Annaghmore, County, Ireland – Annaghmore’s Sat 3rd October race day was probably destined to be a bit flat, coming as it did right on the heels of the successful Dundalk meeting and clashing with Sales Day at York and Murdock Weekend at the Citadel (Corbiewood).
However the depleted body of willing volunteers managed to put on decent racing, with some stellar performances in front of a small crowd.
Gregory Dean’s Lucky Cam has obviously had some problems as a 5 year old maiden but he shed his maiden tag in some style in the opener for the Joe Hanson Cup. Gregory’s patience is legendary and no better man to straighten out a quirky horse. Lucky Cam was always prominent and won easily in the end from the hard pressed Donegal runner Talavary Fegan ( R Hanson ) in 2.03.5.
Next up was the Bassett Cup which went to Mc Elderry who soon led ( though off 10 yards ) and went away from Mystical Carbs ( E Hanson ) and Porterstown Keith ( G Murdock ) who is showing signs of improvement. Mc Elderry would appear to have changed hands and the forceful style of Darren Timlin paid dividends. The son of Judge Cam is one to watch this back –end. 2.01.3 was the winning time.
The top grade heat was a lively betting affair. Porterstown Kirk is thought by many to be a typical front runner and driver Ricky Hanson warmed him up like the pair meant business. However in the heat of battle Kirk faded tamely enough when the rejuvenated Art Hall ( Ryan Hanson ) made his move.
The nicely made Portrush stallion had to settle for second place and a slot in the Final as for the second week in a row Damien Holian produced End of The Line with perfectly timed run to take the Stella Corey Cup by a whisker. 2.00 flat was the time, the wily Donegal men mopping up all the 3/1 on offer.
The French trotters saw two of the oldest names in the business (ie Nixon and Lucas) fighting for the spoils. Jonathan Nixon attempted to make all aboard Tonus du Hamet but in the end he was tapped for toe as Verdi de Croauy with the aptly named North Lucas took the honours.
Verdi has been racing since Week 1 at the County Armagh venue and has been a model of consistency. Nigel Quigley’s bargain buy, Rayo D’Amista, trotted round for third. The favourite Solene de Bannes (P Loughran) broke early and was never a factor.
On then to the Final, where 6 pacers were to be strung out from Lucky Cam off ‘ Go ‘ back to Art Hall who needed binoculars to see the gate horse off his 50 yard trail. In the event the favourite Mc Elderry bubbled at the start and the starter deemed they were ‘ off ‘.
This left a tremendous tussle for the top between Art Hall (R Hanson) and Mystical Carbs (E Hanson). Those who say harness racing is fixed among family members could do worse than watch the nip and tuck battle between nephew and uncle encouraging their horses like a scene from Ben Hur.
Crafty Old Gregory Dean let the two Hansons cut each others throats and then pulled out Lucky Cam in the home straight to win snugly in 2.03..5. The son of Liams Irish Luck can go quicker and is a nice prospect for a Spring Handicap in 2016.
Gregory received the Patsy Dean Memorial Cup from his feted sister Brenda Hudson. The Winners Enclosure witnessed jubilant scenes with everybody from the Stable Cat upwards in the snapshot. Lucky Cams victory was the second meeting in- in – a – row that a sponsoring family won their own cup, no doubt a sweet feeling.
By Dan Carlin, for Harnesslink