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Grange. All-Ireland Harness Racing. October 1st/2nd 2005.

Sunday, Oct.2nd

Race 1. 3 Year Olds. 600 Euro

Race Time: 2:17 -- Start Time: 14:45

4 horses ran -- S.P. 4/6 Fav, 3/1, 4/1. Dist.: 1L, 2L.

Race 2. Square Trotters. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 3:25 (3 laps) -- Start Time: 14:55

Also Ran: Belter Launcher (A.Wallace), Noble Kevitshoff (G.McDonagh), Julius Kaern (D.McCarthy) -- S.P. 8/1, 2/1 Fav, 4/1. Dist.: DH, 1 1/2L.

Race 3. C/D Saddle.

Race Time: 2:07 -- Start Time: 15:10

4 horses ran -- S.P. 6/4, 1/2 Fav, 4/1. Dist.: Head, 4L.

Race 4. Open Handicap Final.

Race Time: 2:06 -- Start Time: 15:25

Also Ran: Destiny's Dream (5th, G.Carey), Lady Lee (6th, A.Russell), Crown Direct (7th, T.Murphy), Meadowbranch Frank (EVENS FAV; 8th, A.Wallace) -- S.P. 6/1, 4/1, 6/1. Dist.: 1L, 1/2L.

Race 5. Novice/E Saddle. 500 Euro

Race Time: 2:11 -- Start Time: 15:35

4 horses ran -- S.P. 4/5 Fav, 6/4, 4/1.

Race 6. A/B Saddle. 500 Euro.

Race Time: 2:04 -- Start Time: 15:55

Also Ran: Cole's Decision (M.O'Reilly), Hello Fella (S.Quill) -- S.P. 6/1, 8/1, 4/6 Fav. Dist.: 2L, 3L.

Race 7. Chariots of Fire ALL-IRELAND Harness Racing (FFA) Final. 2000 Euro

(1000 Euro-350-250-150-100-50-50-50)

Race Time: 3:10 (3 laps) -- Start Time: 16:30

Also Ran: 5th - Zidane (dbg 1999, Raque Bogart / Three Cheers) (K.Sheehy); 6th - Sun Dancer (chg 1997, Sunbeam / Ghost Dancer) (A.O'Reilly); 7th - Sharpe (dbg 1994, Fleet Decision / Three Cheers) (S.Jennings); -- S.P. 5/2, 5/1, 6/4 Fav, 10/1. Dist.: 3L, 2L.

All-Ireland Non Runner: Cult Direct

Titan frisks the opposition

The final race fixture of the Irish Harness Racing Calendar took place at Grange, Co.Cork, on Sunday last, with the feature race being the All-Ireland Harness Racing Championship Grand Final 2005. In this, the outsider and veteran Sharpe and Sun Dancer took the early lead, with Zidane and Kieran Sheehy taking over in the second lap, with Tom's the Man in close attention in third. At this stage Frisco Titan was content to sit at the tail of field. On the final circuit Frisco Titan moved swiftly through the field, taking it up with two furlongs to race. As they rounded the final bend and headed for home Tom's the Man came with a strong challenge on the outside, as The Blue Fox availed of the opening on the rail to lay down his challenge. In the dash to the line they were unable to close the distance on the leader, as Frisco Titan and Alan Wallace ran on to win by three lengths from The Blue Fox, with Tom's the Man two lengths adrift in third. Bytheway finished strongly to take fourth.

Michael O'Donovan's Run 'n' Jump led from pillar to post in the Open Handicap Final, with She's A Gem making a strong challenge in the final circuit but never threatening the leader. You Are The Man ran in third throughout and finished gamely to take the runner up spot from Gem.

Newtown Commander and Crown Direct shared and exchanged pole position in the early parts of the Grade A/B Saddle, with Crown Direct forging ahead to take the lead at the half way stage. Crown Direct was never headed there after, with The Bugler and Newtown Commander filling the placings. This completed a double for Crown Direct as he also won the final heat of the Open Handicap on the Saturday. Interestingly, Crown Direct recorded the fastest times on both days - 2:05 and 2:04 respectively.

Jason Kane and Marino Bim led the Square Trotters for the most part, with Jason's nephew Patrick Kane seriously challenging the leader in the final quarter. The pair crossed the line locked together and having consulted the camera, the judges awarded a dead heat. Only Still and Michael Goggin ran on strongly to take third.

The Three Year Old race was won by race favourite the Come Trotting Syndicate's Blatently Storm and on the previous day the Two Year Old Race went to Kevin Hurley's Celtic Harrier. In Saturday's Maiden race, Maura Travers' Robert E Lee won impressively from race favourite Howard's Lady and the local runner Newtown Perdition took the honours in the Improvers/Intermediate.

