WEST CORK, Ireland – For road trotting followers all roads lead to Owenahincha on Sunday next the 5th of March for the staging of the 2017 All Ireland Road Trotting Championships .
The venue is just off the the N71 just on the Eastern side of Rosscarberry.
Owenahincha boasts a blue flag beach and is a top tourist attraction for holiday makers during the Summer season .
Although a tiny hamlet in off season during the peak season the population swells to over 2000 with Hayes Holiday parks holding the majority of the visitors .
The rack is a testing run from Castlefreake Cross on the Sothern side past the hoilday park and Ocean View hotel to Owenahincha bridge on the Northern side of the venue.
Spectators gather on the natural Grand stand on the Sand Dunes which run down to the Atlantic Ocean (Next stop west is the USA)
It is one of these places only God himself could have designed .
But at approx 4 PM next Sunday it will be All Reland time at the seaside
Maitha Buachaill will start as favourite in the classic .He has won all of his four outings this season and looks the one thay all have to beat .
Owned by Ger Hegarty and James Hurley this former grass specialist will be ridden by Jamie Hurley a second season jockey .
Rhyds Ponder the 2106 champion is back to defend his title which he won in Old Chapel .Owned and trained by Ned Forbes he finished second to Maitha Buachaill on there four meetings this season but won in Dunmanway wherehis great rival was absent .
Top female jockey Deirdre Goggin will once again team up with Rhyds Ponder
Tactician Du Lys an imported French trotter takes on the pacers once again .He isowned by County Meath based Ger Kane but is trained locally by Jeremiah O Mahony in Dunmanway .His last run was in Dunmanway where he only went down to Rhyds Ponder after a titanic battle. "Cool Hands"Timmy O Leary gets the leg up on this imposing type.
The enrty of Rhyds Destiny has really thrown new light on the race. This former track and turf specialst will be having his initial run on tarmac but trainer John Shanahan is no stranger to winning the classic .The owner of Lakeview Stud in Leap Shanahan has often being dubbed "Mr All Ireland" with Fidlin ,Dream Maker ,Hilos Pride .Eastwood Florist,Perfect Dream and Bodeen all former winners .
Destiny is owned by Shanahan in partnership with Derbyshire UK dairy farmer John Mycock. David Brickley has been the stable jockey for the firm but has his own Meadowbranch Kiki listed as an entry so riding arrangements need to be confirmed.
Kiki has been a model of consistency all year but will start as anoutsider .
Racing on Sunday has a 2 30 start time with details of entries on www.harnessracingcork.com
by Tim Kelleher, for Harnesslink