NOEL Ryan, second string driver in the Meadowbranch outfit, and Billy Roche, aka ‘The Red Baron’, were the men to follow at the Bernie Kelly Memorial meeting at Vicarstown last Sunday, as both registered a double on the day.

Noel usually drives Ecrin de Grimault for John Morgan. The combination took the trotting feature, The Bernie Kelly Trot, and just shy of €2,000. Bernie’s son, Lee, presented the trophy.

The race turned out to be a battle between two Omeath neighbours, as Elysium d’Ostal from the Loughran camp tried to make all before the Morgan runner ran him down.

The win follows a similar authoritative victory by Ecrin de Grimault the previous week at Annaghmore. He could be the best around, although there are some fine French Trotters in the North, Dublin and Cork as well.

North To Alaska seems to have been around for longer than his actual five-season long career. The genuine seven-year-old will go down in the annals as ‘just short of free-for-all class, but a decent horse’.

On the day, Shane O’Neill’s son of Kikicolt, (5/4 favourite) saw off Imperial Attitude (touched 3/1) in a C to D pace. Noely drove as he has for most of North To Alaska’s runs.

Brace of winners

Billy’s was a first and last race brace of winners. He took the opening grade F trot with the good-looking Devoir Math, who beat Iron Paddy (Rachael Stewart) by six lengths.

“He’s a decent horse when he gets it together – he can get a bit uptight behind the gate, but his head was in the right place today,” was Billy’s comment.

Roche also picked up the Bernie Kelly Pace with Rhyds Rival. The nine-year-old improved on his fourth place finish a fortnight earlier at the same venue to beat Northern Pride (Troy Mc Aleer), who was conceding 40 yards. The finish was cousin against cousin, as Billy and young Troy are related.

“The owners bought Rival as a yearling, he’s nine now and they have had some fun with him,” said the modest boss of the Cloghran barn.

Northern Pride put in some run off his mark and he must be feared if he gets his nose on the gate in a future race.

“Manning, Limerick”, has been a name in trotting programmes for as long as anyone can remember.

The home of Maid o’Morven, Hideaway and Breakaway sent out a winner, when Ceiron Jack (Ryan Manning) survived a dour battle with Cracker Mach (Gabriel McDonagh) to prevail by a quarter length.

“My father, Jack, changed the way the horse was yoked during the week, and it made a difference. He added a rein pole and ear plugs,” said John Manning.

A few changes wouldn’t go amiss on the runner-up, as he was boring badly left. The McDonaghs know the job and he will improve for the run.

Bobby ‘Boucher’ Barry is one of the characters of the sport. He actually drove a few this season, but on Sunday he handed the reins on his Ayr Corleone to Patrick Kane jnr, who has a much better strike rate.

Well-backed favourite

Ayr Corleone (6/4 best) obliged as a well-backed favourite should. The win in the grade G pace was a nice pipe opener for Tregaron, Wales, where the son of Hasty Hall is entered this weekend. Stable companion Forever Amour (Jonny Cowden) was a gallant second and must surely lose his maiden tag soon.

The closest finish of the day came in the grade F pace where IB Paddington (Donal Murphy) edged out MB King Louis (John Richardson) by an official nose, which looked more like a ‘pimple’. John was philosophical when contacted during the week and thought he was narrowly beaten.

IB Paddington’s part owner, Bill Donovan, will have drawn satisfaction from watching this great battle at his home in the USA.

Biniou de Beuvron (7/2) and Charlie Flanagan gained sweet compensation for the last Laois meeting, where Charlie got pitched out of the sulky at the start and the horse had to be withdrawn.

Fortunately, neither horse nor any driver were harmed, although the sulky was a mess.

Form watchers should have backed Biniou, as he proved that he stays four miles, the distance he galloped loose on that occasion.

Sunday was a good day, as Charlie sat motionless coming up the straight, while Sean Kane was hard at work on Energy Oaks. The second was on a seasonal debut, which bodes well.

Great start

Troy McAleer’s great start to the new season continued when Larry Camden made it four-from-four in the E- to F-grade pace. Runner-up Beat The Clock (3s to 5/4) and Jonny Cowden had their supporters, but the winner is continually improving.

“I was worried that the run at Lyre might have drained him, but he’s learning all the time,” stated the 17-year-old mechanic.

Kerry had a successful weekend at Croke Park and their harness racers also left their mark in Laois.

Kenmare-born farrier Oisin Quill got a dream run up the inside with Cakinap, to upstage fellow Munster raider Patrick Hill on Hallow Way Road in the D and E trot.

Most of the teething troubles from the opening meeting were ironed out.

Improvements

The sound on the public address was clear, and the public, bookies and refreshments were in a better location.

In a helpful development, Graingers Manor Bar of Swords brought a mobile bar, which added to the enjoyment for racegoers.

The harness racing community really appreciate the efforts that landowners, the Heffernan family, make to ready the track and viewing areas.

The organisers still haven’t found an ideal spot for the finish line, but that might come.

This report did not carry any of the one-mile race recorded times as they were unrealistic, the mile was obviously marked out a good bit short.

Action in Ireland this weekend is at Dunmanway today and Annaghmore tomorrow.

Full results, race cards and information can be viewed at www.irishharnessracing.com