JOHN Morgan’s strapping Ecrin De Grimault (4/6 favourite) put in an impressive performance at Annaghmore last Sunday to land a hot-looking free-for-all trot. The nine-year-old threw away his chances with a brief gallop the previous week but made no mistake this time.

As the Cork circuit has wrapped up for the year, two of the big guns from the region, Duc D’Arry and Comete Des Landes, came to the Armagh venue. Le TROT of France have ensured enhanced prize money from now until to the end of the season.

The heavens opened around lunchtime and the rain did not abate. The kickback on a quarry dust track is worse than anything flat jockeys would ever encounter. The lead is always a sought-after position in a harness race, even more so on a sloppy track. Seven of the 12 winners on the day were driven prominently.

In the top-grade trot, Donal Murphy rousted Duc D’Arry out of the gate, but let Noel Ryan on Ecrin De Grimault go after one circuit. Once the Omeath-based runner got to the front he kept piling on the pressure and even Murphy’s own Comete Des Landes could not peg back the winner.

“That makes up for last week,” said Noel Ryan, who is normally second-string driver at the leading stable, Meadowbranch Stud. “John Morgan has him super-fit, he’s as nice a trotter as I have driven.”

Noel is a capable driver in his own right. He made it a double on the day by winning the highest grade pace on the card, an A to C handicap with North To Alaska (6/4), Shane O’ Neill’s eight-year-old.

‘Get out and get on’ was the tactic employed as Rhyds Rival and Cash All were off 20 and 30 yards respectively. Mooreside Captain (8/1) outran his odds again with Calvin Broughan in second.

Elsewhere on the card it was a case of ‘as you were’ in the drivers’ title race as both John Richardson and Jonny Cowden recorded a brace to leave the former’s lead over Cowden as the closest possible.

John likes to cut the pace on a dirty day. He gambled by asking Dusty Jiel for a big move on the first lap of three. The black gelding did not let John down and they ran out a five-length winner of the C to E trot over John’s nephew Joseph Caffrey on Finale Jihaime.

With hindsight the 4/5 offered about Shesnoaprilfool in the Grade D and E pace was huge, given her win in the four-year-old mares pace at the Vincent Delaney Memorial in August.

Again, “get to the front and keep going” was John’s plan and his homebred filly was always comfortable. Second favourite Sweet Caroline stayed on well from a tough draw for Jonny Cowden to be runner-up. The race pulled up in 2.01.5 on a track which could have been as much as three seconds off.

Better luck

Jonny had better luck with Jim Galway’s Forever At It, who made it two wins in a row in the Grade G pace. The Galways look to have uncovered a gem here, and will be hoping she can hold her form for the upcoming Jackie Galway Memorial.

The North Belfast man opened his double when Just Look At Me proved that last week’s win over Just Like Mam (Sean Kane) was no fluke by beating her again.

“Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí” (praise the young and they will prosper) is a phrase first introduced to the harness page by our man in Cork, Tim Kelleher. Youth had its day as Calvin Broughan and Adam Corey both got on the scoreboard.

Calvin has driven Stephen McHugh’s Mooreside Captain well in their last two runs. His own Bingo De Connee bounced back to form with an 18-length rout in the Grade F trot.

“He had a few niggly problems in the early season but he seems over them now” said Calvin who does Bingo very thoroughly.

Adam Corey endured a lean spell in recent months but things are looking up now. Double Deuce followed up Adam’s win at the previous fixture with Extrem Ryld. Louis Vutton and Billy Roche blazed the trail, but Adam moved before the half and went on to a 15-length win.

The Stewarts’ Coleraine yard is always one of the first in the country to put its horses into work. The season won’t feel so long now as their runners have been flying in recent weeks. Jimmy, the oldest of three brothers, gave Letsgettoit a confident drive to pick up the Grade E and F pace. The second Ladyford Express (Mark Kane) continues to improve.

Billy Roche has a knack for getting a tune out of older trotters. The 11-year-old Devoir Math is another steady breadwinner from the Cloghran yard. On Sunday Billy soon ate up his 20-yard trail. He was helped a bit as the Cork pair Homa and Hippie Sizu both “jumped it off”, as the Americans say. Devoir Math (3/1) from Helios De Lara and Hippie Sizu was the one-two-three.

Speaking of Americans, a semi-retired businessman keeps his eye on the IHRA replays and The Irish Field. Bill Donovan of Florida has owned some nice sorts in partnership with the Murphy brothers of Baltimore. IB Lily is the latest pacer to win for the partnership.

The daughter of Sweet Lou has been a revelation since switching to hard tracks. Patrick Kane drove, his father Paddy trains. The three-year-old filly comfortably dealt with four more experienced rivals on the day. “She is a lovely prospect, Paddy has done a great job with her,” stated Donal Murphy.

Duca de l’Eau won several decent races in 2021 and 2022 for Cork owner Willy John Cooke. He has been lightly raced since and when he did appear he did not seem to have his old spark.

However, the Loughrans of Cooley can cure any ailment known to man, and the 11-year-old came out bouncing on Sunday. The 4/6 favourite saw off the highly regarded Iron Paddy in 3.12.7 which was a fast 12 furlongs in the conditions.

THE IHRA intend to race at Annaghmore until October 29th. October 14th and 15th will see a two-day meeting - in honour of Jackie Galway and Gerry Keenan - and also the finals of the Black Horse Supplements Juvenile Series.

The organisers are trying to get at least one two-day meeting established at the Armagh venue. The neighbouring town of Moy (actually in Tyrone) is a lively spot at the weekends and, with entertainment also planned in the clubhouse at the track, the event will have an ‘end of season party’ feel.

The All-Ireland finals are pencilled in for the October 29th fixture. An ordinary card is scheduled for tomorrow and is likely to be well supported.

Web: www.irishharnessracing.com

Replays: IHRA Facebook

THE immaculate York Raceway hosts the only sale for this code of racing on these islands. The sale takes place on October 7th with a racecard afterwards.

With typical selflessness the track owner Mick Welling insists that the entry fees at his sale get ploughed back into prize money. There is no commission as such, however any yearlings bought at the sale qualify for the Graduate Pace at the end of their two-year-old season.

Irish horsemen will be active as vendors and buyers. Last year’s top lot Oakwood Mick was bought at £50,000 by Ruairi McNulty. The successful Oakwood, Churchview and Crecora Studs will consign horses.

The first crop by Bill O’Donovan’s Cattlewash will be on show. The second last crop of the great Hasty Hall will sell well. The emerging sires Sweet Lou, See And Ski and Tom Hill have offspring amongst the 78 yearlings catalogued.

Some of the bigger buyers may visit the US sales (principally Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) in November.