Meeting 9 - Dunmanway Harness Racing Report - Saturday 24th July 2021.

Luke Kelleher took the driving honors on Saturday at a sun basked Dunmanway when steering two winners both for Leap based trainer John Shanahan Writes Tim Kelleher.

Resolute Diamond set the ball rolling for Kelleher in the Grade F Conditional Pace. Gamblers Gold and Share A Smile set the early fractions of the contest. Heading out on the final circuit Share A Smile was in front but Resolute Diamond was waiting in the wings and hit the front turning for home and ran out an easy 4 length winner from Share A Smile with IB Felicity staying on the third.

American Rebel completed the brace for Macroom based Kelleher and this could be a candidate for “Drive Of The Year”.

Resolute Diamond winner of the Grade F Conditioned Pace with driver Luke Kelleher.

Pan Cam Income was quick to start and was chased by Brywins Starship and Ayr Majesty. As they headed out on the final lap Pan Cam Income was still in front but the “posse” were closing in and it became apparent that there was going to be traffic problems with all seven runners still in contention.
Teddy Camden off a 40 yard trail made his move on the outside and was followed by Brywins Starship and King Wills Arrival with American Rebel stuck in a pocket behind the leaders. As they turned for home Pan Cam Income was holding all comers but an opening came for American Rebel on the inside and he squeezed through to get up on the line to win by three quarters of a length from Pan Cam Income with Teddy Camden loosing nothing in defeat a length back in third.
“When your stuck in traffic you can only sit and suffer. I knew I had plenty left in the tank and luckily an opening came and once we saw daylight it was how much he would win by” winning driver Luke Kelleher was quoted.

American Rebel winner of the Grade D, C & A Pace with driver Luke Kelleher.

Winning trainer John Shanahan was delighted, “Both American Rebel and Resolute Diamond are owned by my brother Denis a building contractor in London. My horses are just coming into form at the right time of the season and with the big Festival meetings coming up we have plenty to look forward to. Hopefully with travel restrictions lifting from the UK Denis will be able to get over for The Red John Memorial Meeting and maybe we can win the Red John Memorial Pace again”.

Racing opened with a Grade E Pace and after Rhyds Panache and On Top Big C traded early blows IB Notorious came with a with sail and his two length winning margin could have been a lot more. Winning driver Donal Murphy “Very very pleased” said of the 5 year old home bred son of Hasty Hall.

IB Notorious winner of the Grade E Pace with driver Donal Murphy.

The Grade G & G1 Pace on paper looked a competitive affair but the “money came” for Last Pan Standing and the Limerick connections who punted this one were spot on as this son of No Pan Intended was too good for Darkhill John J who had to be content with second again for the third week in a row. The 4 year old Grass Pacing Championship in august at Lyre is the target for the winner.

Last Pan Standing winner of the Grade G & G1 Pace with driver John Manning.

The two Le Trot races also went the way of visiting horses. Athlete Royal made the journey from Co Meath and gave Patrick Kane his first Cork winner of the season and this cements Kanes position as leading driver in The Irish Field National Drivers Championship. Athlete Royal made all the running to follow up on his win in Portmarnock last week.

Athlete Royal winner of the Grade F & E Trot with driver Patrick Kane.

The Quills from Kenmare in Co Kerry rarely leave the Rebel County without a winner and it was “The Queen“ Vallanzana who took the red rosette fending off Dedicace De Rhuys and Beach De Bellouet in a blanket finish in the Top Grade Trot.

Vallanzana winner of the Grade D, C & A Trot with driver Seamus Quill.

Brywins Magician and Cian O' Reilly returned to winning ways in the Grade F & E Pace. Earnies Umpire led for most of the race but the winner took up the running with two furlongs to go and had the measure of the fast finishing Hail Spartacus.

Brywins Magician winner of the Grade F & E Pace with driver Cian O' Reilly.

The month of August is traditionally the busiest month of the season and next weekend on Saturday & Sunday Portmarnock stages the Two Day M50 Skip Hire & Recycling Weekend while the local action is on Bank Holiday Monday in Dunmanway

By Tim Kelleher.

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