‘LONGEST traveller’ is quite often seen as a tip in some newspapers.

During most weeks at Portmarnock that title would safely belong to trainer Donal Murphy and his driver brother Donal, who make the arduous 10-hour round trip from tranquil Innis Beg Island near Baltimore to Old Portmarnock, to use the track’s postal address.

The run back home past Cashel and Fermoy will have felt shorter on Sunday past as the IB Stables posted a double.

IB Paddington came up in a decent crop of two-year-olds. He raced well at two and three without setting the world on fire. Down on the island, the brothers give a horse time and the Foreclosure - Annies Lady gelding probably booked his stable at Murphy’s for 2022 with final day win in 2:05.3

Part-owner Bill Donovan does not keep poor horses for long so if Paddington turns up next year he should be followed. Pixie Camden (Patrick Kane jnr) was runner-up on a rare blank day for the ‘Season Champion’, as they say at The Meadowlands.

On the trotting front, the brothers have both a classy gelding and a mare to look forward to, namely Duc d’Arry and Comete des Landes.

The boys would probably have preferred to get more work at home into Duc d’Arry but LeTROT aged horses come in race-fit and the prize money is too good to ignore.

Duc d’Arry made it three from five on Sunday when he beat the Meadowbranch runner Biniou du Beuvron in a sharp 2:02.5. The time is impressive, especially as horses tend to slow a bit in the winter weather.

Duc d’Arry cost €3,800 landed in Dublin and has won over €2,500 in his first five runs. An eight-year-old, he has the world at his feet in Ireland. You could do worse than to buy into these teak-tough trotters. Ask Thomond O’Mara, who has another one in the same stable.

Frustrating season

Elsewhere on the card, the long-standing champion driver John Richardson got his customary winner to close a slightly frustrating season.

JR did not have a standout pacer in the season and his young stock did not sparkle. He will go into winter quarters, re-group, the barn will get a thorough clean from top to tail and he will still be the man to beat in 2022.

The punters got it wrong on Sunday as money came for the stable companion Colombia d’Oysse, but Richardson had the chesnut mare Epopee du Layon prominent throughout and got first run on Noely Ryan aboard Columbia d’Oysse.

The McNevins from Rough Diamond Stables in Rathcoole stole the show at the previous meeting and nearly pulled that off again.

Father Wayne had only a steering job as IB A Magician beat a tired looking Fairdays Western (Adam Corey) in a match. Time of 2:00.1 was the clock which bodes well for next season.

Daughter Leah (16) does everything with exuberance and has shades of a Bryony Frost about her. Horses run (or should we say pace) for Leah and the win with Happy As Larry, still a maiden after 12 attempts, brought the house down again.

Laid-back, as opposed to exuberant, is the best way to describe The Red Baron, Billy Roche. The lanky master of the Roche barn made it 23 for the year with Gamba des Tithais, a young mare owned by Brian Redmond and Buddy Donaghy, and a nice prospect. Carre Chic ran well for second for Erin Flanagan.

Charlie Flanagan gave us the unusual occurrence of two lady drivers winning on a card as she steered Esperanza Lou Lou to take out the G to F trot.

The run was the mare’s best performance so far and the girls, plus John Richardson will all want to be in the bike next season. John got a good look as he was second on Valiant de Gueham, a catch drive from Billy Roche, no less.

Forceful

The boy who never grew old, Alan Wallace snr was seen at his forceful best behind A Kind Of Magic. The gelding is owned by a pillar of the sport, Rory Bridgette.

Promising newcomer John ‘Boy’ Roche laid down a challenge with One Cool Touch but Wallace prevailed by two lengths. The nine-year-old winner is by Hasty Hall and they were built to last.

The number cloths were on standby to show Patrick Kane jnr winning 50 in the season but he stalled it at 49.

A brief presentation was held where a gentleman with cap (recognise him?) at a jaunty angle presented Patrick with The Irish Field silver salver for leading driver. The plate also carries a nice monetary award and thanks go to the management at The Irish Field for all they do for the sport. Patrick now represents Ireland in the European championships next year. A top six finish would see him qualify for the world championships in Italy in 2023.

The 2021 Irish harness racing season has now closed. We intend to bring you a year-end review and to focus on horse of the year, trotter of the year in the coming weeks. The Irish Field will also carry news from the France vs. Ireland harness meet in Normandy on December. 19th

IHRA National Leading Driver Award 2021

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Final Standings

Pat Kane jnr, Trim 45

John Richardson, Dublin 39

Donal Murphy, Baltimore 31

Jonny Cowden, Belfast 29

Sean Kane, The Naul 28

Billy Roche, Dublin 23

Gavin Murdock, Belfast 20