Lyre Sunday

PATRICK Kane Jnr from Summerhill in Co Meath was the driver in form when landing three winners at Lyre in Co Cork on Sunday. The track record for pacers over one-mile was also broken on the day.

Irish Good Dream, trained in Reenascreena by James Hurle, set the ball rolling for Kane in the four-year-old trot. The winner was sent to the front early and, despite a late challenge from Iron Paddy, Kane had three or four lengths to spare at the finish.

Miss Pantastic was the middle leg of Kane’s three winners. The daughter of The One Night Pan was well supported in the market and took up the running in the final quarter, easing into a six-length winning margin from King Wills Arrival.

Immortal John was to give Kane his third winner of the day. At the half-way point Immortal John looked to have no chance as a bad break seemed to have put paid to his chances. However, Kane did not panic. He allowed the horse to find his feet and eventually ran out a 10-length winner.

The three wins put Kane right back in contention in The Irish Field National Drivers Championship.

Records are broken

Sunday saw the opening legs of both the All-Ireland Pace and Trots. Only four went to post in the one-mile pace and Northern Pride, with Troy McAleer, made light work on his seasonal debut of his three rivals. He attained a decisive seven-length winning margin in a time of 2’02.8, shaving almost half a second off the existing mile record of 2’03.2.

The winner is trained by Thomas “TV” Heavey who also sent out Newtown Major to land the closing race with McAleer’s sibling, Marcus, doing the steering.

The opening heat of the All-Ireland Trot went the way of Duca De Leau who is owned by Willie John Cooke from Leap. Colombia D’Oyse set the early fractions with Comete Des Landes.

Heading out on the final lap the leaders were joined by Duca De Leau who managed to take control of the race. Columbia D’Oyse came back for more, however, and only went down by a neck in the driving finish.

Kenmare-based farrier Oisin Quill visited the winner’s enclosure on two occasions. First in the IHRA Apprentice Championship where Humour De Cosse was a warm order favourite and duly obliged from the fast-finishing Beach De Bellouet who was driven by Quill’s girlfriend Charlie Flanagan (all is fair in love and war).

Destin de Larre followed up on a recent win to give Quill his double. Hippie Sisu seemed to have the race in safe keeping and was 10 lengths clear with two furlongs to trot but was reeled in by a staying-on Destin De Larre.

Notable winners

Racing opened with another winner for the O’Reilly family in the shape of Spartan Warrior who led early, then was headed and battled back, eventually running out an eight-length winner from Romanz.

IB Felicity gave veteran driver John Boyle yet another success. Boyle, who is 79 years young, played a waiting game here, overtaking long time leader Oakwood Maestro with two furlongs remaining and registered a one-and-a-half-length victory.

There was plenty of drama in the Grade E & D Trot. Dragee Du Lys and Banderillo Piya were the early pace-setters. They were joined by Holloway Road on the second circuit who went off stride when the trio were heading out on the final lap. Dragee Du Lys was still in front turning for home but Halloway Road got back into contention and passed the post first.

A stewards’ enquiry was called and Halloway Road was disqualified for exceeding the number of strides allowed while off-stride. Dragee Du Lys was declared the winner.

Full list of results can be viewed on irishharnessracing.com