FALLING between the heights of the Painted Mile weekend and the upcoming Aberystwyth two day meeting, it was inevitable that the June 26th meeting at Portmarnock would have a quieter feel.

Even though there was a bumper entry of 90 horses, there were not many paying public and the bookies reported a low handle.

Quiet meeting or not John Richardson’s quest for winners rumbles on. The 20-time champion had a good day at the office, registering a treble.

The first leg came on Gentleman Jim II, a three-year-old son of Kikikolt from an American mare. Gentleman Jim looked as green as the grass on the infield but got the job done. Given normal improvement, could this fellow be supplemented for the VDM weekend?

JR’s treble came with two aged mares. First came the pacer Kickass Katie who flew the gate and saw off Patrick Kane Jnr, aboard On Top Jeremys Jet. Maxie Collins has won everything that isn’t nailed down in the sport of coursing. Beach De Bellouet gave the veteran Drogheda sportsman winner number one in the world of trotting, as she too enjoyed an all-the-way victory in the hands of Richardson.

Patrick Kane jnr scored his first double of the season. The first leg of the brace came aboard the three-year-old Ederleezi, who had warmed up well. (Unlike thoroughbreds, the norm with pacers and trotters is a good pipe opener about 45 minutes before the race). The second winner was Secret De Star – a result which the layers will remember.

Simon Duggan from Cappagh, Co Tyrone can do no wrong at the moment. His three-year-old filly Esles De Bocage gave him his first win with a trotter to go with the handful of pacing wins he has accumulated so far in 2017.

“It’s her first time here, she can only improve” stated part owner Shane McConnell, who also drives the starting car at his local track, Annaghmore.

Billy Roche got one on the board when Efficacite laid bare her jinx with Martin Loughran’s Epsom De Corvees (broke, uncharacteristicly) in the top grade of the three-year-olds. Espalion Du Lilas (Alan Wallace snr) played the supporting role.

RESPECTED

Matthew O’Reilly sidestepped a meeting on his doorstep at Drimoleague to come to Portmarnock. The journey home will feel shorter as his Earnies Umpire, a three-year-old came round Joe Sheridan’s much touted Springhill Chisum (P Kane jnr). The latter is only a two-year-old, so must be respected amongst his own age group. The winner could go to the Alabar/Oakwood Derby.

Noely Ryan had to see off cousin Joe Caffrey (Simosa) and uncle John Richardson (Cilando Des Temps) in the E and F trot. His winner Best Of Lou Lou belongs to John Morgan, and looks a real find.

Matthew O’Reilly and Derek Jennings are typical of the enthusiastic new owners that the IHRA are drawing into the sport. They are friendly off the track, but enjoyed their own private duel as Alikolt and Porterstown Kirk traded punches. Alikolt ran out the deserved winner after a scenic tour of north Dublin. His competitors were determined to force him wide, but sons of Kikikolt dig deep when required.

Nadina Ironia, the Girl Friday of the IHRA, contributes beautiful photography for these reports. The Latvian-born dynamo helps with many aspects of IHRA work and also jogs horses at Newtown Stud when her busy schedule allows. The colt which Nadina claimed for her own, El Tejar, took the middle grade three-year-old trot for Alan Wallace senior.

Winners are like buses, you wait for ages and then two come along at once. So it proved for Lukie Darling, who broke his duck at the Grendon weekend with Tonic Scott and doubled his tally here with the decent mare Cesna.

YORK

Congratulations must go to Christy Foran and Clive Cavanagh as their Benny Camden took heat and final of the York three-year-old championship on Saturday 25th. ‘The Iceman’ Alan Richardson was the driver. Springhill Glory, from Joe Sheridan’s stud of the well-known prefix was second for Patrick Kane, as Kane is retained driver in Sally Teebon’s Peak District yard.

ANNAGHMORE

Wednesday, June 21st saw a five-race card at the Armagh venue. In the opener Donegal raider Derrybeg, by sire of the moment Doonbeg, caused an upset. Gavin Murdock and Trottin’ Joe Sheridan teamed up to score a double. Murdock had to be strong with the first winner, Springhill KG who has been placed many times.

The second leg of the double came with Annaghmore specialist Springhill Bicuit, a gelding who knows every pebble on the track.

The mighty Meadowbranch yard enjoyed mixed fortunes. The mare Umbratica took the French Trot in ‘candy from a baby’ fashion.

Once more Martin Loughran proved the therapeutic qualities of a spell in the Belmont stables when he guided John Shanahan’s Coalford Bruce to win the D to F handicap. The Flanagan runner Meadowbranch Ideal (4/6-4/5-1/2) was never travelling.

DRIMOLEAGUE

Local chairman Tim Kelleher reported good racing on a freshly cut field in Drimoleague on Sunday 25th. While cousin Mark was winning in Earnies Umpire at Portmarnock, Chris O’Reilly had a double with Rhyds Panache and the durable Lyons Stallone.

Anthony Mc Carthy scored a first ever win aboard Fairdays Bret, bred a long way from Drimoleague by Mark Gill at Castlereagh, Co Down. John O’Mahony opened his account with the trotter Un Boss, which stamped his authority as a ‘boss’ should.

