Portmarnock Sunday

PORTMARNOCK Raceway staged a fixture last Sunday even though many of the regulars headed to Rhyl for the Irish backed Vincent Delaney Memorial Festival. The crowd was bolstered by a race for piebalds and skewbalds. Johnny Cowden’s purple patch continues as he posted a double for the second meeting in a row.

Johnny’s opening winner came in the apprentice trot, a four-runner affair. Troy McAleer led early on Urbano Des Selles but as they came around Peter’s Paddock the second time, Cowden unleashed Emil Paco. Biniou de Beuvron (Charlie Flanagan) gave chase, but the war was over.

The winner is an eminently likeable type. He fires his legs out like pistons on an engine. Apart from a Murphy Blind off side he wears the minimum of equipment, a sign of a natural trotter. He is owned by John Morgan of Omeath.

Cowden combined with fellow Belfast man Gareth Galway for a double with Stateside Cody. The son of Armbro Deuce beat the promising Shesnoaprilfool (John Richardson). Stateside Cody must have a big chance in a low-grade pace at Lyre (starts today) as long as his ability transfers to a grass surface. The race went 2’00.9 and the winner clocked 1’59 and changed off his mark.

Experience

The opening ‘painted mile’ did not look as strong as some previous editions. Previous track experience counts for a lot in these races and Freddie Kavanagh’s Shakira Prince put in a clear round of pacing to win untroubled. Smoke Rise with Billy Roche were well punted but galloped and did not settle. Breeders and trainers of the coloured horses tend to specialise in that category and there are few opportunities in the year.

Another week, another winner for John Richardson. JR visited the winners enclosure with the Meadowbranch/Redmond owned Meadowbranch Bobby. The four-year-old beat Long Island Art (Christy Foran). The winner of this Grade G travels with his head low and a long hobble, a bit like Oakwood Starcam, who was also by Sportswriter.

John’s nearest pursuer in the drivers championship, Patrick Kane junior was on duty in Wales.

Christy ‘Hopper’ Foran’s upturn in fortunes continues as Ha’penny Chance made it two in a row in the Grade F trot. The time of 2’02.7 for the mile is probably the fastest race time by an Irish bred Trotteur Français so far. Even Hopper’s friends will tell you that his inch-by-inch approach with young horses can be frustrating to watch, but it certainly worked with Ha’penny Chance. Fleche Extreme was an honourable second with Billy Roche.

Fair Play Briolais has been knocking on the door for owner/driver Ronan Norton following a win on the beach at Inchydoney three months ago. The dark brown gelding finished well to beat Energy Oaks (Sean Kane) in the Grade A to E trot. Following this 2’03.0 performance, the Killashee, Longford runner will have his backers in the Maven Trot this weekend.

The highest-grade pace on the card went to the Cock o’ The North, Walter Stewart with his own Ladyford Dollar. Cash All (John Richardson) was backed in the ring and the layers were ready to pay out when he went clear at ‘Peter’s’. However Walter never gives up and he somehow got Ladyford Dollar back on the bridle for an overdue win in 1’59.2.

Lady driver Charlie Flanagan was seen to good effect when she took the Grade E/F pace aboard the pony sized Meadowbranch Aurora. Jonny Burns led them a merry dance but Meadowbranch Roman came back to the field. Charlie crept into contention and held off the grey Nineteen Forty Seven (Joe Caffrey) who is coming back to form.

Last week we previewed the Red John Memorial at Lyre, scheduled for today and Sunday. The entire cast will reassemble at Ger Heggarty’s farm for the biggest grass meeting in the British Isles. The main sponsors are Bill Donovan of Florida and Le Trot of France. A 13-race card starts each day at 2pm.

A couple of euros on Stateside Cody, Epsom De Corvees (each way) and King Wills Arrival will mean that you can enjoy both sprinkles and strawberry sauce with your ice cream.

O’Reilly claims remarkable double with his only two horses

Dunmanway Saturday

DRIMOLEAGUE-based Chris O’Reilly, who trains only two horses, saw both of them win at Dunmanway on Saturday afternoon.

