Deirdre Goggin & Rhyds Ponder make it four straight

WEST CORK, Ireland – Rhyds Ponder once again cemented his ever growing reputation as one of the leading players of the 2016 road trotting season with another facile victory in his first outing in the Grade B. He came into the event on a three race win streak in the Grade C and showed off before a large attendance who enjoyed a beautiful Spring afternoon on the Kilbarry road venue.

With usual pilot Deirdre Goggin in the plate this son of Hasty Hall put his rivals to the sword in a fashion that may just put him in line for a tilt at the coveted All Ireland Road Title which will be held in Old Chapel Bandon in March.

Goggin emulated her feat of three winners in Skibbereen with another treble today.

Hillside Mustang collected his third win from as many starts in the opening Novice Pace . Big Jim and The Hatchet Lady both shared the lead but "Mustang" a son of Harmony P was only biding his time sweeping to the front with two furlongs to pace and his one length winning margin flattered his four rivals.

Hillside Dartanian who was unlucky in Skibbereen gave Goggin her third winner in the Grade E but she had to be at her brilliant best to hold off Wellfield Damian who was given an inspired late drive by Marie "Funsize" Moloney and IB Rapido were involved in a three way photo with the winner all out to hold on by a neck.

Imported French Trotter, Tactician Du Lys, was too good for his six pacing rivals in the Grade D .Talavary Songster led for much of the twelve furlong contest but "Cool Hands" Timmy O'Leary produced the winner with a furlong to pace to win by four lengths.

The Best finish of the day came in the Grade C "Election Challenge Pace" The five runners were nominated by candidates in the Cork South West Electoral area and it was Rhyds Artist who just held off Lakeview Walter by a short head .

There was high drama in the concluding three runner Grade A. Arch rivals Dream Maker and Conway Tiger went to war once again and another classic looked set to unfold.

At the final turn Conway Tiger when in front slipped on the sand and with Dream Maker and Lakeside Dragon in close attention all three horses unseated their riders. The quick intervention of officals ensured all jockeys and horses came out of the incident safe and the race was declared void.

The meet at Durrus, which was cancelled on New Years Day, is re-scheduled for Sunday 24th Feb .

by Tim Kelleher, for Harnesslink.com

NOVICE

1. P Hill HILLSIDE MUSTANG Deidre Goggin

2. G Kane BIG JIM T O Leary

3. S Crowley SEE YOU LATER J O Reilly

DIST 1l 10l SP 4/5 5/2 3/1 5 Ran

GRADE E

1. C O Sullivan HILLSIDE DARTANIAN Deirdre Goggin

2. H Bennett WELLFIELD DAMIAN Marie Moloney

3. A & S Buckley IB RAPIDO T O Leary

DIST NK 1/2l SP EV 4/1 6/4 7 Ran

GRADE D

1. G Kane TACTICIAN DU LYS T O Leary

2. Shanahan / Brickley MEADOWBRANCH KIKI D Brickley

3. J O Sullivan TALAVARY SONGSTER Deirdre Goggin

DIST 4l 4l SP 2/1 3/1 5/2 7 Ran

GRADE C "The Election Challenge Pace"

1. L O Brien RHYDS ARTIST Marie Moloney

2. C & R Joyce LAKEVIEW WALTER J O Reilly

3. G Kane UNE DE RIOUX T O Leary

DIST SH 4l SP5/4 2/1 5/2

GRADE B

1. N Forbes RHYDS PONDER Deirdre Goggin

2. Deasy/Hurley/Keohane RHYDS TRIXTER J O Reilly

3. N Forbes MOUNTAIN DEW LAD T O Leary

DIST 20l 20l SP 4/5 2/1 3/1 4 Ran