ANNAGHMORE last Sunday was bound to be quiet after the hype of the Red John meeting the previous weekend.

Rugadh Me Reidh (4/5 best) and John Richardson confirmed her ability with a win in a sharp 1.59.5 in the B to E pace. The runner-up Louis Vutton emerged with plenty of credit, Dan McAteer was in the bike.

“She’ll go to the four-year-old race on the 15th of September,” said J.R. of his homebred.

Ashbourne farrier Freddie Kavanagh has wreaked great improvement from Isora De Source (6/4). She led out, made all in 2.03.4, possibly the fastest mile by a trotter so far this year. The race was a Grade A to D affair. The Galways originally from Twinbrook, Belfast, are a true family operation. Gareth Galway only bought Stevies Decision from Francis Murphy as his main hope, Stateside Cody, got injured in 2022.

Stand-in

The son of Lyons Stephen and Jim Graham’s stalwart Ballyhill Decision has proved to be some stand-in. Driven by Jonny ‘Be Good’ Cowden, he picked up the opener in 2.04.6.

Greentree Candyman (Luke Timlin) and Oakwood Carmelita (Gavin Murdock) set fierce fractions up front. Jonny came with his customary late run to land the spoils at odds of 3/1. Jimmy Stewart on Lets Get To It (evens) let Adam Corey lead a Grade F pace before picking him off at the 3/4 pole in the mid-grade pace. The Coleraine-based mare always runs her race.

Driver Noel Ryan and owner Shane O’Neill have been allies for a long time. Their latest protege Maria’s Blaze (evens) beat the well-backed Battle Fever in 2.03 to win the other division of the Grade F pace. Fleche Extreme has been bought and sold out of several stables since coming to Ireland. Lee Kelly is the latest owner and he gave the eight-year-old a cool drive to take out the Grade G trot at 4/1.