LEADING French driver Franck Ouvrie continued his love affair with Lyre track last weekend as he took out the Richard Phelan Memorial Trot, one of the feature races on the card.

Ouvrie, who has driven close to 2,000 winners in his homeland, France, gave a master class on Comete Des Landes.

Hope De Guinnete was sent off favourite for the final but went off stride and lost any chance. Comete Des Landes was sent to the front by the French reinsman and was joined by Hernani D’Orient.

The pair battled it out with Comete Des Landes getting the upper hand turning for home and extending to a six-length winning margin. The winner is owned by the Murphy Brothers from Baltimore and Thomond O’Mara. The win smacked of an O’Mara well executed plan.

“She lost her way in the early part of the year but in the last few weeks has come back to herself. Franck is one of the best drivers in France and that swung it in our favour,” joint-owner Donal Murphy stated.

‘’The trainer was confident and she kept finding more,” reported Monsieur Ouvrie.

Another French driver Jonathan Poutrel also got on the scoresheet with Fina Mix. Finbarr Quill from Kenmare owns the winner of the free-for-all trot. Poutrel sent Fina Mix to the front and the pair did not see another runner. The winning margin of one and a half lengths flattered his seven rivals.

“The trainer told me I could go to the front,” said Jonathan Poutrel, “the local horses seemed to handle the rougher ground down the back better than the horses at home.”

Turn up and drive

Poutrel continued: “We were so well received. Everything was explained so well. We only had to turn up and drive “

The Richard Phelan Memorial Handicap pace final produced a nail-biting finish. Larry Camden was all the rage in the betting. One Cool Touch led early doors but was soon passed by Someones Fantasy with Larry Camden for company.

On the back straight, Larry Camden hit the front and it looked game over. But there was to one final twist in the saga when Larry Camden went off stride allowing Get Me Out Of Here to lead but Troy McAleer didn’t lose his nerve and got Larry Camden back on an even keel to win by a length.

The Free For All Pace was a real classic. With track record holder Northern Pride a non-runner, Rhyds Rival was sent to post a short-priced favourite. Ayr Paparazzi was sent to the front and was closely attended to by Rhyds Rival.

Turning for home, Ayr Paparazzi still led but Cash All and Charlie Flanagan were looming large and got up on the line to win by a short-head for owners Meadowbranch Stud and Brian Redmond.

Presence felt

John Roche Jnr from Baskin in Dublin, a nephew of leading driver Billy Roche, made his presence felt as he drove Elysium D’Ostal to win two races.

He was an all the way winner of the Ireland v France Apprentice Drivers Challenge and later in the day, used the same tactics oozing confidence in the Grade E Trot.

Coalford Henry H, owned by cousins Sean and Simon Duggan from Galbally, Co Tyrone, looks a real smart type with a bloodless win in the Grade G1 and G2 pace. Cavan man Bernard Nicholson drove a waiting race then eased to the front on the turn for home and was 10 lengths to the good at the finish.

Both divisions of the two-year-old pace were won by debutants. In the fillies’ Churchview Meow saw off Anglesey Beeline by four lengths. In the colts’ division The Groomsman beat Oakwood Dessie by two lengths.

There were two races for C Class drivers. Blazin Hanover won a very competitive heat from GDs Honey. Gavin Playford from Colin Glen Road in Belfast drove his first winner under rules with Jack Sparrow in the second heat.

The Kanes have always been great supporters of the trot races and Sean Kane sent out Lieutenant Dan who he owns jointly with Jeremiah O’Mahony from Dunmanway to take the three-year-old division.

Saturday

The Saturday programme opened with races confined to four-year-old colts and mares. It was disappointing only two horses showed up for each division and with hindsight, merging both races would have been the best option.

In the colts’, Rhyds Shady Affair led from the start from Ayr Harbour and was a two-length winner.

The fillies’ division had two false starts with Priceless playing up at the gate. Eventually she started but soon pulled herself up. Arts Princess was effectively gifted the race and will be the most bizarre winner of Glengormley teenager Adam Corey’s career.

The Grade G pace had eight on the start sheet but two of the runners, Down By Crecora and Check On Paddy, were also entered and ran in the three-year-old pace later in the day. (That race would probably have been better scheduled for Sunday). A further two runners were also scratched leaving a diminished field of five.

Fintry Deuce, on only his second outing, led from the start and was a two-length winner from Totally Reilly. Sean Twomey drove the winner for Skibbereen owner Raymond O’Reagan.

In the Grade G and F trot, Corail De Bellande was all the rage in the betting but never landed a blow. Irish Good Dream was the ‘rabbit’ for the opening two laps but went off stride allowing Dedicace De Rhuys and Rebecca Hurley to lead on the final circuit.

The winner is owned by John O’Sullivan from Goleen and trained by James Hurley at Reenascreena.

Competitive

Wasntexpectingthat came in for heavy market support in what looked a competitive Grade F and E Pace and his backers had no cause for concern. Bernard Nicholson had a pillar-to-post victory finishing three lengths in front of GDs Honey, who was a bit unlucky in encountering traffic problems.

Neil McDermott from Newtownbutler in Co Fermanagh (not exactly a trotting heartland) owns the winner.

Next up were the elimination heats of the Richard Phelan Memorial trot with four horses to qualify for the Sunday final. In the first division Hope De Guinette was the punters’ choice. John Richardson with Hernani D’ Orient made the going but in the final two furlongs, Martin Loughran “rode into town” on Hope De Guinette and ran out an easy winner.

Loughran from the Cooley Peninsula in Louth, jointly owns the winner with Annaghmore track owner Clive Richardson.

The bookmakers got no respite in the second heat. Forrest Jo tried to make all but Iron Paddy was only playing games with the leader.

When Ronan Norton said “go” with Iron Paddy, they quickened to win with a bit in hand. Rachel Stewart, partner of Norton from Longford, owns the well made six-year-old.

Misery for the layers

The misery continued for the layers in the Richard Phelan Memorial pace heats. Winner Larry Camden was backed as if defeat was out of the question (4/5 to 1/3). Troy McAleer oozed confidence on the Tom “TV” Heavey-owned six-year-old.

The McAleer/Heaveys suffered a reverse in the second division with Newtown Major well-backed also into 1/3. The bookmakers got a screamer in this one. Someones Fantasy caused the upset as Jamie Cross gave the winner a hand drive. Someones Fantasy is jointly-owned by Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes.

Both the fillies’ and colts’ three-year-old paces offered only three runners. Always B Puffing ran out an easy winner in the former for his talismanic owner John Roche from Baskin Lane in north Dublin. Trained by Joe Gannon, it was good to see Billy “The Red Baron” Roche back in the sulky after a serious back injury.

The Roche boys are made of stern stuff and as per usual, the winner’s enclosure was packed with more Dubs than Hill 16.

In the colts’ race, Down By Crecora gave James Hurley a training double on the day and a 1-2 in the race. Jamie sent the son of Down By The Seaside to the front and led home stable companion Benny The Legend.

Standard meetings are planned for both Annaghmore and the same field at Lyre this weekend. Entries and results can be seen at www.irishharnessracing.com

Excellent replays of the races can be watched on IHRA Facebook page.