“DUBLIN and Tyrone” has a ring to it that conjures up images of clashes on the Gaelic field but both counties are home to successful outfits in the sport of harness racing.

With the 2024 harness season all set to open at Annaghmore Raceway, Co Armagh, tomorrow, we get the inside views from the Sean Kane yard from The Naul. Co Dublin and from the Duggan cousins who are based up north at Galbally in Tyrone.

SEAN Kane was uncharacteristically downbeat when asked to name his highlight of 2023. “I thought we didn’t have a great year. I suppose my sister Mary’s mare Hot To Trot winning her way up the grades was the highlight.”

The problem for Sean is that he sets himself high standards. He won the inaugural Le Trot Gold series in 2017 with Ella Lou Lou and won Trotter Of The Year in 2022 with her son Just In Time. He has been leading driver nationally of French Trotters six times, including for 2023 which he thought was ‘quiet’.

Sean became the first Irish driver of modern times to win a race in France (Argentan in 2019). The family sent Just In Time to the Bjorn Goop yard in Paris last year but the ambitious venture proved a bridge too far.

“Just In Time has too much money won in this country, which puts him in a tough grade in France. He trotted 1.14 for the kilometre (equates to a 1.58 mile) and could only be sixth, so we brought him home and freshened him up for 2024.”

Sean and father Ger train a large stable of trotters at Mooreside Stud, Clonalvy. The Kanes race frequently and you can be sure that when the tally is done for 2024, Sean Kane will be near the top. Kane juggles his driving career with a post as a fireman and paramedic at Dublin airport. The 30-year-old named five Trotteurs Français for the wars in 2024.

JUST IN TIME (Ire)

5yo g Aladdin du Jaquille – Ella Lou Lou

The sire was a 1.09 performer. He has some talent but can be erratic. He gets keyed up when he is tied up at the horse lorry on race days. He can leave the gate fast if he has to. We’ll see how he handles open class racing soon enough.

FRYDAO DE MISSY (FR)

9yo g Nil du Rib – Pridame Monochrome

My new horse that came in last autumn. He is a lovely horse to do, very simple. He is a plain sort, kind of ‘cobby’ but he had a second place and a third in the All-Ireland from very few runs. He has strengthened up and is well in his coat.

INNIS AND GUNN (FR)

6yo m Arpent d’Ostal – Ruse du Digeon

You mentioned her when you previewed my brother-in-law Buster Gilligan’s horses but I am training her at the moment. I thought she was the standout choice in her batch of trotters. However, she has taken time to adjust to the tighter tracks in Ireland. She is a big powerful mare. I think she’ll be at home on a grass track.

LITTLE MISS SARAH (Ire)

3yo f Apprenti Sourcier – Ella Lou Lou

We stand the sire at stud. We own this filly with Alex Cuffe from Sligo. She has the physique I wanted for Just In Time her half-brother. She wears an O’Mara bit as she hogs down on the overcheck. She is trotting well and will take her chance in the three-year-old series.

LIEUTENANT DAN (Ire)

3yo g Apprenti Sourcier – Breeze Ludoise

We’re partners with Jeremiah O’Mahony from Dunmanway. The name comes from a character in the movie ‘Forest Gump’ and Jeremiah has a son a called Dan.

She has classy looks, chesnut with a white face. His dam’s family had plenty of winners of €1 million.

SEAN Duggan and his cousin Simon have some young stock with Billy Roche near Dublin Airport while they kept three pacers at home in the Red Hand County.

Sean was delighted with the filly Priceless in 2023. “Priceless was an unlucky second in the Vincent Delaney and then she won the Breeders’ Crown.”

PRICELESS (Ire)

4yo f Sweet Lou – Coalford Silk

We bred her ourselves. She’ll be aimed at the four-year-old series, we might even head to Appleby. She had some issues caused by rape seed pollen last year but we got that sorted. She is all of 16.3 hands. She is a classy mare.

FELINE DES NOES (Fr)

9yo m Memphis du Rib – Quapriciosa

She picked up a freak injury in the field last year which set us back a bit. She’ll travel to Cork on her own in a single box but won’t travel with another horse. She has a good turn of foot.

IMPERIAL DYNAMITE (GB)

4yo g Tom Hill – Real Deal

We started him a bit later. He was flying in qualifiers last year but was making silly breaks. His dam was runner-up in the VDM. He has ability if we can get his head right.

COALFORD HENRY H (GB)

4yo g Henry Hill – Sweet Tahoma

We bought him at York sales last year. He wasn’t dangerous money, then some friends came in as a syndicate. Tiernan Loughran is one of the owners, he is a great help to us. The colt makes his debut tomorrow. He’s a half-brother to the great Coalford Tetrick.