Portmarnock Sunday

THE Timlins, Swindles and neighbours have brought Co Fermanagh to prominence at IHRA venues in recent years. Indeed ‘West of the Bann’ is becoming a growth area for the sport with winners emerging from Tyrone as well.

Epsom de Corvees, who has raced well over the past few seasons, gained a win in the best company on Sunday last at Portmarnock.

The A to B trot was a lively betting heat. Kevin Rafferty’s Extrem Ryld represented the Gavin Murdock stable while Devoir Math lined out for ‘The Red Baron’, Billy Roche.

Extrem Ryld was quick out of the gate for Ciaran Morrison but at this level you cannot afford any skips, and he broke twice.

Epsom de Corvees himself has thrown away a few races by galloping at a crucial moment, but he does possess blinding speed. Devoir Math (Billy Roche) actually led at the railway last time around but Epsom de Corvees, trained in the waters of Lough Erne, finished strongly for a win in 3m 9.3secs for a mile and a half. The eight-year-old was the outsider of five.

“He raced well all last year and got bumped into in the Bernie Kelly Final a few weeks ago,” commented winning driver Darren Timlin. “Of all the youngsters that came in at that time he is one of the few still going, and he got to the highest grade.”

Patrick Kane jnr has started this season at a slower pace than in 2021. On Sunday, he bounced back to form with a double on the pacer Rhyds Scoundrel and the trotter Harry Knows.

The opening race was the ‘Happy Eightieth Birthday Seamus Corey Pace’ in honour of one of the sport’s long standing figures. Rhyds Scoundrel was, with hindsight, great value at 4/6 and 4/5. Last year’s leading two-year-old had to sit in a pocket for a long time while Newtown Alana and Newtown Shadow traded blows. Patrick bided his time and jumped on the back of Meadowbarch Aurora at the three-quarters pole. A cheeky win in 2.05.1 sets the Scoundrel up for a summer campaign.

Prominent

By contrast, Patrick had Harry Knows prominent from the off. Harry Knows lost for the first time in 14 runs the previous week but normal service was resumed here as he won without turning a hair from Finale Jihaime (Joe Caffrey) and the Drogheda-owned Besame Mucho (Noel Ryan). Again he was a big price at 6/4 in a place and went off at 1/2.

Sean Kane did say that Bingo de Connee was the ‘best handicapped horse in the country’ in The Irish Field pre-season stable tours.

The likeable chesnut was sharp out of the gate in the apprentice race. Despite the best efforts of Celui La Laye (Jonny Cowden) the winner was uncatchable. Calvin Broughan, last year’s leading apprentice, drove. He has done nothing but improve. The Cabra area was deserted as they had all come to cheer on their man.

Tactics

Martin Loughran from Cooley gave a demonstration of good old-fashioned ‘get out and get on’ tactics with All Bets Are Off in the highest grade pace. The mare is another runner who was talked up by the trainer, Gavin Murdock, in our ‘Five to Follow’ series.

Loughran won the race at the start and the gutsy daughter of Foreclosure was on the iron the whole way for a win in 2.00.6. Walter Stewart had a satisfactory seasonal debut with Ladyford Dollar in second place.

Vaillant de Gueham is the latest in a long line to earn the affectionate title ‘decent auld horse’ in the Billy Roche barn. On Sunday the pair defied a tough draw to win the F and G trot from Ella de Fosse (Patrick Kane jnr).

Oakwood Amari (Marcus McAleer) looked to have won the grade G pace up at the lorry park, but Sean Kane never gives up on a horse and he got Springhill Storm back on the bridle for a memorable win.

Owner’s wife Marion Sheridan told The Irish Field it was a bittersweet victory. “We lost the dam (Springhill Beauty) during the week as she was delivering a Cattlewash foal. Unfortunately we lost the foal as well.”

IHRA National Leading Driver Award

Latest standings at May 24th