IT’S always a huge relief when a top two-year-old makes his seasonal debut at three with no glitches.

This was the case when last year’s Delaney Memorial runner-up Newtown Rock showed that he has trained on at Portmarnock’s opening meeting April 24th.

Built more like a National Hunt store type than a pacer, all observers agreed that Rock would be better at three.

It’s early days yet but the entire son of Rock n’ Roll Hanover beat aged horses with consummate ease. Rhyds Boots, with usual partner Simon Duggan, followed the Wallace runner home.

Alan Wallace Snr recorded a double soon after in the closing event, the High Grade French Trot. Wallace sent Sire d’Opac to an early lead. Solicitor sat in his slipstream before fading. Last year’s Trotter of the Year Vichy De Moem came with a formidable charge in the last quarter but the bird had flown. Sean Kane’s new import Uldiem Alfa filled the frame in a respectable time of 2m 03.6secs so early in the season.

Billy Roche and John Richardson have enjoyed a fine tussle for the driver’s title in recent seasons, the former prevailing in 2015.

Both reinsmen got off the mark. Roche made all to score on the mare Alienor Dupadoueng, while his great North Dublin rival had a similarly easy spin on another mare, Beach De Bellouet.

Kenmare’s great sportsmen, the Quills, were rewarded for their long journey when young Seamus caused a minor upset as Awesome Dude upstaged the Wallace owned ‘jolly’ Fair Enough.

Fair Enough raced well in defeat and there is probably some improvement in him, a rugged big sort. The winner was friendless in the ring at 2/1.

“The Iceman”, Alan Richardson, was seen to good effect on Stephen Foran’s charge Tonic Scott in winning the middle grade French Trot. Favourite backers were counting their money early as the ‘danger’ Urbano Des Selles fluffed his lines at the start. Secret De Star (Patrick Kane jnr) and Tamalou Perrine (Noely Ryan) were merely onlookers as the consistent nine-year-old won as he liked.

RESULTS

R1 (1 Mile): 1. Beach de Bellouet, J Richardson 2. Venise du Bois, A Wallace Snr 3. Adagio Du Cebe, N Ryan. Time: 2m.04.7sec. SP 1/2f 4/1 5/1 7 Ran

R2 (1 Mile): 1. Awesome Dude, S Quill 2. Fair Enough, A Wallace Snr 3. Saunders Paris, M Goggin. Time: 2m.05.4. secDist: 1l, 1l SP 2/1, 1/2f 7/2 4 Ran

R3 (1 Mile): 1. Tonic Scott, A Richardson 2. Secret de Star, P Kane Jnr 3. Urbano des Selles, B Roche. Time: 2m 08.6 secDist: 1.5 l, Sh Hd SP 1/2f 4/1 4/1 6 Ran

R4. (1 Mile): 1. Alienor Dupadoueng, B Roche 2. Valshe des Forches, S Kane 3. Rainbow Quest, A Malone. Time 2.05.8. Dist: 2l, 1l SP 1/2f, 5/1, 5/1 6 Ran

R5 (1 Mile): 1. Newtown Rock, A Wallace Snr 2. Rhyds Boots S Duggan 3. Saunders Picasso, M Goggin. Time: 2m.00.8sec. Dist 6l, 2l. SP 1/3f, 4/1, 5/1 5 Ran

R6 (1 Mile): 1. Sire d’Opac, A Wallace Snr 2. Vichy de Voem, A Richardson 3. Uldiem Alfa, S Kane. Time: 2m.03.6sec Dist: ½ l, 1L SP 5/1, 1/2f, 4/1 5 Ran