THE third last meeting of the 2020 season was held at Portmarnock Raceway on Sunday, November 22nd.

Even in a year which has thrown up plenty of excitement, this was an incident-packed meeting. The headline act was arguably the ‘Cooley Magician’, Martin Loughran as his Curly Du Layon showed five decent trotters a clean pair of heels in taking the €8,205 All-Ireland Series Final.

The principal sponsor was Red Mills horse feeds one of harness racing’s longest standing sponsors. As usual LeTROT of France bolstered the purses for horses raised in that country.

Curly Du Layon’s domination of the big final was absolute.

From the moment the wings of the gate went back, the handy little bay had a fierce hold of the iron, and there is no better man than Loughran to keep a horse up to his work.

There can be fewer drivers that are as hard to pass on the circuit. Last week’s wide-margin winner Eva Dairpet (Alan Wallace jnr) went from hero to zero on the day as she broke uncontrollably. Joe Sheridan’s Boyardo was not disgraced in second, driven by Sean Kane.

There was a lot riding on the opener, the 2020 apprentice championship final. Commentator James Griffin described the situation as a ‘must win’ for Oisin Quill, Jonny Cowden and Charlie Flanagan, who could all win the series on points earned.

Unfortunately, the stewards had to intervene and Charlie Flanagan who was first past the post on Crazy By Noce was disqualified as the pair were adjudged to have made contact with Diamond Dash and Jonny Cowden.

The upshot was a hollow victory for Silvano Bello and Eoin Murphy, promoted from second to first place. Eoin was not involved in the incident but a stable source told The Irish Field on Sunday evening that the Murphys felt they won by default.

The general feeling was one of sympathy for Charlie, although rules are rules. Usually the leading apprentice gets to represent Ireland at some French track, quite possibly Vincennes.

The arrangement is in abeyance at the moment due to Covid restrictions. If and when the invitation is extended, Oisin Quill of Kenmare will be first choice for Ireland as the standings finished Oisin Quill 58 points, Eoin Murphy 49 points and Charlie Flanagan on 46.

Oisin and Charlie are a couple, so if you are going to lose a title, you could do worse than to lose out to your boyfriend. The apprentices mainly conducted their sport with good dignity all season.

It is hoped that a fair number of the young people will get to travel for the usual ‘team’ event when it resumes.

Portmarnock on a big final day can be a pressurised environment and it is important to remember it’s all a ‘bit of sport’.

Flying

Johnny Cowden was involved in another way in the Grade F trot for non-winners on a hard track in 2020. The North Belfast stable have recently bought Celui De Laye.

The eight-year-old was flying in this one mile event but looked to be continually boring right, despite a head pole on his off side.

The pair looked to be going on to win their race when the horse put in a dangerous break at the top of the stretch. In attempting to right his horse Johnny got ‘hooked up’ with an oncoming sulky and was flung to the ground.

He lay for a brief moment and then the crowd were glad to see him on his feet, and both unharmed.

Meanwhile, at the finish line, the beautiful mare Belkalinja was striding out in her effortless style for Donal Murphy to win in 2.09.1. Garvagh breadman Nigel Quigley ran second with Europeen. It was a driving double and a training treble on the day for the West Cork man.

Finally Cowden got to experience the more enjoyable side of the game when aboard the powerhouse Fairdays Western, he led out made all for the third time in four weeks to take the Red Mills rug and €2,800 for the pacing version of the All-Ireland.

The track had been relaid by the IHRA team during the week and new surfaces are usually a bit slower. Therefore the clock of 1.59.2 was a sharp run for Adam Corey’s beloved racehorse.

There were only three runners in this final. The tail off in entries raises the question; would such a prestigious series be better held at high season?

Another three runner affair went closer to 2.10 than 1.59. Wayne McNevin and the little mare Newtown Alana comfortably beat the Ballywalter-based Wots The Story with Gui McCullough, in 2.09.4.

Wayne has persevered with this well-bred filly, on loan from ‘The Governor’ himself Liam Wallace. She can go to stud at some stage with a win on her CV.

Tom ‘Tommo’ Rafferty and his father Kevin have waited a long time to win a race. Their Extrem Ryld followed up last week’s win with an even easier victory in the F and E trot. Extrem Ryld exacted revenge on Angelo Hannon’s Fleche Extreme who beat him three weeks ago.

The big loose limbed five-year-old looks a nice prospect for next year for trainer driver Gavin Murdock. ‘”We’ll finish him for the year now, he’s done enough,” was the comment from Kevin Rafferty.

Contention

Donal Murphy is in contention for trainer of the year. Apart from the win of Silvano Bello, Donal actually drove Keith McGloin’s Bibi Dairpet to win the B to D trot from the gallant Bingo De Connee and Calvin Broughan.

In the D to F pace, Donal’s nephew Eoin picked up a catch drive on Oakwood Maestro for the Paddy Kane yard. Eoin showed wisdom beyond his years in refusing to surrender the lead when Elski and Alan Richardson came knocking.

The fact that Elski was parked to the quarter did not help her chances. Eventually newly-crowned leading apprentice Oisin Quill came late to score with King Wills Arrival. The Kenmare man gets a good tune from his father’s nine-year-old, bought in Harrisburg eight years ago.

John Richardson went into the meeting one ahead of Billy Roche in The Irish Field national drivers’ title. Both men were sitting on a blank day as the horses went behind the car for the All-Ireland Consolation Trot.

Buliano and Emmeric Du Perreux flip flopped as favourites. In the event, Billy and Buliano went on at Peters Paddock while JR’s horse ran a bit flat. Dan McAteer’s Cyclone De Couriere looked like his old self in second. The two old rivals are level pegging with two meetings to go.

Several of the annual awards are tight at the top of the table. The IHRA have finally named Sunday, December 6th as the final day of the season. Both Billy Roche and John Richardson are unassuming characters and we hope to carry a short interview with the two men summarising the highs and lows of the 2020 season.

The penultimate meeting of 2020 is tomorrow, behind closed doors as usual.

See www.Portmarnockraceway.ie for runners and details. Facebook Irish Harness Racing Association shows prompt replays after each race.