EARLIER this month approximately 10 new Trotteurs Français arrived in Ireland.

Based on a shortlist supplied by LeTROT, the Irish Harness Racing Association takes orders from prospective owners at a cost of €4,000 and the horses are delivered with race fees paid.

On this occasion John Richardson and Martin Loughran test drove the horses for sale. The list is whittled down and eventually the horses are drawn for ownership by ballot.

You could draw a Romalus d’Angelais or a Curly du Layon, or some animal that does not go up the grades, but most win at least a few races.

Several of the new recruits ran well at Portmarnock last Sunday, including Feline De Noes, who showed plenty of speed in winning the Jackie Galway Cup for Tyrone cousins Sean and Simon Duggan. Simon was in the bike, and they could have been called the winners a long way from home. The winner was well-supported at around 3/1, so someone sensed that this newcomer can trot.

Adam’s double

Adam Corey, the 16-year-old from Glengormley, Co Antrim, stole the show for the second week in succession.

Following his win the previous week in Armagh he once again guided his old ally Fairdays Western to a win in the top grade. He then doubled up aboard the six-year-old Double Deuce in the Gerry Keenan Memorial.

Fairdays Western was once thought of as a confirmed front-runner, but Adam won ‘off cover’ for the second week in a row. By contrast the apprentice mechanic chased Double Deuce out of the gate and they did not see a rival in 2m 0.6secs.

The North Belfast driver explained on Monday: “With Fairdays we really feared Cash All. Of course I was out to win but I did not want to be too hard on our fellow, so it was a pleasant surprise.”

Adam added: “Double Deuce ran really well. I was concerned when he hit the half in 59secs, I thought he would not get home. However, he just got stronger as the race went on.”

Buster wins

There are only four meetings left in the ‘loudest cheer of the year’ contest and Buster Gilligan emerged as a late contender on Sunday when he won the clockwise trot aboard Gamba Des Tithais. In 2019 and 2020 Buster was winning regularly with Bian Luis Porsguen, Aram and Honor Code. However the hardworking trainer-driver has endured a long barren period through 2021 and 2022.

Patrick Kane junior looks nailed on for the leading driver award, for the second year in a row. On the day he won only one race but it was a win to savour. Harry Knows will be short in the betting for tomorrow’s All-Ireland Trot Final (see accompanying article) following a rout in the A to C trot.

At the three-quarters pole Harry Knows looked to have an awful lot to do and was trapped behind horses that were going nowhere. Patrick drives Harry Knows with the confidence that there is power under the bonnet. He pulled the homebred out at the paddock and they won with contemptuous ease in 2m 2.5secs. The second, Elysium d’Ostal, just in from France, ran well for the first time around Portmarnock’s tighter bends and looks useful. Omeath driver Martin Loughran gave the eight-year-old a typical forceful drive, but Harry Knows is different gravy.

Highly strung

Helios De Lara has looked talented but temperamental in his time in Ireland. The busy-gaited bay showed potential when winning in Lyre for Frenchman Charlie Mottier but has also galloped at crucial moments in other races. The quiet man, Joseph Caffrey is the perfect antidote for a highly strung horse. Joseph was far from quiet in the home straight as he roared the horse home, but he laid off the whip. Helios De Lara (7/2) won the grade F trot in 2m 6.9secs.

The grade G pace threw up a nail-biting finish. The 4/6 favourite Oakwood Amari looked to have done enough for Luke Timlin but Mark Kane and Bugzy Malone came with a late surge for the Malone-Blanchardstown team and prevailed by an official nose.

Luke had better luck when Imperial Attitude (3/1 to 4/5) landed a gamble in the grade F pace. The son of Art Professor won a lively betting heat in 2m 2.5secs.

Unfortunately only two turned up for the apprentice race. Jonny Cowden and Celui La Laye overcame a 20-yard trail to beat the 2021 champion apprentice Calvin Broughan on his own Bingo De Connee.

Replays of the meeting can be viewed on Irish Harness Racing Association’s Facebook page. See irishharnessracing.com for results, racecards and other information.

Prize draw

CREDIT goes to bookmaker John Griffin who sold ballots to raise funds for the Galway/Keenan memorials.

Jamie Hurley from Reenascreena, Cork, won a French Trotter (Fandango De Nile) in the draw and, given

Jamie’s record, the horse could be back to haunt the bookies.

French raid

CONGRATS to resident commentator James Griffin. Roi Mage, trained by the family, finished third in a listed cross-country race at Compiegne last Friday week and earned €6,500.