Portmarnock

Saturday/Sunday

THE two winter favourites in the aged divisions won their races in Portmarnock last weekend while there was also a minor upset and a win for a second choice in the markets.

That summarised the first feature weekend of the harness racing season.

The Bernie Kelly Memorial Trot went to Colombia d’Oysse mentioned in the preview last week. The Pace went to Ayr Paparazzi who upset Oakwood Cowboy, the ‘paper favourite’.

The driving honours were shared equally with the reigning champ (Patrick Kane junior), the old master (John Richardson) and the young gun (Oisin Quill) each driving three winners over two days.

Saturday

Day one started with a win for the Kenmare yard of Finbar Quill and son Oisin who was in the bike. Fina Mix was a bit scratchy gaited behind, but young Oisin had the brains to hold onto her until the final quarter. A win from Ella du Fosse (Patrick Kane jnr) was the result in an unspectacular 3.13.

The action soon shifted to the heats of the next day’s finals, or ‘eliminations’ to use the American term which was carried in the programme. Andy McTaggart calls Feugeres Erem ‘the wee mare from Ballyclare’ and yet again she repaid the owner. Driver Sean Kane has some confidence in the little mare and moved early.

Ballyclare is the heart of the point-to-point belt in the north and sells the most copies of this paper in the region. The Six Mile Water is now home to a daughter of Niky as well as those Yeats and Getaway store types!

Besame Mucho (Noel Ryan) put in a good run for the second week for owner Maxie Collins.

This column remarked last week, “The public will be anxious to see does Ciaran Morrison, now home from Canada, come in for a catch drive?”

Talk about tempting fate, the stable trainer Gavin Murdock and number one driver received a nasty toss off an ordinary driving cob at Annaghmore during the week. Gavin has multiple fractures of the ankle and will be out for most of the season. Obviously, we send best wishes.

If you are going to be crocked for the season at least have a well-travelled cousin as a back-up man. Ciaran Morrison drove winners at Tregaron and Musselburgh before embarking on a career in Canada.

On Saturday, the familiar green and black Murdock family colours got an airing.

Ciaran’s first drive, Oakwood Cowboy was not any bigger than 4/6 in the ring for the first pacing heat. The hulking great son of American Ideal was the second favourite to win on a weekend wherein the punters had the best of the skirmishes.

Ciaran even had the luxury of taking a pull at the railway. The late Uncle Jim would have approved – “don’t win by too far.”

New blood won the next trotting heat when young Adam Corey gave a cool drive to Franchan de Roche on her Irish debut. The pair beat the mighty John Richardson with Colombia d’Oysse. Ironically, John loved Franchan de Roche when he tried her in France last year and stated at the time that she would be ideal for an apprentice.

“She’s just like a little mouse,” said Adam’s mum, Marguerite, “she’s lovely to do.”

Another ‘apprentice’, namely Oisin Quill, took the second pacing heat with John Moloney’s Ayr Paparrazi in 2.01.1, a shade faster than ‘the Cowboy’.

Ladyford Buck (4/6 to no offers) took the lowest grade pace with consummate ease for driver Patrick Kane jnr and Ederney-based trainer Neville Martin. Walter and Carmel Stewart cheered this one home as they own the sire, For A Few Dollars More.

Sunday

The opening winner was well signposted in our winter previews as trainer Sean Kane said that Bingo de Connee was “the best handicapped horse in the country.”

The 2021 champion apprentice and owner of Bingo de Connee, Calvin Broughan was in the sulky and got off the mark for the new season.

Romanz won the grade G pace and in doing so improved five seconds (25 lengths) on his previous run. The original The Irish Field harness racing correspondent, the late Dave Baker, reserved his most caustic comments for such miraculous improvements!

John Richardson had Meadowbranch Aine away smartly in the Grade F pace. Owner/trainer Neville Martin likes a cross channel raid and the mare has wintered well. West End Illusion ran a blinder in second place for John Boy Roche.

Aine was the opening leg of a quickfire, mares only treble for JR. He won the four-year-old trot with the steady Immaculata.

The runners were strung out before they had trotted (most galloped) a quarter mile. I Am From Oakwood, the Mooreside third string, was second at rewarding odds for the in-form Calvin Broughan.

The draw is crucial in a harness race, especially on a half mile track as opposed to the larger tracks in France or America. The draw probably swung the result of the €7,800 Bernie Kelly Trot as John Richardson (drawn 1 with Colombia d’Oysse) hugged the rail while favourite Feugeres Erem (Sean Kane) was parked for most of the race.

Stayed on

In the end, the big mare who runs with her head level with her withers, stayed on to see off the gutsy Franchan de Roche with Adam Corey.

“She started well last year then went a bit wrong on us,” was John’s comment. “We have her right at the moment, she is lovely to be around.”

Harry Knows with Patrick Kane jnr had the crowd talking following the E to F trot. The race was his first step into all-aged company, and he got shuffled back early in the race.

Patrick does not know the meaning of the word ‘panic’ and eventually Harry Knows came round the entire field.

The five-year-old proves that a proper trotter can be foaled, broken and raced in this country. He is currently unbeaten in 13 runs. The useful yardstick Buliano was second on a fruitless weekend for Billy Roche.

Broadford, Co Clare is not exactly a harness racing stronghold, but Ayr Paparazzi did the village proud in the €4,400 Bernie Kelly Pace Final.

Oisin Quill of Kenmare is driving out of his skin currently and bombed the Scottish-bred gelding out of the gate. John Moloney is the owner.

Star Attraction (Billy Roche) was an honest second while the ‘jolly’ Oakwood Cowboy (Ciaran Morrison) did not sparkle as he did in the heat.

“Mention me but don’t mention Pa Crawford,” said Clare supporter Willie McInerney – we aim to please.

The season continues tomorrow at Annaghmore, Co Armagh. Full results and confirmed starting times are at www.irishharnessracing.com. The track is very accessible at J13 M1.

JOHN Smith, from Coolock, had a name shared by thousands but a talent given to very few. In the 1980s and ‘90s he was acknowledged as one of the leading horsemen at Portmarnock and White House Raceway.

He was clean shaven as a young man with brilliant blonde curls and a little moustache.

John and Eddie Doherty jnr were two of the first drivers to lean back in the sulky. With the hair, beautiful lemon and black silks and the seat in the sulky, John was quite a presence.

He would have driven dozens more winners were it not for the fact that he was often on the second string in big finals

First Irishman

John will go down in the annals as the first Irishman to drive a winner at Tir Prince (North Wales) as he scored with Garys Princess on the opening night some 30 years ago. As Jack Hanley and Tommy Doyle were associated with Garys Princess, it is safe to assume the bookies took a hiding.

Almost all the trainers at Portmarnock used ‘Smithy’ at some time. He jogged horses daily for Paddy Kane. Lazarus, Fair Trade and Solo Knight were some of his prolific winners.

John passed on Thursday, April 28th and was buried on Wednesday, May 4th. Sympathies are extended to his wife Chrissie and daughter Megan.

He is photographed coincidentally with Gerry ‘Farmer‘ Cummins who sadly also died a month ago.