THE Kanes from Co Meath, long term supporters of the Ballabuidhe Festival in Dunmanway gained a deserved win in the final of the Paddy Connolly Memorial on Bank Holiday Monday. Sean Kane won with Hot To Trot, owned by his sister Mary (Gilligan).

Fiesta Tejy started a warm 2/5 favourite, but went off stride at the start conceding 100 yards. Fiesta Tejy somehow got back into contention. However, Sean Kane got Hot To Trot up in the final strides, to win by a half a length. Fiesta Tejy was undoubtedly unlucky.

“The year 2024 hasn’t been our best side at Moorside Stables, but this is a great boost for the yard,” Sean stated after racing.

Newtown Major won the Heineken/Hurley and White Grand Prix for Tom “TV” Heavy from North Dublin. Despite a late challenge from IB Paddington, 19-year-old mechanic Troy McAleer held on for a comfortable two length victory.

There was a local success in the third final of the day when Ayr Harbour, owned by Mike Healy from Dunmanway and trained in Reenascreena by Conor Hurley, landed the spoils in The John McCarthy Furniture & Greyhound Bar Low Grade Pace.

“I bought him a few months ago from Ronan Norton after he won here. Look he’s only a four-year-old and looks a real nice horse,” Healy told The Irish Field. Eoin Murphy drove the winner.

IB Expresso, made it a double for Eoin. On his only his fourth lifetime start looked all class.

“We think an awful lot of him, his mother is Clouds In My Coffee who was bred in America, but was unraced due to injury. Who knows’Espresso’ might end up back in the US through our connection with Bill Donovan,” Donal Murphy from Baltimore was quoted.

The Free For All Trot was an absolute thriller. Feerie Des Brouets and Graal Du Dollar “threw bombs” at each other up front in a frenetic battle. Duc D’Arry then joined in on the action. Turning for home Duc D’Arry hit the front but Graal To Dollar was not giving up and they were as one for the final 150 yards. Duc D’Arry, who is owned, trained and driven by Drimoleague native Denis O’Reilly, prevailed by a neck.

“I only keep one horse and this lad is the best I ever had. Okay, he makes the odd break, but when he brings his ‘A’ game, he’s as good as any around at the moment,” a delighted O’Reilly commented.

Dan O’Mahony drove two winners on the day. Firstly, he teamed up with Harry Bennett from Dunmanway on High Speed Efbe to take out the Grade E trot. Some of the other horses weren’t too fluent here, but High Speed Efbe put in a perfect round of trotting.

O’Mahony completed his brace of winners in the three-year-old trot on Lieutenant Dan, owned by his father Jeremiah and Sean Kane. Always in command, he was too good for Liked And Shared, who stayed on for second.

Brutenor has been a great servant for the Hill Family from Leap and was on the score sheet again today leading home Hippie Sisu by a length. The Cork region is holding a fixture today at Lyre.

Sunday saw the two elimination heats of the John McCarthy Furniture & Greyhound Bar Low Grade Pace. In the opening heat GDs Honey was sent off as favourite. GDs Honey had Spartan Warrior for company late on and held on by half a length for Cork City-based Thomas Kiely.

In the second heat, Imperial Attitude for the same owner was all the rage in the betting Evens to 4/7, but her fate was sealed early when going off stride. Zip Car One led for the opening lap but was soon headed by Pan Cam Dynasty.

On the final circuit, Ayr Harbour was looming large and turning for home hit the front and won going away for Dunmanway owner Mike Healy and driver Eoin Murphy.

Murphy completed a double in the second heat of The Heineken/Hurley & White Grand Prix with the IB Stables’ IB Paddington. On the second lap favourite Ayr Paparazzi was on the tail of the leaders but IB Paddington is as tough as them come and held off all challengers.

Best finishes

The second heat of the Grand Prix produced one of the best finishes at the famous venue. Immortal John (Evens to 4/6) was the punters’ choice here and traded blows with National Treasure and Newtown Major for the opening lap.

Going out on the final lap Immortal John seemed to have staved off his rivals but Teddy Camden was getting a slip stream run and his opening came in the final 100 yards to get up in a five-way finish.

There were two heats of the Paddy Connolly Memorial Trot. Destin De Larre for Finbarr Quill from Kenmare took the opening heat. This was a rather messy affair but the winner took his chances to lead home Hot To Trot.

In the second heat Fiesta Tejy for Andrew Joyce from Ashbourne, Co Meath, was in a different league to his four rivals. Troy McAleer sent the favourite to the front after half a circuit and was only toying with them from there on.

Racing opened with a win for Check Out Lou for Paul Kelly. The pairing got an easy lead. Rockaday looked to be closing in on the home turn but a slip put paid to his chances and he couldn’t peg back the Westmeath raider.

THE fixture at Annaghmore played out as predicted in this column the previous week, some ‘lesser lights’ successful as the big hitters are out today and tomorrow at the glamorous Vincent Delaney Memorial meeting at Wolverhampton Racecourse.

‘A triumph for persistence’ is the bywor’ for this meeting, as The Lion King (winless in nearly two years) and It’s A Deal, who took ages to get the swing of things, both visited the winner’s circle.

Ricky Hanson from Coleraine owns The Lion King. The black gelding, bred by the Evans family of Tregaron, runs his race, but is high in the handicap.

The 3/1 shot got his nose on the gate for a change and held off Always Skye (Jonny Cowden) in a tick over 2.00. Ricky was inundated with congratulations. Similarly, the back was slapped off Aidan Caffrey, as It’s a Deal (4/1) shed his maiden tag. The chestnut resembles his dam Une Star Piya, but has a more orthodox way of going. Patrick Kane junior, who also drove the dam, was in the bike. Jonny Cowden was second with Celui La Laye on a frustrating afternoon for the Glengormley man.

John Richardson rarely leaves Annaghmore without a winner. He took the opening Grade G pace in 2.04 with the solid, if unspectacular, Meadowbranch Lil Mil 3/1). EJ’s Dragoness was a game second for Ryan Hanson.

Double

Charlie Flanagan made it a training double for ‘JR’ when she gave Immaculata a nice drive to win a leg of the apprentice championship. The victory is a nice confidence booster for Charlie, who is drawn ‘10’ on Messiah in the International Ladies Race at the VDM today.

Immaculata seems to have put her ‘inexplicable gallop’ phase behind her. She is one of the classiest Trotteur Français mares bred in this country.

Coalford Ollie (1/2 best) landed the odds in a weak-looking Grade F pace for the McDonoghs from Ballybay, another pacer who was overdue a win.

Crack A Smile led out, made all for Leah McNevin to win the Grade F pace. One Cool Touch (John Boy Roche) was a never closer two and a quarter lengths back in second place in a time of 2.03.8.

Hope De Guinnete and Martin Loughran were impressive in winning the Top Grade Trot from a difficult draw (9). Hernani d’Orient (John Richardson) was backed into favouritism but Loughran made a race-winning move in the opening quarter.