Finals day on the Bank Holiday Monday at Ballabuidhe saw some of the best renewals of both the Paddy Connolly Memorial and The Murphy/Hurley & White Grand Prix with superb finishes in both .
The Grand Prix saw the eight qualifiers facing the start in the mile and a half contest.
Fairdays Bret set the early fractions and led for the opening six furlongs .At this point Brtywins Starship took up the running with Brywins Picasso just off the pace .Down the back straight the field were as one and running room was tight.
Turning for home Heather Breeze came through the eye of a needle to grab victory on the line a half of length in front of Brywins Starship with King Wills Arrival a further half back in third.
The winner was driven by Sam Jennings from Leap who emulated his father James and uncle Sam who both won the Grand Prix in years gone by.
The Paddy Connolly Memorial Le trot final was another epic .Un Boss led for a lap then Saxo De Maroncourt went to head of affairs .Brutenor then joined in to share the lead .On The final lap all eight finalists were in with a shout .Donal Murphy who came in for"the catch drive" on Vigo De Bassiere had weaved his way past all the traffic to grab the honors.
The winner is owned by Kieran Sheehy from Baltimore whose family have been involved in harness racing in the region for three generations.
Earlier in the day Aubade A Helene left the huge crowd gobsmacked after coming off a 100 yard handicap to ease to victory in the Consolation Le Trot final.
Springhill Doyle took the consolation Grand Prix final with Meadowbranch Matt second.
Country Cruiser second in Fishers Cross went one better in the Grade G Pace while IB Tweedy landed a gamble in the Grade G & G1 pace with Jamie Hurley in the bike .Hurley also trains Eve De Parc who took the three runner 4 year old trotters
Angela Hurley and her late brother Tommy O Brien were both inducted to the Ballabuidhe Hall Of Fame
All roads lead to Portmarnock Raceway next weekend for The Vincent Delaney Memorial Weekend .
by Tim Kelleher, for Harnesslink
RESULTS
Race One 1.Eve De Parc D Murphy 2. Etolie Quick S Kane DIST 5 TIME 3.17.2
Race Two 1. Vigo De Bassiere D Murphy 2. Saxo De Maroncourt E Kane 3 Brutenor P Hill DIST 1 2 TIME 3.09.6
Race Three 1. Springhill Doyle M O Reilly 2 .Meadowbranch Matt O Quill 3.Rhyds Heartbeat D Murphy DIST 2 2 TIME 3.08.1
Race Four 1. Aubade A Helene P Hill 2. Silvano Bello D Murphy 3. Amite Briangault S Kane DIST 5 5 TIME 3.12.6
Race Five 1. IB Tweedy J Hurley 2. Cushentown Rocky J Manning Jnr 3. Coalford Laurel M O Reilly DIST 3 1 TIME 2.35.8
Race Six 1.Country Cruiser J Manning Jnr 2. Panarc K Myles 3. Full Of Grace J Boyle 3. DIST 11 8 TIME 2.37.6
Race Seven 1.Heather Breeze S Jennings 2.Brywins Starship R Kingston 3. King Wills Arrival O Quill DIST 1/2 1/2 TIME 3.06.0