Rhyds Panache set the ball rolling in the E to F pace. Driven by his son Fionn, this veteran son of The One Night Pan has been a great servant to connections and continues to blossom under his 16-year-old driver. A previous winner of The Red John Memorial, he is coming back to form at the right time.

Heading out on the final circuit Rhyds Panache began to close in on the tiring leader Share A Smile. He hit the front at the road crossing and stayed on to beat the fast finishing IB Paddington.

The double was completed in the Grade A to E pace for O’Reilly. This time Chris took the reins on Royal Armbro. Showtime Notorious and Blue Showdown set the pace. On the final lap Blue Showdown, who had a hard trip, was first to crack. Royal Armbro then moved in on the leader and he hit the front in the final straight. The winner had a length and a half to spare over Showtime Notorious with Brywins Starship staying on for third.

“Panache is a great old warrior and Fionn gets on well with him,” O’Reilly told The Irish Field.

“Armbro has been unlucky a few days but today he did everything right. We head to The Red John weekend with confidence and might pick up another win there.”

Rout

The day was a near rout for the O’Reilly family. Denis, a brother of Chris was also a visitor to the winners circle in the F to E Trot. Eddy Marceaux was the pace setter this time but Empereur Souverain was waiting in the wings throughout the contest. Denis O’Reilly oozed confidence sending him to the front turning for home and nabbed the long-time leader for a one-length winning margin.

Another leg of the O’Reilly clan landed the spoils in the Grade G pace where Spartan Warrior took the spoils. Tadhg O’Reilly, a cousin of Chris and Denis, owns this improving type.

Spartan Warrior made a break early on but soon recovered allowing Matthew O’Reilly to bide his time and he took the lead in the final 100 yards for a two-length victory. Spartan Warrior heads to Lyre for the Three Year Old grass championship this weekend.

Racing concluded with another family story but this time it was the Murphys from Baltimore who grabbed the headlines. Duccio made the running for the opening two laps but was headed by last week’s Paddy Connolly Memorial winner D’uc Dary who went off stride. Comete Des Landes with Tadhg Murphy were handed the lead and they were followed by Bibi Dairpet with Tadhg’s son Eoin in the bike. At the line Comete Des Landes had too much in the locker and ran out a four-length winner.

All roads lead to Lyre, Clonakilty for the 2022 Red John Memorial Festival today and tomorrow. The fixture is a massive undertaking with over 150 entries.

Racing both days has a 2pm start time. Details can be found on www.irisharnessracing.com

Irish party on and off the track at Vincent Delaney Memorial meeting

Tir Prince, Wales

THE 11th renewal of the Vincent Delaney Memorial meeting at Tir Prince, North Wales was an extremely successful meeting. The main sponsors are the Delaney Brothers of Oakwood Stud in Offaly.

Derek Delaney has the midas touch when it comes to attracting sponsors. Such giants as Hanover Shoe Farms, Diamond Creek Farms and The Meadowlands track in New Jersey have been enlisted. The meeting also gets backing from many businesses in Britain and Ireland.

‘The Voice of the Little Brown Jug’ Roger Huston (now 79) was the guest commentator, his mid-western drawl and American phrases contrasting nicely with usual Tir Prince caller Darren Owen.

Australian driver Anthony Butt (2500 wins, Au $80 million in prize money) was invited to compete.

In the public area Beaumont born musician George Murphy and the Rising Sons had the crowd rocking. They say a good horse can handle any track. Murphy’s band took us from Barry Manilow to Bob Dylan via Luke Kelly without stumbling, no easy feat.

There was also an Irish party on the track. Gavin Murdock was the leading driver with four wins and two seconds. Oakwood Paddy, Extrem Ryld and The Gypsy Queen won heats or ordinary races. Maid Sweet, owned by a Dublin syndicate, won the prestigious VDM Fillies Division, a £17,500 affair.

Rhyds Scoundrel, owned by the Kanes from Trim, obliterated the opposition in the three-year-old colts division. Bernard Nicholson trained and drove Churchview Frankel to a wide margin win in the four-year-olds.

Oakwood Stud have been active on social media in the week following the VDM. Their stallions sired the winners of nine out of 15 races they were represented in.

Track manager Eric Witherspoon deserves great credit for the spectacle that was staged.