THE shorter than usual race report allows us to hear from Martin Loughran, that shrewd placer of horses who is based on the Cooley Peninsula. Martin drove a memorable five-timer at Dundalk Stadium in September 2016.

Locals who had seen the Loughrans working regularly at Shelling Hill beach were rumoured to have left their mark on SP offices in Carlingford.

The family lost their father Michael in January of this year. He had been a proud spectator at some of Martin’s Dundalk forays.

Unfortunately due to a variety of reasons harness racing has drifted away from Dundalk in the meantime. However, the terrier-like Loughran in his black with gold cuffs has kept up his strike rate in Dublin, Armagh and Cork. Backers know that if Martin is involved at the three quarter pole he won’t go down without a fight.

Martin won a final at the Red John Memorial in 2018 (a catch drive on Tamalou Perrine) and plundered all the big trotting prizes in 2020 with Curly du Layon who has yet to be seen in 2021.

The unassuming Louth man squeezes his training of horses into work breaks from his job unloading boats at Greenore docks.

When asked about the progress of the sport he was very complimentary about the efforts of the Irish Harness Racing Association and Le TROT.

“I have three in work this year. Philip (brother) would have more in, but he would kill me for speaking,” explains Martin.

Loose lips sink ships, but not if you’re a wily Cooley man.

Loughran did divulge a bit about two seasoned trotters and a three-year-old. As ever, with a top trotting yard it’s the ones he leaves out that mean the most!

Eddy Marceaux (Fr)

7yo g Sam Bourbon – Sandra du Rosier

He only came in during the winter. We thought he was a bit weak but we’re building him up.

He seems a honest horse with a lot of ability. He won a heat at the Bernie Kelly weekend.

I think a mile or a mile and a half will come all the same to him. He lives out during the day. He is owned by Martin Maughan.

Curly Du Layon (Fr)

9yo g Sanymede Tivoli – Deese du Layon

As good a trotter as I have trained. We started him late as he raced into the autumn. The All-Ireland Series wore on a bit but then he won it, so I can’t complain.

He is one horse you can rely on. I own him with my brother David. He has gone 2.03 for the mile and 3.07 for a mile and a half.

He raced a few times on grass in France so Lyre here we come.

Irish Paddy (Ire)

3yo g Rachmaninov Seven – Venus de Gaulle

He’s part of the Irish breeding programme. I got great mileage out of the dam. Chris Walker, Seamus Grimes and Ronan Carr are in on him.

He’s a lovely looking horse and we have him down to 2.40. These French youngsters can be harder to break than the US stock.

He has no bad habits but is still a bit green.