The Jennings name has long been associated with harness racing in Cork, and Sam took the baby race with Heather Breeze (by Best Sunshine).

The top grade race went to Skibbereen publican Kieran Sheehy with Kestrel Dot Sammy, bought off the Scottish circuit.

RESULTS

DRIMOLEAGUE, JUNE 25TH

W: 1 Heather Breeze (S Jennings), 2 Fame Earned (J O’Mahony), 3 Meadowbranch Matt (P Hill). Time 2.21.7 Dist 4l 10l

Race Two: 1 Fairdays Bret (A McCarthy), 2 Mr Security (M O’Donovan), 3 Ringo Lady (T O’Reilly). Time 2.22.9 Dist 1l hd

Race Three: 1 Lyons Stallone (C O’Reilly), 2 Armoured Bear (J Boyle), 3 Brywins Starship (M Healy), Time 2.20.5 Dist 3l 2l

Race Four: 1 Un Boss (J O’Mahony), 2 Slivano Bello (T Murphy), 3 Alineka Darche (D Murphy). Time 3.25.1 Dist 4l 10l

Race Five: 1 Rhyds Panache (C O’Reilly), 2 The Hitman (M Goggin jnr), 3 Maithi Buachaill (J Hurley) Time 2.19.1

Race Six: 1 Kestrels Dot Sammy (K Sheehy), 2 Sunnyside Kildare (D Murphy), 3 Hail Spartacus (P Hill). Time 2.18.2 Dist 2l 1l

PORTMARNOCK, SUNDAY, JUNE 25TH

Race One: 1 Gentleman Jim ll (J Richardson), 2 Earnies Casino (P Kelly), 3 Brother Joe (C Foran). Time 2.04.7 Dist ½l, 2½l

Race Two: 1 Elses Du Bocage (S Duggan), 2 Ecrin De Bussieres (S Kane), 3 Elisa De Malc (A Wallace snr). Time 3.17.3 Dist 1l 18l

Race Three: 1 Efficacite (B Roche), 2 Espalion Du Lilas (A Wallace snr), 3 Ella Lou Lou (S Kane). Time 3.17.9 Dist ¼l, 2½l

Race Four: 1 Earnies Dream (Matt O’Reilly), 2 Springhill Chisum (P Kane jnr), 3 Beat The Clock (N Ryan). Time 2.03.1 Dist ¾l, ¾l

Race Five: 1 Best Of Lou Lou (N Ryan), 2 Simosa (J Caffrey), 3 Cilando Des Temps (J Richardson). Time 2.05.1 Dist 1l, 1¼l

Race Six: 1 Alikolt (Mark O’Reilly), 2 Newtown Major (S Wallace), 3 Pan Cam Drift (L Kelleher). Time 2.03.0 Dist ¼l, 1½l

Race Seven: 1 Ederleezi (P Kane jnr), 2 Empereur Souverain (D O’Reilly), 3 Everest Turgot (L Kelly). Time 3.22.6 Dist 3½l, 45l

Race Eight: 1 El Tejar (A Wallace snr), 2 Elfe De Villemer (P Gilligan), 3 Extreme Instant (W Duffy). Time 3.17.5 Dist 5l,3l

Race Nine: 1 Cesna (L Darling), 2 Rohan Des Thirons (P Kane jnr), 3 Record Dream (A Malone). Time 3.10.2 Dist 4l,4l

Race Ten: 1 Kickass Katie (J Richardson), 2 Meadowbranch Demon (L Kelleher), 3 Lyons Nant Hall (N Ryan). Time 1.58.8 Dist 4½l, 2¼l

Race Eleven: 1 Secret De Star (P Kane jnr), 2 Aram (B Gilligan), 3 Universe Extreme (M Loughran). Time 2.02.7 Dist 4¼l, 1l

Race Twelve: 1 Beach de Bellouet (J Richardson), 2 Vichy De Moem (A Richardson), 3 Scoops Team (B Hudson). Dist 2¼l, 1¾l

ANNAGHMORE, WEDNESDAY JUNE 21ST

Race One: 1 Derrybeg (S Gallagher), 2 Oakwood Dragoness (J Dunne), 3 Springhill Bilzer (G Murdock). Time 2.04 Dist 2l, 6l

Race Two: 1 Springhill KG (G Murdock), 2 He’s a Dream (E Griffin), 3 Meadow Camden (W McNevin). Time 2.02.7 Dist 2l, 1l

Race Three: 1 Umbratica (J Richardson), 2 Typhee (N Lucas), 3 Rose De Crennes (G Dean), Time 3.12.4 Dist dist, dist

Race Four: 1 Coalford Bruce (M Loughran), 2 Camden Kofi (C Kerrigan), 3 Heart Of Steel (N Quigley). Time 2.00.8 Dist 4l, hd

Race Five: 1 Springhill Biscuit (G Murdock), 2 Vyrnwy Saddlepan (B O’Brien), 3 Rhyds Cobbler (S Duggan). Time 2.00.4 Dist 2l, 1l