Manch. June 28th 2009

The rain did its best to spoil play. It got progressively worse, from a drizzle, to heavy enough, and beginning to get cold, as we were all wet. Races were good enough, with a satisfying final. Well done to Michael Goggin who was driving Jack for the first time. Tim Kelleher kept things going with his commentary, but the dog show was cancelled, due to lack of entries. Where was the sun when we needed her? All we wanted was three or so hours...

• .All-Ireland, Heat One - 1. J. Burchill/D. O'Donoghue's Porterstown Jack (D. Murphy), 4/5 fav; 2. Quill Bros's Bon Camotion (T. Murphy), 6/1; 3. Porterstown Stud's He's For Real (G. Dunne), 4/1; 4. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's Flashdance (M. Kelleher), 7/4. 7 ran, 2l, 1l. 2.58.8
• Jack led from the start. Flash challenged right away, and kept at it, but could not close. Bon looked threatening while Real kept in touch.

• All-Ireland, Heat Two - 1. S. O'Reilly's Earned Income (K. Sheehy), 5/4 fav; 2. Dunmanway Racing Club's Springfield Chief (J. McSweeney), 5/1; 3. F. Quill's Tom's The Man (D. Murphy), 3/1; 4. F. Quill's Stoneriggs Wizard (T. Murphy), 3/1. 7 ran, 2l, 1 1/2l. 3.05.02
• Income looked the part in this. Chief was always prominent. Harmony P broke at the start and Kouros Boy shortly after. Wiz was briefly in third while Boy rallied but not enough and not in time.

• Maidens - 1. Jenny Brickley's Ringo Kid (D. Brickley), 4/1; 2. Oakwood Stud's Oakwood Victor (A. Russell), 6/4; 3. Porterstown Stud/M. Emmet's Porterstown Gwenan (J. Dunne), 3/1. 7 ran, 5l, 1L. 4th, Meadowbranch Pan-Am, 1/1 fav; 2.33.8 NR: Safely Arrived, Baretta Hall
• Kid led from the start. Ithon X broke and was always uneasy after. Roberta's Dream also lost gait. Pan-Am also broke, while Qwenan and Victor also gave a skip. None of it bothered the winner.

• Maiden/Novice - 1. F. Quill's Cam's Decision (D. Murphy), 6/1; 2. Porterstown Stud's Porterstown Kirk (G. Dunne), 6/4; M. Herlihy/S. Jennings's Oakwood Diamond (K. Sheehy), 5/1. 9 ran, 3l, 1L. 2.36 4th, Coalford Bigtimer, 5/1
• Kirk led them off but Mack's Flash was soon in charge. Getting serious, One Cool Cat was in serious contention. Both Meadowbranch Demon and Diamond gave a skip. On the backstraight for the last time, Cam forged clear.

• Novice/Improver - 1. A. Hamilton's Matty O (K. Sheehy), 6/4 fav; 2. K. O'Connell's Hurricane Henry (Owner), 6/1; 3. P. Hayes's Watch Me Now Boys (P. O'Driscoll), 6/1. 9 ran, 2l, nk. 2.33. 4th, Teadies Best, 4/1. NR: Smoothest Operator
• Henry was in command until just over half-way in the first circuit. Matty challenged and Henry went off stride. Teadies Best gave chase and was in 2nd until the later stages, when Henry rallied. Oakwood Regal broke early on and never really got back into the hunt.

• Intermediate - 1. Four Pals Syndicate's Cherry Hall (A. Russell), 5/2; 2. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's The Fireball (M. Kelleher), 1/1 fav; 3. F. Brickley's Ringo Star (Owner), 4/1. 7 ran, 5l, 8l. 2.28.3. 4th, Ima Joy, 4/1. NR: Vyrnwy David, Southwind Pacifica
• Fireball was first to show but Cherry very soon took it up and stayed in front. She looked a picture.

• Class 014/050 - 1. P. Hayes's Spanko's Boy (J. McSweeney), 5/2; 2. J. Shanahan/A. Hayes's Lakeview Lobelle (J. Shanahan), 5/2; 3. Porterstown Stud's Wellfield Gary (G. Dunne), 6/4 fav. 7 ran, 6l, 1 1/2l. 2.31.2. 4th, CP's Fantasy, 4/1.
• Snatch looked the winner until halfway when CP arrived to take command. Halfway around the last, Snatch looked to be back in charge. Between the two last bends, Spanko got a nice run up on the inside when Snatch broke.

• Class 005/010 - 1. M. Brickley's Stoneriggs Quail (Owner), 5/1; 2. Northern Syndicate's Slipalongtravascus (D. O'Reilly), 4/1; 3. L. O'Reilly's Brywins Charvis (M. Goggin), 4/1. 7 ran, 7l, 1L. 2.34.2. 4th, Midnight Mover, 6/4.
• Favourite, Rocket Express, broke at the start and that was that. Slip was briefly in front clever Quail forged clear. They tried behind him, but the old warrior, who has won here before, was determined to do it again. Well done.

• Class 000/005 - 1. B. Newman's Jono's Bianca (D. Murphy), 5/4; 2. T. O'Reilly/F. Hurley's Calm Louis (M. Goggin), 1/1 fav; 3. M. O'Donovan/C. McGrath's What A Man (M. O'Donovan, 4/1. 7 ran, 1 1/2l, 2l. 2.32.8. 4th, Newtown Perdition, 5/1. NR Glan Teifi
• Bianca, a real star. What A Man set the pace, but Bianca was always in touch. Perdition flattered early on. Heading into the second last bend, Bianca was in front. Louis challenged but could not close. Another clash between this pair would be something to look forward to.

• All-Ireland Harness Championship Final - 1. J. Burchill/D. O'Donoghue's Porterstown Jack (M. Goggin), 4/5 fav; 2. S. O'Reilly's Earned Income (K. Sheehy), 5/1; 3. Kelleher Bros/J. Power's Flashdance (M. Kelleher), 4/1; 4. Porterstown Stables' He's For Real (G. Dunne), 5/1. 8 ran, 2l, 1/2l. 3.01.2
• Income set the pace and, indeed, slowed it for a while. Jack kept him in his sights. Tom's The Man was in third for about a lap and a half. Jack appeared to make several attempts to get on terms but yielded. In between the two last bends, Jack got down to business and prevailed. Income ran a cracker on a surface which probably does not suit him, while Flash, from a bad draw, and after a tiring heat, did not disgrace himself, while He's For Real came late. As for the winner, roll on Musselburgh.