring.
Patrick Kane junior looks nailed on for another The Irish Field drivers’ title as he steered a four-timer. Second-placed Jamie Hurley had one winner, while Jonny Cowden refuses to lie down and replied with a treble.
There was a game of musical chairs all afternoon regarding the driving arrangements, with Troy McAleer seemingly suspended and Billy Roche nursing an injured hand.
The main talking point was Always Skye’s gutsy win in the Free For All Pace. Already this season, Oakwood Paddy gave the other two a drubbing at the opening meeting at Lyre. More recently, Northern Pride reversed the placings.
Never give up
Therefore, it was no surprise that Lawrence Stewart’s mare was only third favourite. Always Skye and Jonny Cowden share a ‘never give up’ mentality. Oakwood Paddy looked long odds-on in running, as he and Gavin Murdock set the fractions.
Martin Loughran and Northern Pride came to pester the leader and Cowden ‘jumped on the back of live cover’, as they say in America. The McAleer runner gave Skye a tow into the stretch, whereupon she kicked three lengths clear in 1.59.3.
“Lawrence is away at the moment, so Walter (Lawrence’s father) has been doing her all week,” said a delighted Carmel Stewart.
The Galbally stable of Sean and Simon Duggan won one of the season’s feature races, The Jack Galway Cup with the steadily-improving Krack Marancourt (2/1 to 4/5); Simon Duggan was content to jog around at the back before swooping the field in the final quarter.
“He’s getting there, he’s still only six,” was Sean Duggan’s response as to how Krack Marancourt compares with the useful Abraham, who peaked in 2018.
Dan O’Mahony from Dunmanway picked up €2,250 for second aboard the gallant Fair Play Briolais.
The O’Mahonys went one better when Lieutenant Dan was a convincing winner of the Grade C to E trot. They co-own the likeable chesnut with winning driver Sean Kane.
To borrow a French cliché, Lieutenant Dan has been at times an ‘enfant terrible’ and Sean deserves credit for sticking at the task. “I’m delighted how he is trotting. We even tried him without shoes today.”
Shoeless (deferré) is a common tactic in France and requires a surface with plenty of give, which track-grader Ivan Swindle served up on Sunday.
Unstoppable Harry
Patrick Kane junior enjoyed another rout with Harry Knows in the Paul Boyle Free For All Trot. None of the four bookies on duty offered straight betting on Harry, although there were loud cheers as Hulk Chantereine stayed on for second, which would suggest that outcome was punted.
Patrick’s treble opened with Anthony Malone’s Eliano Love (2/1 best) in the E and F trot. The Meath-based farrier was seen at his decisive best in the Grade F pace, as he blasted Look What Lou Maid out of the ‘4 hole’ to lead. Patrick kept the son of Maid Of The West up to his work to see off the game Coalford Henry H (Simon Duggan). The result was an overdue win for Graham and Rocco Byrne from Navan.
Patrick also justified favouritism with Dun An Doras in the Grade G pace. The winner is cleverly named, as he is by Alan Wallaces’ Bolt The Duer. Get it ? Sam Crow ran well for second with Gabriel McDonogh.
Jamie Hurley made the long journey from West Cork a fruitful one, when he picked up the Gerry Keenan Cup with Always Paid. Owner Liam Twomey looks to have a nice prospect for 2027. Meadowbranch Lilmil put in a pleasing effort for new owner Wayne McNevin as runner-up.
Jonny Cowden’s other two winners came in the shape of Joe Sheridan’s Moet Of Springhill (four-year-old trot) and Kevin Corey’s Montanas Prince (Grade F pace), the latter trained by his father Noel.
Charley Bennett’s Tarawood Larry is enjoying the Reenascreena air and was a decent second with Jamie Hurley.
The quiet man Joseph Caffrey always seems to get a tune out of his horses late in the season. Hidden Assets took out a weak enough Grade G1 pace on 2.02.8. The winner was well backed. The Keady-based Brody kept up his good form in second.
The final result was probably a score draw between the punters and the layers. Dun An Doras, Lieutenant Dan, Hidden Assets and Krack Marancourt were all well backed, while Always Paid and Always Skye came to the rescue of the satchel men.
Racing continues at Annaghmore tomorrow with some Department of Agriculture-backed mares’ races. Information at www.irisharnessracing,com Replays at IHRA YouTube channel.
THE 2026 Caen sale of Trotteurs Français saw the first entry of Irish buyers into the French yearling market. Around six Irish buyers attended and they made quite a splash, buying 16 lots, albeit the sale is four days in duration with 800 lots.
The importance of this shift change in the French/Irish dynamic cannot be over emphasised. Previously, the Irish Harness Racing Association / Le TROT of France arranged buying expeditions for tried racehorses.
Two or three trusted Irish horsemen would visit several training centres in France, view and drive selected horses and finalise a list. A list of willing Irish buyers was compiled, all at the same price, and the horses were matched with new owners by names out of a hat.
The French Sale process, as it is known, worked okay. With good selection by the like of John Richardson and Martin Loughran, most French imports covered their costs. Over a decade, the selectors knew better the type that would stand up to Irish racing and tracks.
Silvano Bello, Romulus Augenais, Brutenor, Tamilou Perrine, Boyardo and Feugeres Erem were all examples of good bread winners over several seasons.
Inevitably, not all of the horses were top class. I, personally, had the dubious distinction of owning a share in Sioux Touli, who had a beautiful action but couldn’t beat Casey’s Drum. There were mutterings amongst experienced horsemen - ‘could we not pick our own horses’.
In a way, the horsemen have got what they wanted, as a dozen intrepid buyers attended or sent a proxy to Caen in 2026 to buy for the 2029 three-year-old races.
Sean Kane is a key link in the chain, as he has worked in France with the Fabrice Souloy yard. Sean bought a lot for Meadowbranch Stud and one for Clive Richardson.
“The yearlings were well produced and turned out to a high standard. We must have seen value, as we bought 16 altogether. We bought animals from the Bold Eagle line. France has plenty of stallions, which were just okay as racehorses but produced well, as they had the breeding. We bid on loads of horses, but were outbid for a good few as well. The thing is now to create a good prize fund for 2029, as there are 16 new youngsters and six bred in Ireland.”
British buyers also signed for four lots - another good portent for the sport going forward. Joseph Renaghan of JD Transport was on hand to haul horses to Dublin port.
All of the 2025 foals in France are named with a ‘P’ suffix. Commentators James Griffin and Cian Cassidy will be shuddering as they read this.
Irish purchases at Caen Sale
Willie Flanagan: Pivoine Des Mares – 5,000
Thomas Martin: Particule Dairpet – 4,500
Wayne Duffy: Paloma De Vauville – 4,000
Aidan Caffrey: Play Boy Kadesh – 3,500
Martin Loughran: Punch Des Monts – 3,000
Sean McDermott: Pexho Farm – 3,000
Joseph Renaghan: Pedyland – 3,000
Anthony Malone: Palea De Vive - 2,500
Lee O’Reilly: Prisca De Narmont – 2,500
Calvin Broughan: Procurer Angel – 2,000
Joseph Renaghan: Polska Dairpet – 1,000
Philip Loughran: Paris Des Thuyas – 1,000
AS the great Billy Haughton of New York once wrote, ‘You start with a horse and a lead rope’, so bonne chance to all the new owners.
The Irish buyers were at pains to thank Marianne Simmonot and Emmanulle Morvillers of Le TROT for their practical help over the four days.
The circus moves to England today, York Sales to be exact where pacers, as opposed to trotters, will be on offer.