THE 2024 Irish harness racing season got off the ground last Sunday at Annaghmore, Co Armagh.

The early meetings always struggle to attract runners as connections keep their powder dry for the feature meetings of the summer. Nonetheless, a little five-race card produced two winning favourites and three upsets. Sweet Caroline from the Stewart, Coleraine barn, and Wayne McNevin’s Benny Camden were the stars of the show.

The track had been harrowed following rain and looked heavy. Results would suggest the surface was two or three seconds ‘slow’.

Sweet Caroline, driven by usual coachman Jonny Cowden, was really impressive in winning the Grade B to F pace. Even though the mare was 2023 overall Horse Of The Year, a 40-yard trail allowed her to open at odds against, although the price was soon snapped up.

The daughter of sire of the moment Sweet Lou made light of her handicap and ran out a seven-length winner over stable companion Lets Get To It (Jimmy Stewart) and Porterstown Roman with Patrick Kane jnr.

The win was a big training performance by Lawrence Stewart. The mare won her final race of 2023 in September and the trainer produced her in super order once again. Sweet Caroline is being talked about as a free-for-aller (the top grade) and will be a contender at all the gala meetings.

The filly won twice in one day at the Red John Memorial last year, a sure sign of toughness.

Lawrence’s comment was simple and straightforward, just like the mare herself. “She’s just a lovely mare to do and always gives her best.”

What are the goals for 2024? “We’ll have to see how she is at the time but you’d have to be thinking Red John Memorial and the VDM (Vincent Delaney Memorial).“

Lost way

Last week’s The Irish Field preview mentioned that Benny Camden had ‘mixed with top class company in his time’. The slick-gaited son of Pro Bono Best lost his way a bit in 2023.

He looked to be back to his best in the Liam Wallace Memorial Series (Leg 1) for C Class drivers. Leah McNevin produced Benny Camden as they passed the bookies last time around and from here on her only problem was getting him pulled up.

The late Liam Wallace would have approved of horse and driver. Alexander Camden, who led early, stayed on for second for Wattie Stewart. The winner recorded 2.03.3, a fast time off 20 yards on the heavy track. Proud father Wayne McNevin listed some of Benny Camden’s CV. “He has won a Red John low grade, the following year the high grade, the Irish American Pace, an Annaghmore final. He is tricky to get spot on, but when he is right, he is very good. The American Jordan Stratton won with him at Portmarnock and was very impressed.”

The Rathcoole-based man is a fine stable spokesman. “We are aiming for the American weekend on June 1st and the final of the Liam Wallace series on June 16th. Leah will drive him, she is able to keep him travelling in his races.”

Training a harness horse in the miserable spring this year was a real endurance test. The driver in a jog cart picks up plenty of muck and debris. The gravel in the eyes and down the back of one’s shirt is soon forgotten when the season kicks off with a win.

Gilligan double

Husband and wife team Buster and Mary Gilligan scored a double of sorts. Firstly, Mary drove her own Hot To Trot to victory in a four-runner E to F trot. Mary sat coolly out the back and when she asked the little mare the response was immediate. Hepona d’un Jour, the Meadowbranch second string trotted level for second with Noel Ryan. Immaculata (John Richardson) continues to frustrate, she bubbled on the first bend.

The couple own Innis and Gunn, a chesnut mare who won the closer, a C to D trot. Dusty Jiel galloped several times on an afternoon that ‘JR’ will try to forget. The gambled-on Feline des Noes (Simon Duggan) attempted to make all but had no answer to Innis and Gunn, driven by Mary’s brother Sean.

Coincidentally Sean Kane told readers the previous week that Innis and Gunn was his pick of the batch that came in together. It pays to read The Irish Field as Sean Duggan also mentioned that Coalford Henry H was from the same dam as the great Coalford Tetrick, who won £50,000 racing for paltry UK prize money.

Sean’s confidence in the son of Henry Hill was justified as he ran away from the 2/5 shot Rhyds Shady Affair from the Paddy Kane yard.

Admittedly, the time of 2.11.9 will not be disturbing Rocker Laidler’s sleep but Coalford Henry H looks a nice type and will only improve.

The four-year-old is an example of rare Armagh/Tyrone co-operation in the five-man syndicate. “Paddy Carberry is claiming to have picked him at the sales,” joked a pleased Sean Duggan. The Sunderland-bred gelding was driven by Bernard Nicholson who is also one of the owners.

THERE are 25 entries for Annaghmore tomorrow and 30 for Kilbrittain beach which bodes well for the new season.

In the North, Marias Blaze got a gentle introduction in 2023 and is from a family of winners. I’m Great Hanover, under a different driver, got left at the start last week but Patrick Kane jnr has yet to be left in a 20-year career. Let’s Get To It ran well here last week.

Class act

Of the trotters entered in Armagh, John Morgan’s Ecrin du Grimault is the class act although he may need the run. The Sean Kane runners seem to be fit and he spoke well of Frydao De Missy in a season preview. Celui de Laye is off a winnable mark.

Harbour View strand Kilbrittain hosts its second-ever trot following a bracing but enjoyable meeting last year. Beach racing under any code can throw up some strange results so ‘play small’ is the advice.

Beach

Jamie Hurley trains on this very beach so his runners should be followed. The Murphys also use a beach (Inchydoney) so puddles and seagulls will not deter their runners. There are three French Trotters making their Irish debuts on the card. Jamie Hurley’s Graal du Dollar looks a racey type. Fina Mix did nothing but improve for the Quill, Kenmare team in 2023.

On the pacing front, IB Paddington ran well over course and distance last year and the connections feel he has finally grown up. Biggins usually runs his race and Benny The Legend always looked like he’d be better at three.

Full entries and last week’s results can be seen on www.irishharnessracing.com

Annaghmore will start at 2pm. Kilbrittain start time to be confirmed as the course floods twice a day, every day.