The Nortern Ireland Standardbred Association (NISA), the officially recognised governing body for the sport of harness racing in Northern Ireland staged their second meeting of the 2020 season at Racetime Raceway in Lisburn last Saturday when Eamonn O’Connors OnTop Black Shark struck again in the meetings finale the consolation final.
Six went to post in this hotly contested affair and just when it looked that Ceiron DJ had the race at his mercy OnTop Blackshark dug deep to emerge victorious by ½ length in 2.03.4
Conall McGuigan is a new driver to the ranks at Racetime Raceway yet he drove Tom Wood like an old pro to win the Maiden & Novice contest.
Rainstorm II with Eamon O’Connor aboard led them a merry dance in this before tiring late on. Rhyds Premier then took it up before Fold Mischief came with its customary late run but all the while Tom Wood was gradually creeping into contention. When asked for his effort by McGuigan the eight year old gelding sprinted from the pack to land the spoils by a length in 2.06.7 from Fold Mischief with Rhyds Premier another half-length back in third spot.
From a new driver to somebody a little more seasoned and the veteran reinsman on duty Billy Bassett showed the younger drivers a clean pair of heels with Derrybeg in the 5 runner Grade 1&2 handicap. Owned by brother John, Derrybeg took up the running going down the back straight for the last time from the favourite Lakeview PanAm and IB Cymru to triumph in convincing fashion in 2.02.5 just a tenth of a second outside the fastest time of the day.
West Cork raider John Barley was all the rage on the bookies board before the start of the preferred free-for-all but the partisan locals then ploughed into Monugs Boy and both of these runners started joint favourites. The race didn’t go according to plan however as outsider of the 4 runners, Vyrnwy Saddlepan, swept past Monugs Boy and John Barley on the second circuit to win going away by 6 lengths in 2.02.4.
Monugs Boy fended of the late challenge of Ceiron DJ to claim second a further 2 lengths adrift with the luckless John Barley appearing to have been in need of the run.
In the afternoons square trot, Adrian Grahams Avetot exacted sweet revenge on Diva Valentina who beat him narrowly last time they locked horns. This time around Avetots driver employed different front running tactics and despite making ground on the straights the favourite Diva Valentina struggled on the beds and lost valuable ground. Evan Jive had a tardy start and never recovered leaving Avetot a facile winner in 2.14.8 with the distances ten lengths and the same.
With Covid-19 restrictions easing somewhat in Northern Ireland a healthy attendance turned up at the venue on the day with local punters joined by visitors from Dublin and from West Cork with track promoter Greg Dean thrilled at the support that the track has built up since its re-opening back in early July. A qualifier was also held before racing and 2 horses managed to better qualifying time, Newmoors Jackie Dan and Blue Top Gun.
by Thomas Bennett, for Harnesslink