THE 19-year-old Eoin Murphy from Baltimore was the man to follow at Portmarnock on Sunday last.

The West Cork man guided home three winners: Galant de Loir, a bloodless victory in a two-horse race, Homa who beat the useful Ha’penny Chance, and Bibi Dairpet who won an open looking high grade trot.

In the opener, Eoin’s father Tadhg supplied both the runners. Following a mid-season of well-populated cards, it was inevitable that by late November many of the horses who have earned their corn in 2022 would be in the meadow.

Galant de Loir, on only his third start in this country, beat Hippie Sisu (John Boy Roche) by a distance in this two-horse apprentice race. Hippie Sisu can be forgiven this poor run as she has been consistent all year. Perhaps she has had enough for now.

Eoin had Homa out and on the move early in the grade F trot. The ever popular Hopper Foran went in pursuit with the chesnut mare Ha’penny Chance but the bird had flown. Homa, a five-year-old mare, was backed in the morning and went off at 4/6 favourite.

Favourite backers had a minor scare as the winner put in a wobble for about three strides which forced a stewards’ enquiry. The break occurred before the 200 metre pole therefore the result stood.

Any other outcome would have been a travesty as Homa did it the hard way.

“I was delighted to drive a treble as I hadn’t even had a double anywhere,

Bibi Dairpet follows in the hoof prints of Silvano Bello and Tenor Meslois as a prolific trotter from the Innis Beg base. The 11-year-old, with his distinctive low head carriage and white flash on his nose, was a third winner driven from the front for Eoin.

The in-form Epsom de Corvees, driven by another young driver, Luke Timlin was second, giving the winner 30 yards over the one mile trip.

“I was delighted to drive a treble as I hadn’t even had a double anywhere,” said Eoin during the week, “Homa was some pleasant surprise, she won really well. All credit to Dad for keeping them going so late in the year.”

The Baltimore family had an unusual across-the-card four-timer on the day as uncle Donal showed a Limousin heifer to win her class at Carrick-on-Shannon mart!

Different

The two matches in race one and two could not have been more different. As outlined above the apprentice trot was very one sided. By contrast the grade G pace was an entertaining match race.

The small enough attendance saw the unusual sight of two experienced drivers going for the stick at the very start. Both Patrick Kane jnr (Ballycoan Arron) and Freddy Kavanagh (IB Rowling) must have figured they had to lead out to win.

After this short opening skirmish both horses got down and paced well. The 2021 champion driver and soon to be crowned 2022 champion, Patrick kept Ballycoan Arron up to his work to win by 12 lengths.

The winner is by Kikikolt out of top race mare Blackwell Fabienne. He will only improve with racing and is a nice prospect for Jonathan Nixon and his father John.

Cash All came in from Scotland last year with a big reputation.

The eight-year-old gelding has been kept in late, presumably to pick up some November prize money.

John Richardson had to work surprisingly hard to beat North To Alaska (Noel Ryan) in the top grade pace.

Billy Roche and connections after Foxfield Ranger's win \ Peter O'Doherty Photography

Quiet season

Billy Roche has had a quiet season by his lofty standards (pun unintentional, he is 6ft’ 3). Foxfield Ranger (3/1 to 6/4) took out a grade F pace for Billy and long-time Roche ally Matthew Carberry.

Imperial Attitude (Luke Timlin) went off favourite but made a brief break at the start and then met a wall of horses out by Peters Paddock. Porterstown Roman was a neck second for Patrick Kane jnr. The race pulled up in 2.03.1.

Buster Gilligan had a bad run for the best part of two years until Gamba des Tithais broke his jinx a fortnight ago. The six-year-old mare made it two from three on Sunday as she shook off a determined Avenir de Vauvert (Gerard Maybin) in the right-handed trot.

Tomorrow is the penultimate meeting for all time at the long-standing venue. A memorial day for several old time horsemen has been arranged with trophies for most races and an impressive €10,000 of added money up for grabs.

Replays of all races can be seen on Irish Harness Racing’s Facebook page. Racecards, results and general information are on irishharnessracing.com.

The track is off the R107 turn in at Kinsealey Chapel. Bar, fast food and bookmakers in attendance.

2022 IHRA National Drivers’ Title

Standings at November 29th

Driver Wins

Patrick Kane jnr, Trim 42

John Richardson, Dublin 33

Sean Kane, The Naul 21

Oisin Quill, Kenmare 21

Billy Roche, Dublin 21

Jonny Cowden, Belfast 20

Gavin Murdock, Belfast 18

Donal Murphy, Baltimore 17

Cowden follows Harry

HOT on the tail of the news last week that talented Irish/French trotter Harry Knows was heading to ply his trade in America, comes the news that leading apprentice Jonny Cowden is heading there too.

It’s always nice to have a friend to go to in the US and Jonny is going to trainer Robbie Cleary, originally from West Cork.

“Robbie races at the major tracks in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I want to learn about starting off young horses and American racing. I had a great season at home this year with more outside drives,” said the North Belfast man.

Jonny combined his harness racing with a daytime job riding out at Stuart Crawford’s National Hunt yard at Larne. He declined to comment if he was on Tuesday’s four-timer! Jonny intends to race pacers and trotters in Ireland in 2023. The progress of Harry Knows and Jonny Cowden will be followed in The Irish Field during our closed season.