Christy Caverley's Young Clemancy notched up a double over the weekend, winning the Maiden/Novice on the Saturday and taking the Novice/E Saddle on the Sunday. The other saddle race on the card, the Grade C/D, saw Deirdre Goggin's mount Oreanna winning by a head from Maurice Ahern on Henry Lee Sota.

The three remaining heats of the Open Handicap on the Saturday were won by Meadowbranch Stud's Meadowbranch Frank, Michael O'Driscoll's Staley Princed and Patricia Carey's Destiny's Dream.

Saturday, Oct.1st

Day one of the Grange Race Committee's All-Ireland Harness Racing Weekend got off to a great start with some excellent racing.

Race 1 saw three West Cork owned 2 Year Olds making their first appearance at the races. In this, Celtic Harrier took up the early running, with Cam's Beauty awaiting his chance. In the final run to the line Cam's Beauty's strong effot was held by Harrier, who claimed victory.

Race 2, the Maidens, saw Howard's Lady attempting to make all. However, Dublin driver Patrick Kane Jnr always looked to have plenty in hand onboard Maura Traver's Robert E Lee and on the final circuit, Patrick sent Robert E Lee to take it up, going on to win by two lengths.

Race 3, the Maiden/Novice, saw Young Clemancy take it up from the off with the Dublin raiders finding it difficult to handle the testing course, with Posh Paddy content at the tail. Inside the final furlong Kevin O'Connell sent Posh Paddy to challenge the leader, who fought gamely to win by four lengths

Race 4, the Improver/Intermediate, saw the O'Reilly's Newtown Perdition lead from pillar to post and hold the late challenge from the recent import Lana Haw Lea, with Thornton Missile back in three.

The final four races on the card were the heats of the Open Handicap, with two from each going through to Sunday's final. Meadowbranch Frank took the first, with Run 'n' Jump in second. Heat two saw Mike O'Driscoll's Staley Princed lead all the way, to win by two lengths from She's A Gem. Heat three saw the winner Porterstown Zack demoted to fourth following a stewards enquiry, with Ger Carey's Destiny's Dream awarded the race and You Are The Man in second. The final heat produced the fastest time of the day, 2:05, as Tom Bennett's Crown Direct held on to win by two lengths from Lady Lee.

Race 1. 2 Year Old. 800 Euro.

Race Time: 2:24 -- Start Time: 14:30

3 horses ran -- S.P. 6/4, 4/5 Fav, 3/1. Dist.: 1L, Distance

Race 2. Maidens. 600 Euro.

Race Time: 2:12 -- Start Time: 14:45

Also Ran: Perfect Fella (P.O'Driscoll) -- S.P. 6/4, 4/5, 3/1. Dist.: 2L, 6L.

Race 3. Maiden / Novice. 600 Euro.

Race Time: 2:15 -- Start Time: 15:00

4 horses ran -- S.P. 3/1, 3/1, 1/2. Dist.: 4L, 5L.

Race 4. Improver/Intermediate. 600 Euro.

Race Time: 2:09 -- Start Time: 15:10

Also Ran: As Good As Gold (A.Wallace) -- S.P. 4/1, 3/1, 4/1. Dist.: 2L, 3L.

Race 5. 000/005. 600 Euro.

Race Time: 2:07 -- Start Time: 15:30

Also Ran: Decisive (P.Hill), Sable Decision (D.Murphy) -- S.P. 6/4 Fav, 5/2, 3/1. Dist.: 3l, 1/2L.

Race 6. 015/021. 600 Euro.

Race Time: 2:10 -- Start Time: 15:55

*Following a stewards enquiry, Porterstown Zack was disqualified from 1st place -to- 4th place*

Also Ran: Coalford Cobra (S.O'Reilly), Country Squire (B.Roche), Henry Lee Sota (A.O'Reilly) -- S.P. 4/1, 4/1, 6/1. Dist.: Neck, 1/2L.

Race 7. 005/015. 600 Euro.

Race Time: 2:07 -- Start Time: 16:10

Also Ran: Springhill Arrival (J.O'Donovan), Trackman (D.O'Reilly), Stoneriggs UK (W.McKittrick) -- S.P. 3/1, 3/1, 6/4 Fav. Dist.: 2L, 1/2L.

Race 8. 024/047. 600 Euro.

Race Time:2:05 -- Start Time: 16:25

Also Ran: Peakes Pretender (P.Kane Jnr), Coalford Wizard (K.Sheehy) -- S.P. 5/1, 3/1, evens fav. Dist.: 2L, 2L.

**2 horses qualify from each of the Open Handicap Heats for tomorrow's OH Final**

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