SEAN Duggan from Cappagh in Tyrone runs a thriving business supplying static caravans to parks in Co Down. Sean and his younger cousin Simon have become a fixture on the IHRA scene. Simon can usually be relied upon for six to 10 winners in a season. In 2023 the Duggans have left a few down to Billy Roche who spoke well of a two-year-old and a three-year-old in this column recently.

“Winning the Jackie Galway Memorial with Feline Des Noes was the highlight of last season,” said Sean. “We got on well with Jack and it meant a lot to us. We gave the mare the pet name ‘Jackie’ after that win”.

Feline Des Noes

7yo m Memphis Du Rib - Quapriciosia

We only raced her twice last year and she won the Jack Galway Cup for us. She won €2,000 in that race which made her a cheap buy. She went a 2.00 rate in France. She has loads of ability and could be the real deal. She is sweet to do but has a funny habit of locking her teeth onto the bars of her stall when we are mucking out, yet she wouldn’t bite you. We’ll decide her targets after a couple of runs.

Coraile De Belande

11yo g Rieussec - Reine de Bellande.

He is now 11 but we feel there are still a few races in him. He’s more of a distance horse than a sprinter. Sometimes he can make a skip at the start. We tow him behind another sulky for most of his slow work because he fidgets if he’s yoked. He has won five or more races for us.

Foxfield Stephen

7yo g Lyons Stephen – Scots Daisy

The only pacer we have at home, he belongs to Simon with Tiernan Loughran and Adam McVeigh. He wasn’t finishing out his races but we think we have that sorted now. He has loads of speed. He wears spreaders (thick straps placed below a horse’s elbows aiming to widen the action of the forelegs) He’ll be aimed at the Irish American Weekend and the Red John Festival.

THE season wouldn’t be the season without a word from Philip ‘Buster’ Gilligan, the popular Swords born owner/trainer/driver. Buster was a bit down through the winter following the closure of Portmarnock where he rented a barn. Furthermore an awful human tragedy befell one of his owners.

“My wife Mary (née Kane) has done a lot of the groundwork with the two horses. I lost interest after the passing of young Richard Phelan last year. On a brighter note Gambia Des Tithais ended a long winner drought for me with two nice wins late in 2022. Hopefully this year will lift my spirits some more.”

American Rebel

7yo g Rogue Hall – American Beauty

He came in from John Shanahan of Leap. We own him with Fergus Gosson. Pat McGrath the vet from the Curragh has been a great help with him. We think we have him right now and he’s good enough to win a big grass handicap.

Jessies Hallmark

4yo m Hasty Hall – Jessies Conquest

She’s a Hasty Hall, he was a top sire. She is owned by Adam Gibson. She’s a typical mare, some days are better than others. Again Pat McGrath has been involved, we keep a Magneto blanket on her.