EXPERIENCE and youth combined to provide the headline at Annaghmore Raceway last Sunday.

Twelve-year-old Fairdays Western has definitely been in more races than his 16-year-old driver Adam Corey.

As so often before, every time Fairdays Western looks like he is over the hill, he pulls a top-class performance out of the bag.

Fairdays Western has been winless since Lyre in August. He touched 5/2 outsider of three even though he is a dual winner of the All-Ireland Series. In this leg Rhyds Rival (Eoin Joyce) was 1/4 favourite but he did not head for the lead with his usual gusto.

IB A Magician (Wayne McNevin) cut the pace. However, Adam does all the home work with ‘Charlie’ to use the handsome black gelding’s stable name, and the horse finished strongly in 2’36.3 for the mile and a quarter.

Adam’s grandfather Seamus was beaming with pride. “The horse will retire on All-Ireland day (November 20th). “He’ll never be sold as such, but he’d be a nice horse for someone to paddle slowly around the roads.”

Kevin Corey, Adam’s father reckons the son of The Preacher Pan has won 36 races in 10 seasons at the races.

Double

The Derrylin team of Darren and Luke Timlin chalked up an unusual father and son double on the day. Both Timlins won from awkward post positions. Luke is coming in for more and more catch drives.

On Sunday, he was in the bike behind Meadowbranch Aine who won the D to F grade pace in 2’02.3.

The five-year-old mare is owned by another West Ulster man, Neville Martin from Ederney. Usual driver John Richardson was forced to miss a second meeting due to minor illness in his household.

“Luke gave her a nice drive,” Neville told The Irish Field. “I’ll probably race her again next year and then go breeding. She is by Kikicolt out of Meadowbranch Amour.”

Timlin senior fought back for the bragging rights when he drove his own Epsom de Corvees (evens) to win the A to F trot. Favourite Corail de Belande did make a skip leaving the gate but Tiernan Loughran kept him trotting and there were no excuses.

Successful

Epsom de Corvees possesses blinding speed. On a going day he will not be disgraced against Duc d’Arry and Harry Knows. He has been the most successful of the ‘E’ generation who started in Ireland. (LeTROT stipulate that all horses in a given year must be registered with the same letter – 2014 models were ‘E’ reg).

Mary Kane also has a nice broodmare prospect in the shape of Hot To Trot. The five-year-old mare made it three from four, all right-handed, on the day.

Mary held the lines herself. Favourite Boyardo (Troy McAleer for Joe Sheridan) put in a fair effort but 40 yards handicap proved a bridge too far.

The meeting closed with a low grade pace that was lively in the betting ring and incident packed on the track. Money came for Forever At It (Jonny Cowden for Jim Galway) and the Timlins Oakwood Amari.

Firstly, Forever At It broke at the start and was left. Then Oakwood Amari galloped having shot clear of the pack at the three-quarter pole. Reports said that the headcheck came off, which is rare but can happen.

The freak occurrence left Patrick Kane junior and Stateside Glory in front, having looked well beaten. Things are falling well for the hard working reigning champion driver.

The meeting was the final one of 2022 at the Northern outpost. Gratitude goes to Ivan Swindle, the Duggans, track owner Clive Richardson and other volunteers for keeping the venue going. Annaghmore will become more important in 2023 with Portmarnock due to close. “Use it or lose it”, is the message from this quarter.

Racing continues at Portmarnock until December 11th. Tomorrow’s card and results, etc. can be seen at www.irishharnessracing.com. Replays of the action described herein can be seen on Irish Harness Racing Association’s Facebook.

Portmarnock Raceway is off the R107 – turn in at Kinsealey Chapel.

IHRA National Drivers’ Title

Latest standings at November 2nd

Driver Wins

Patrick Kane jnr, Trim 38

John Richardson, Dublin 32

Sean Kane, The Naul 26

Oisin Quill, Kenmare 21

Billy Roche, Dublin 20

Jonny Cowden, Belfast 19

Gavin Murdock, Belfast 18

Donal Murphy, Baltimore 16