Dunmanway Sunday

IB Paddington, owned by the Murphy brothers from Baltimore and Bill Donovan from Florida, made it two wins in seven days when landing the George Deane Memorial Pace at a sun drenched Dunmanway on Sunday.

Get Me Out Of Here and Imperial Attitude traded blows up in front. All The while IB Paddington and Donal Murphy had been nailed to the rail and were biding their time. Turning for home, Get Me Out Of Here still led but the opening came for IB Paddington and he hit the front close home to win.

“He went super today, we got a lovely trip and he stayed on strongly close home. We bred him ourselves and it’s a great honour to win the George Deane Memorial which celebrates the former President of the Cork region,” winning driver Donal Murphy told The Irish Field.

The George Deane Memorial Trot was a four-runner affair with Humour De Cosse joining the “Big Three” trotters Fina Mix Comete Des Landes and Duc d’Arry.

Mike Kelleher came in for a catch drive on Humour De Cosse and the pair were not hanging around going clear from the start. Oisin Quill on Fina Mix made his move in the final 100 yards to collar the longtime leader.

Brutenor was another catch drive for Mike Kelleher who was a prolific jockey in point-to-points in his 20s. Mikey was deputising for his cousin Patrick Hill who married Aoife (née Delahunty) last weekend.

Kelleher sent the veteran Brutenor to the front after Bibi Dairpet made a false step at gate and he was never in any danger leading home Cakinap and Destin De Larre. The Hill family from Leap are getting endless fun out of the winner.

Niall Forbes originally from Drimoleague but now living in Leap seems to be the man to rejuvenate trotters. Irish Good Dream joined the yard recently and on his third start for the new owner was a winner.

Eddy Marceaux and Hippie Sisu were away early and remained in front on the final lap until Forbes made his move to win with a bit in hand.

French advice pays off

“I only have him five weeks. French driver Matthieu Varin drove him at the Red John meeting and suggested a few changes and they worked a treat. He was decent as a four-year-old but lost his form last season. I didn’t break the bank to buy him and I think there’s more to come,” was the comment from the popular Forbes.

Paul Kelly and son Lee made the long journey down from Co Westmeath with Seenisbelievin’. The Delvin runner hit the front at the start and once race favourite Storm Trooper went off stride the die was cast.

“My wife Bernie (former secretary of the IHRA) loved coming down to Cork but she had been sick and sadly passed away so we didn’t come for a few years. We got a great reception after the horse won and the Cork people are good to us,” said Paul Kelly.

Thomas Kiely from the northside of Cork City has bought some well-bred pacers and Rhyds Eye Kandy got his name on the winners’ list in the Grade G pace. Kiely ran his three rivals ragged and this looks a nice horse in the making.

Competitive

The Grade F pace provided further proof of the competitive nature of racing in Cork. Well Cuz and GDs Honey were market leaders, the former went off stride and this left GDs Honey in front. Yankee George joined the leader but could not pass.

On the final lap, Rhyds Panache and Spartan Warrior came through the field unnoticed. Around the final corner all three were in a line with Rhyds Panache at 14 years young staying on best to beat Spartan Warrior and GDs Honey. Fionn O’Reilly from Drimoleague deserves great credit for the winning drive which would be the envy of many seasoned drivers. O’Reilly is only 17-years-old.

The action today is in Lyre, Clonakilty, with a 2.30pm start time.