JOE Sheridan is master of the Springhill Stud at Garristown, north county Dublin. Joe has been a fixture at Portmarnock Raceway for almost as long as the stone forge at the entrance.

He has been involved as owner, trainer, driver and breeder and even staged a successful meeting at his farm when the sport had no base in the Dublin region.

Joe (69) is usually accompanied at the races by his wife of 47 years, Marian. Indeed it was Marian who acted as spokesman for the yard in the final horses to follow of the 2021 season.

Marian was buoyed by the win of Boyardo the previous Sunday. She told The Irish Field that Boyardo is fast becoming a family pet.

Old faithful Springhill Biscuit might be a bit put out by the young impostor.

Grandchildren Jack, Rian, Ella and Jody are an important element of the team with Jody in particular a great help with the jogging.

Marian seems excited about the prospects of their young stock. Joe has never been scared to buck trends and has crossed his pacing stallion Ayr Glory with some Scandinavian trotting mares.

When such pacing/trotting crosses click the progeny can be useful. JS Jones of Saunders Stud built a dynasty from trotting mares. French Chef (p2, 1.54) went back to a trotting mare, so the unorthodox move can pay off.

Seasoned ‘rail birds’ at Portmarnock agree that Sheridan’s young stock look like natural pacers in recent qualifiers. Marian singled out five pacers and one trotter for mention.

Springhill Gabby (IRE)

3yo f Ayr Glory – Springhill Talker

She is out of Talker which is where the ‘Gabby’ bit came from. A nice prospect for this season. John Richardson qualified her for us in 2.07 and he likes her.

Springhill Zep (IRE)

3yo g Ayr Glory – Yleen Zes HB

He is out of one of the last mares Joe drove in a race himself. The dam was a top-class trotter. He has paced 2.08 for driver Sean Kane.

Springhill Buddy (IRE)

3yo g Ayr Glory – Springhill Eyeful

He is out of the same dam as Springhill Alibi who won the famous Musselburgh Pace and was later exported. He went 2.09 last week for Donal Murphy on his first time away from home.

Springhill Lou Lou (IRE)

2yo f Sweet Lou – Springhill Fiddle

The dam is a full-sister to Biscuit. She is from the first Irish crop of Sweet Lou, which is a step up for local breeding. She is entered for the Black Horse series.

Springhill Biscuit (IRE)

15yo g Best Sunshine– Springhill Fiddle

His age is greater than the combined age of the other four! We’ll try him this year once more and it would be nice to go out with a win. Joe says his legs are as clean as a two-year-old. Martin Loughran knows him well.

Boyardo (FR)

10yo g Oyardo – Polymede

Joe has always loved a trotter. He trotted out of his skin last Sunday. John Richardson didn’t even pull the plugs so you’d have to say he had a bit up his sleeve. He is a lovely-natured horse and a real looker.