WALTER Stewart of Coleraine has always been a great man for having his horses fit early in the season.

There can be fewer better homes for a horse than the Stewart yard. An Englishman who stayed at Stewart’s said: “Walter won’t take so much as a glass of water for himself until the horses are fed.” Walter starts his horses on the quiet roads around Ballyrashane and later moves to the magnificent beach at Downhill, overseen by the Mussenden Temple.

Walter has been a permanent fixture at the top of Irish harness racing since he cut his teeth with the wiry little Wintertime at Lambeg. He has owned tough campaigners like Honeysuckle (coincidental name – it was 1984), Decisive and Frisco Hold Up. More memorably he had champions like Elwy Bill, Lakeside Fox and Boldrun Buddy.

2022 did not yield a large number of winners but he reminded The Irish Field, “I only raced one horse, Ladyford Dollar, and he won in 1.58 twice.” Once a dealer, always a dealer and Walter accepted the hefty offer when the Delaneys came shopping for horses to go to the US. “I was fond of young Dollar as I called him, but you move on to the next challenge.”

Walter and his wife Carmel are proud that their own stallion For A Few Dollars More has two sons racing in the US, Ladyford Dollar and Ladyford Buck. Ladyford is the breeding prefix of Walter’s cousin Jim Stewart who hails from Penrith, Cumbria.

The family specialises in pacers, here follows five worth keeping an eye on.

Lets Get To It (GB)

5yo m Art Professor – Katie Jasper

She’s been off for 14 months due to a broken pedal bone. She caused an upset in 2021 at Annaghmore when she won as the outsider of three. She has grown into a lovely strong mare and her build should suit a grass track.

Big Bets (USA)

2yo g Betting Line –

Lovely Hanover.

He came in from America in his dam’s tummy. He’ll be the first Betting Line to run here. I know Betting Line is in the ‘Invest In Ourselves’ scheme. The dam threw Yerkes Hanover who was decent. He’s just getting slow steady miles so far but I like him.

Kash (IRE)

2 yo g For A Few Dollars More – Fairdays Cream

My son Wattie is doing him. He’s like his sire and also Ladyford Dollar in that he’s nice gaited and has a great temperament.

Sweet Caroline (IRE)

4yo m Sweet Lou – Blissful Beauty.

My younger son Lawrence trains her. My cousin Lawrence Hanson raced the dam. She was formerly with Gavin Murdock. Gavin gets good results but maybe the change of scenery might freshen her up. She can be temperamental, hopefully Lawrence can keep her relaxed.

Top Of The Bill (GB)

2yo f Henry Hill – Rhyds Jigsaw.

Gary Maw of Sunderland owns the sire, he’s a great friend of ours. She is a lovely filly with a sweet temperament. Wattie is training her alongside his work as a farrier. The Rhyds dam is a nice maternal line.