Annaghmore Sunday

THE quiet start to the 2024 season continued at Annaghmore last Sunday, although happily there is a better entry for the Bernie Kelly Memorial meeting at Vicarstown tomorrow (2pm).

At the Armagh venue Patrick Kane jnr and Jonny Cowden both drove doubles.

The bookies obtained a few results having been battered at the first two meetings. The first upset was when Angelsey Hall (Patrick Kane jnr), touched 3/1, got first run on Marias Blaze (Noel Ryan), 4/5 favourite, to pick up the grade G opening race. The Kanes promised to keep the ‘Angelsey’ prefix alive for Alan Blackwell from the island who passed away.

Second favourite Meadowbranch Rí broke at the start, which just about sums up John Richardson’s start to the season.

Over jumps there is a saying ‘weight can stop a train’. In the harness code they could say ‘trails could stop a train’ as Sweet Caroline (4/6 favourite) was set to give 50 yards to the gate horse in the grade A to F handicap.

The mare raced her heart out but had to give best to Porterstown Roman (touched 5/1) who gave Patrick his double on the day.

The son of Hasty Hall looked comfortable as he left the gate. He has fluffed his lines on occasion, but 2.02 here tells us why the Kanes have stuck with him. “It was nice to see him show his ability in a race at last,” said the Summerhill-based driver.

The race was worth €355 to the winner. Today Patrick files in behind the car with Harry Knows for the Sweden Cup worth €60,000 to the victor.

Lawrence Stewart will be looking forward to better filled cards, so that Sweet Caroline will be in against her own grade.

Jonny Cowden is flying at the moment. He led out, made all aboard the strapping Emil Paco to win the A to D trot from Martin Loughran’s Elysium D’Ostal who could only get to within three quarters of a length. Jonny’s post-race comments send an ominous message to his competitors.

“Just like our winner last week, we thought he would need the race. He doesn’t truly get a mile and a half but I got cheap fractions on the front end, and that helped.” The Glengormley-based father and son combination look set to have a big year.

This column often bemoans the fact that the record keeping from the early days of Portmarnock are sketchy at best. Somewhere there is a stat that “Joe Sheridan has trained at least one winner every year since 1969.”

Joe’s gold and red livery has been around since the days of Dean Garbo, coincidentally a chesnut like his winner on Sunday, Boyardo.

Sean Kane’s Energy Oaks was nibbled at to beat his neighbour, but Boyardo is a classy old racehorse and even though Sean’s mare trotted well they could not peg back the 13-year-old.

“He is still a decent horse. He lost his way a bit last season, so hopefully he’s back to form,” said Trotting Joe.

Around 14 horses, mainly pacers, partook in three qualifiers (non-betting schooling races) before the action proper commenced and these usually develop into runners in the following weeks.

This weekend sees action at Vicarstown, Co Laois, tomorrow. Rumour has it that the land owners, the Heffernan family have re-shaped the track to an 880 yards layout which should help viewing.

The Galbally, Co Tyrone, stable of Sean Duggan sends two runners to the hallowed track at Holme Farm, Appleby, which is in Cumbria.

A DEPUTATION of Irish supporters are bound for Solvalla in Sweden to cheer on Harry Knows from the Paddy Kane yard. The IHRA website will have a link to the live stream.

Paddy’s nephew Sean worked in Sweden, so knows the local scene. “There are some decent horses in Harry’s heat but it’s probably the softest division. He drew two on the gate which will suit him. To race twice in one day will not bother him if he qualifies for the final.”

Sean confirmed that the team are kitted out with Harry Knows tee shirts and baseball caps.

Vicarstown preview

PATRONS can look forward to a seven-race card at Vicarstown tomorrow for the first trophy day of the season. The Bernie Kelly Memorial honours a tireless administrator. The track is about three miles from Junction 15 off the M7.

ECRIN DE GRIMAULT looked well in some beaten runs recently and is taken to win the featured trot for Omeath.

The top-grade pace looks a conundrum with NATIONAL TREASURE and LAKESIDE PADDY coming from the UK scene to the yards of Finbar Quill and John Richardson respectively. RHYDS RIVAL has farmed these big pots although Eoin Joyce does not have the tactical nous of usual driver Billy Roche just yet.

SPRINGHILL LOCKDOWN has been knocking on the door. SEEININISBELIEVIN would be an emotional win for Bernie’s son.

Race two looks a match between ENERGY OAKS and ISORA DE SOURCE.

ALEXANDER CAMDEN can tough it out from a plum draw, Wattie Stewart will not drive from Coleraine to admire the scenery.

DESTIN DU LARRE is a proven type from the Quill, Kenmare barn.

COMETE DE LANDES has beaten better company than she faces here and will have Eoin Murphy in the bike.

Full card and last week’s results at www.irisharnessracing.com

Dunmanway Sunday

SIXTEEN-year-old Robbie Maguire from Killmallock in Co Limerick recorded his first win under IHRA rules at a sun-baked Dunmanway on Sunday.

Maguire was quickly away with IB Felicity and the pair were not for catching. The winner is owned by his grandfather John Boyle from Doneraile who celebrated his 81st birthday with the win.

Leap-based Patrick Hill had a double on the day, both owned by his father Pete who is owner of Hillside Farm. In the top-grade trot, Humour De Cosse put in a fluent round of trotting and had a length to spare at the finish over Comete Des Landes.

Hill had earlier in the day steered home-bred Halloway Road to take out an ultra-completive Grade D to E trot. Inspire Me led for the opening circuit but went off stride. Favourite Devoir Math took up the running but Halloway Road was waiting in the wings and took it up at the road crossing to win by four lengths.

Best finish

The Liam Wallace Memorial Next Generation Pace produced the best finish of the day. Sponsored by Wayne and Amanda McNevin, the series is aimed at C class drivers who are starting out on their careers.

One Cool Touch with John Boy Roche and Kenosha Comet with Troy McAleer set the early fractions. The two cousins had a battle royale up front for most of the journey.

Meadowbranch Bobby was waiting in behind the leaders but didn’t get an opening and One Cool Touch held on to win by half a length from Kenosha Comet.

John Boy’s father is John, one of the great characters of the sport, and his uncle is Billy Roche dubbed “The Red Baron”.

There was compensation for Troy McAleer in the concluding top grade pace. Newtown Major was given an easy lead here and held that advantage all the way to the finish.

They then held on by a length from IB Paddington. The winner is owned and trained by Tom “TV” Heavey from St Margaret’s in Co Dublin.

Racing opened with a Grade G pace in which Christy Brown improved from his second place at the beach in Harbour View with a win for Liam O’Brien from Schull.

Mike O’Mahony waited on this son of Pro Bono Best before producing on the final circuit for an eased down 10-length victory.

Kieran O’Driscoll from Leap teamed up with Jeremiah O’Mahony who is track manager at Dunmanway to win the grade E to F Trot with Hestia Malex.

Irish Good Dream and Hippie Sisu battled it out early doors but O’Driscoll was never too far away and advanced on the final circuit to record a bloodless victory.