IF the Irish harness racing scene can be compared to the stock market then a few sets of shares were on the climb last weekend.

Shares in the Gavin Murdock stable, the stallion For A Few Dollars More and in the driver Billy Roche.

The one setback for the Murdock yard over both meetings was when Springhill Miss Kate was beaten in the Grade F pace on Sunday. Ironically, the daughter of Ayr Glory was beaten by a son of ‘Dollar’. The race went to Ladyford Dollar or ‘young Dollar’ as doting trainer Walter Stewart has christened the four-year-old.

Just to show the Stewarts there were no hard feelings, Gavin Murdock came out two races later and further endorsed the reputation of the stallion (still only 15) by sluicing up in 1.59.3 with Ladyford Buck another son of ‘Dollar’.

Walter Stewart was keen to talk about the sire. “For sure he got beaten a few times,” stated Walter, “but he fought so hard in his races, he would never lie down. Unfortunately for the five bookies in attendance, the trait seems to be hereditary.”

Annaghmore Saturday

ANNAGHMORE in Co Armagh hosted the various divisions of the juvenile series on Saturday. The day began dry but overcast and the rain which came before the last two races made the track sloppy with huge puddles.

The Annaghmore surface is much admired but over the last two meetings the volunteers raking and levelling it have struggled to find a happy medium.

Proceedings opened with a ‘nursery’ for the three-year-old Trotteurs Français, based on the least prize money won to date.

If you like young trotters, this was a test of drivership as both first and second ran very green. If you are not a fan of novice square trotters, the time of 3.33 for a mile and a half would back up your argument.

For the record, Harley Lee was held together by John Richardson to outlast the striking-looking Hi Fidelity and Alan Wallace. The winner was friendless in the ring while the runner-up was nibbled at from an early 6/1. “I was nearly not going to bring him today,” was the comment of a surprised winning driver.

Gavin Murdock’s productive weekend began when The Gypsy Queen ran out a 12-length winner of the two-year-old fillies’ division for owner Hugh McGinley.

The rumour mill put it about that Gavin Murdock had been unable to pop the ear plugs on Martin Maughan’s All Bets Are Off on her last run.

(Drivers pull the plugs by use of their feet in the sulky stirrups; it can appear that the man is kicking the horse but this is far from the truth).

On Saturday when Gavin’s foot went up in the air, the filly took off like a scalded cat, putting eight lengths between herself and nearest pursuer Rainbow Writer (Patrick Kane jnr).

In a roundabout way, Gavin had a treble on the day as he is training Oakwood Cowboy for owner Ruairi McNulty. The team made no mistake in betting ring or on the track. The recently acquired winner got a confident drive from Ruairi.

Donal Murphy managed to keep Churchview Frankel and Bernard Nicholson parked out for long periods in the two-year-old pacers heat. In the end, Bequest, the only son of Betting Line outside of North America, stayed on well in a respectable 2.05.6 given the conditions.

Donal was asked to comment on Bequest’s sweaty appearance. “He even does that when jogging – he was very tough to break in,” said Murphy. If Bequest is really a nervous type he is in the right camp as down in Innis Beg they do things at a calm pace.

The higher grade Trotteurs Français got their act together better and went a full nine seconds faster than those with lower prize money totals. Bernard Nicholson put the previous race out of his mind and came to win with a peach of a run on Hot To Trot, a catch drive as trainer Sean Kane had three in this.

Humble Beginnings led almost to the line for the Martin Loughran/Jamie Hurley combination. A 3.21.7 was the clock.

Ger Kane, father of owner Mary and trainer Sean was present, having recently undergone major surgery. “My own mare (Highland Princess) was coming on in third but I was cheering for Mary as she put in so much work teaching her horse how to trot,” the proud father told The Irish Field.

In the races for older horses, the boy wonder Jonny Cowden came to the bookies’ rescue with Cilando Du Temps as they upset the even-money favourite Abraham and Simon Duggan of Galbally.

Proceedings closed with a dour battle over a mile and a quarter for free-for-all pacers. The track by now had deteriorated due to heavy rainfall, which might have helped front runners like Foxfield Stephen and Fairdays Western.

However, three from the back line fought through the kick-back to fill the frame. Panam Colt (Billy Roche) from Master Plan (P Kane junior) and Ayr Majesty (M Loughran) was the ‘official’.

The third horse, Ayr Majesty looked well in himself and will be fancied to do damage at the upcoming Red John Memorial in Clonakilty on 15th and 16th of August.