Annaghmore Sunday
ANNAGHMORE’S meeting on Sunday 30th was a quiet affair. Walter Stewart’s Big Bets is fast becoming the talking horse of this season and he captured the Grade 1 to Grade 2 pace in nice fashion for trainer/driver Ciaran Morrison.
Big Bets got a lovely educational run on the day. Meadowbranch Lil Mil (John Richardson) and Dillon Camden (Luke Timlin) vied for the lead which meant that Ciaran could tuck in and teach Big Bets how to relax.
A click of Ciaran’s tongue at the cattle shed with a lap to go and the big son of Betting Line put the race to bed in a matter of strides. Four lengths in a time of 2.02.3 were the formalities for the 4/7 favourite.
“He’s coming along nicely, all we can do is hope he keeps improving,” said Carmel Stewart of their winner.
A low-grade handicap here or in the UK would seem to be within Big Bets grasp. US buyers should be starting to take notice of this talented sort.
Horse owners seem to be aiming for the Richard Phelan Memorial (Lyre, July 13th and 14th). Some of the placed horses were given ‘tender drives’ to use a euphemism.
Wasntexpectingthat has been hitting the crossbar in recent weeks. Newtownbutler owner Neil Mc Dermott got sweet consolation in the Grade F and E pace where Bernard Nicholson drove the well-backed son of Arts Professor to win in 2.05.1. One Cool Touch arrived late on the scene for second place.
Immaculata looked the real deal at three for the Flanagan/Richardson axis. For some reason at four and five the mare lost her way, often galloping in the early stages of a race.
John Richardson had two in the D to F trot so the ‘Cooley Magician’, Martin Loughran, was in the bike behind the daughter of Rachmaninov Seven.
Old self
Immaculata looked more like her old self, trotting sweetly throughout. Loughran was even able to get serious with her in the straight as Freddie Kavanagh came strongly with another reformed character, Isora de Source. The clock was 2.04.8 for a half-length victory.
Owners need to realise that if they continue to skip the bread-and-butter meetings in favour of the festivals then those ordinary meetings will die out. For example, only three were entered for the top-grade pace and two of these were from the same stable.
In the event, Kenosha Comet (Marcus McAleer) ran around ahead of his brother Troy aboard Newtown Major. The winner is a typical gritty racehorse by Doonbeg who was a success at track and stud for the Dunnes from Kill.
Sean Kane got on the scoresheet when the likeable Innis And Gunn arrived late to win the B to C grade trot. Hope De Guinnette (Martin Loughran) looked full of running but the six-year-old chestnut prevailed by a head.
“Today she showed the ability she has been showing at home,” said Sean. Innis And Gunn is owned by Mary Gilligan (née Kane).
Blippi’s festival fun
The Gilligans scored an unusual across-the-card double as the palomino Shetland Blippi swapped his little racing sulky for a ‘country cart’ and won two style and appearance classes at the Flavours of Fingal festival. Jason and Rosie Gilligan were dressed in best Edwardian attire.
Fixtures
Annaghmore Raceway will stage racing tomorrow at 2pm. The track is just off Junction 13 M1 or eight miles west of Richhill.
Results, runners and information can be viewed at www.irishharnessracing.com.
The Richard Phelan Memorial meeting at Lyre, near Clonakilty on July 13th and 14th is one of the country’s gala meetings and is well worth a visit.
Dunmanway Sunday
LIMERICK hurling All Star Kyle Hayes gained some positive publicity both personally and for the sport of harness racing as he drove his first winner on Someone’s Fantasy at Dunmanway last weekend.
IB Felicity was the rabbit in the race, but Hayes produced Someone’s Fantasy with a well-timed run to win by half a length. The winner is owned by Kyle and his cousin Jamie Cross. The wing back lines out for Limerick against Cork in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final tomorrow.
Unsurprisingly Kyle’s racing colours mimic the green and white of Limerick. The victory made the pages of several national papers and of course, social media.
The 18-year-old Eoin Murphy from Baltimore may not be a county player but he kicked off his season driving three winners at the meeting held in honour of deceased racing organiser George Deane.
Razor sharp
Murphy had a relatively quiet start to the season but he was razor sharp on the day. Dollars Decision is bred in the purple being by For A Few Dollars More and out of Jim Graham’s great mare Ballyhill Decision.
The five-year-old was an easy winner of the Grade G pace leading home Down By Crecora who will shed his maiden tag soon.
Less than 20 minutes later Murphy made it two wins. Hippie Sisu, owned by the IB Stables and Enniskeane publican Angelo Hannon, has been hitting the crossbar all season, second on his previous five starts. Murphy sent him about his business early doors and was not for catching winning by five lengths from High Speed Efbe.
Murphy completed his treble with Ayr Paparazzi in the high-grade pace, owned by John Moloney from Co Clare. Biggins was the leader for most of the contest but Ayr Paparazzi picked him up in the final furlong for a half a length winning margin.
It was a good day all round for visitors. Ronan Norton travelled down from Longford and Ayr Harbour, a recent winner in Annaghmore followed up with another win leading home Spartan Warrior this time by two lengths.
Another Limerick winner
Lady Lou was another winner for the Treaty County. The three-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou followed up on her win in Lyre with another smart performance and looks a nice horse in the making for Limerick City-based Anthony O’Donnell.
Kerryman Oisin Quill took the winning drive. Oisin had earlier won with his father’s Destin De Larre. The Kenmare runner edged out Inspire Me by a neck.
The locals were back in the winner’s enclosure in the concluding two races. Holloway Road, owned by Pete Hill from Leap, wasn’t at his best the previous week, but was foot perfect on the day. Comete Des Landes was in front for the majority of the contest but Hill on Holloway Road was never too far away and ran out a length winner.
Graal Du Dollar and Jamie Hurley were another pair on a redemption mission after a disappointing run last time out. They set the record straight winning by eight lengths in the ultra-completive top-grade trot which has become one of the highlights of the IHRA calendar.