Harness Racing Memorial Day. Manch, 21st September 2008

A very good day's racing, with some surprises. There was a good atmosphere, helped by the barbeque, the bar, and Jason Kane's commentary. And we said adieu to the great Stormy Reveller, winner of, among others, three-year-old championships, track and turf, 3 events at Musselburgh, Welsh Class heat and final, European Classic at Tir Prince, numerous FFAs, etc. etc. This great champion will enjoy his retirement at home in Co. Dublin with his owner, who said that he is one of the family. On a less happy note, the less said about the contretemps in the middle of the meeting, the better, as trotting will rise above it.

• Maidens (ITHRF Deceased Members Memorial) - 1. J. Caffrey's Chesney (Owner), 5/1; 2. Brenda Dean's Now Or Later (Owner), 1/3 fav; 3. B. Barry's Supreme Hall (S. O'Reilly), 6/1. 7 ran, 2l nk. 2m.24secs. 4th, Ringo Kid. NR: Seed of Speed, Moorside Chico
• Chesney deserved this win. KC Shuffle led them off, with P. Gwenan soon taking it up. By half-way, Chesney was in front. Supreme Hall flattered briefly while Now Or Later did not find daylight in time - watch this one go one better next time.

• Novice/Improver (Dinny Hannon Memorial) - 1. F. Brickley's Ringo Star (Owner), 4/1; 2. C & C Syndicate's East Town Angel (J. Cross), 4/1; 3. W. McKettrick's Marion Hall (Owner), 4/1. 7 ran, 3l, 1L. 2m.25secs 4th, Highbrook Apache. NR: City Shock, Oakwood Regal. Talavary Dream, 1/1 fav.
• Highbrooks Apache was first to show and stayed in front until half-way around the last. Ringo then forged clear; Angel improved here while Marion left her challenge late.

• Improver/Intermediate (Barney Richardson Memorial) - 1. N. Cowden's Jono's Bianca (R. Cleary), 2/1; 2. G. Carey's The Biscuit (Owner), 5/1; 3. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's The Fireball (M. Kelleher), 1/2 fav. 8 ran, 3l, 1/2l. 2m.22secs 4th, Watch Me Now Boys. NR: Beech Meadow
• Bianca always looked the winner. Watch took charge at flagfall but Bianca soon took over. Sean Thornton worked hard for most; The Biscuit looked threatening going into the last bend while Fireball was not disgraced in third as he got back into it well.

• Class 000/003 (John Roche Memorial) - 1. D. Hendrick's Springhill Horizon (P. Kane, jnr), 3/1; 2. P. Boyle's Sabercrombie (M. Loughran), 6/1; 3. M. McKay's Lyons General (B. Roche), 6/4. 8 ran, 1l, 1 1/2l. 2m.19secs (Calm Louis, 1/1 fav. passed the post first but was disq. for a breach of Rule M12 by his driver). 4th, Rebecca's Baron.
• The race was always going to be between Calm Louis and Horizon. As they settled, Louis took command while Horizon was waited with. Louis had plenty in hand at the line. Saber ran well while Lyons General was not as impressive as he had been last month here.

• Class 004/010 (Richie McLeod and John Drum Memorial) - 1. A. Hannon's Snatch (D. Murphy), 2/1; 2. J. Shanahan's Lakeview Lobelle (P. Kane, jnr), 6/4 fav; 3. P. Hayes's Spanko's Boy (P. O'Driscoll), 2/1. 8 ran, 1 1/2l, 1/2l. 2m.23secs 4th, Crown Direct
• Snatch was committed early enough, taking it up from Spanko and Crown. Lobelle tried to get on terms, at the business end, but the winner seemed to have more in hand than the winning margin implied.

• RB Greystar Trot - 1. H. Freil's Firequeen Columbus (D. Timlin), 6/4 jf; 2. P. Kane's Zorro Launcher (K. Sheehy), 5/2; 3. O'Donnell Bros's Rallyson Bo Bo (J. O'Donnell), 6/4 jf. 4 ran, 4l, 8l. 4th, Ruben Launcher
• Firequeen looked all class in this, leading from the start. Ruben did not like things at all, while Bo Bo was uneasy at first.

• Class 010/021 (Liam Carlin Memorial) - 1. M. Brickley's Stoneriggs Quail (F. Brickley), 5/1; 2. M. McDonald's Ayr Storm (P. Kane, jnr), 5/2; 3. Belmont Stables's Ynys Cernyw (M. Loughran), 5/1. 7 ran, nk, nk. 2m.23secs. 4th, Ayr Strike. NR: Shotgun Willy. Wellfield Gary, 7/4 fav.
• Quail stole a march here. Going into the second bend of the first lap, he was sent to the front. Behind him, Storm and Cernyw tried their best but could not close.Strike seemed to get going late, while favourite, Wellfield Gary, did not feature at all.

• Class 024/042 (Patsy Dean Memorial) - 1. Breda Shanahan's Dream's Place (J. Shanahan), 4/1; 2. J. Burchill/D. O'Donoghue's Porterstown Jack (D. Murphy), 1/1 fav; 3. E. & I. Haughan's Porterstown Topaz (G. Dunne), 5/2. 9 ran, 5l, 7l. 2m.20secs. 4th, Sable Decision.
• Topaz went to the front after they sorted themselves out. She really looked the part, too, until Dream loomed large and took it up before the last bend. Jack made his telling move here, too, but left himself too much to do.

• Class 049/080 Jug Of Punch Qualifier (Paddy Kane Memorial) - 1. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's Flashdance (M. Kelleher), 4/5 fav; 2. Dunmanway Racing Club's Springfield Chief (J. McSweeney), 7/2; 3. D. O'Reilly's Dragon's Glory (Owner), 6/1. 7 ran, 1/2l, 3/4l. 2m.20secs. 4th, Stormy Reveller. NR: Earned Income, Stoneriggs Wizard.
• Flash did this the hard way. He went head-to-head a few times with Stormy, rotating the lead. On the back straight for the last time, Flash got the better of Stormy. Then Chief arrived but not in time to peg back the winner. Glory ran really well - he'll go even closer next time.