HARNESS racehorses have been kept in four main pockets in Ireland in modern times’ namely Dublin, West Cork, Belfast and the Causeway Coast. Therefore it’s encouraging to see new owners from Fermanagh, Tyrone and Cavan enjoying some success.

Usually the racing peters out a bit as horses (especially the better animals) get roughed up and turned out to grass as far-sighted trainers earmark some early season silverware.

In 2018, it has been unusual in that the IHRA have been able to stage cards of 10 or more races right up until Halloween. Last Sunday saw an impressive run from the mare Beach De Bellouet (Freddy Kavanagh) and a bit of party gatecrashing by Abraham (Simon Duggan).

The consistent good runs from the horses of Sean and Simon Duggan from Galbally, Co Tyrone would indicate that the string doesn’t miss many days’ exercise. The Duggans are finishing the season in good style. On Sunday, Rhyds Boots, who seems to have been around forever, had an all-the-way victory for stable number two driver Tiernan Loughran.

The top grade trot was billed as a showdown for ‘French Trotter of the Year’ as the Cowdens’ Cilando Des Temps and the Sheehys’ Vigo De Bassiere went into the race tied for this honour. Vigo De Bassiere won the title although he was only second to Abraham.

The newcomer (Abraham) ran well on his Irish debut the previous week and on the day the public backed him favourite, aware of his 30-yard advantage over the Cork runner.

Cilando Des Temps (faded for third) made this a true run test. The previous night at the IHRA Awards Jonny Cowden picked up ‘Apprentice of the Year’. Both Cilando and his plucky young driver have improved as the season progressed.

Also in the trotting gait, Freddy Kavanagh seems to have picked up a nice mare as Beach De Bellouet recouped €700 of her claiming price in the Barney Gilligan Cup race. The knowledgeable Portmarnock crowd were tutting as young Freddie set very sharp fractions but class will out and the plainly-geared mare stayed on well to beat Tenor Meslois (Donal Murphy) in an impressive clock of 3.04.2.

Another victory for the ‘new territories’ of trotting ownership was when the McHughs from Bailieboro, Co Cavan landed their second coup in five weeks when Epsoir Efbe (3/1 to 6/4 ) took the opener. Sean Kane did the steering on his last win, Billy Roche was on the ‘kidney-shaped cushion’ on Sunday.

Billy, who had an awful day on Sunday the 21st, had a purple patch at the meeting in focus. The tall reinsman reeled off a quickfire double in race two as Colline d’Orval, recently purchased from arch rivals the Meadowbranch barn, took the non winners’ trot.

Meadowbranch first choice driver John Richardson rarely leaves the venue without at least one winner. Toasted and congratulated as The Irish Field sponsored leading driver 2018 the previous evening, JR rewarded his followers when the well-bred Rhyds Shoofly took a low grade pace.

“She’s had some issues but she seems to be over them,” stated the perennial champion. “I’ll knock her off now until next season.”

The success for West of the Bann continued when Epsom Des Corvees (Four-Year-Old Trotter of the Year) took the trot for that age group. Darren Timlin’s charge broke and lost eight lengths or more but still had the class to see off Europeen (Nigel Quigley).

Buster Gilligan (Trainer of the Year - smaller stable) had enough faith in Aram to buy him back. The eight-year-old repaid Buster’s confidence on Sunday in taking the clockwise trot.

Saxo De Marrancourt may have a neck more like a giraffe but the veteran 13-year-old always puts it in for Emma Kane. This win was proof that a night of nonstop dancing in an evening dress is the ideal preparation for a winning drive. Incidentally, Emma won Lady Driver of the Year, a good achievement as she doubles her harness racing work with a busy role with the Karl Thornton yard of National Hunt performers.

The loudest cheer of the day went to Luke Darling who clenched his fist and saluted the crowd as the mercurial Bochoi Du Liton took the C and D trot. Luke and partner Brigid Mills always have the tall gelding turned out to perfection.

Well done to award winners

The IHRA awards dinner was held in the White Sands Hotel, Portmarnock on Saturday last, 27th.

Five of the younger members were selected for Special Appreciation Awards (see Pony Tales section of today’s paper).

Margie McLoone, long associated with The Irish Field, represented the paper at the dinner and was most complimentary about the reporting of harness racing and the superb photography.

Margie informed the gathering that the ‘harness report’ continues to grow its readership.

All award winners can be seen on www.irishharnessracing.com as can racing results.