Andrea Lockhart steals the show at Racetime

Belfast, IE – On a day of shock upsets, collisions and other drama it was one of Irelands leading lady harness racing drivers, Andrea Lockhart, who stole the show at Racetime Raceway last Saturday week.

Driving her own Castlewood Glensman, the partnership established a four length lead from the outset in the Maiden Class pace and despite a late challenge from main betting market rival Despicable Me, Castlewood Glensman remained firmly in control eventually triumphing by six lengths in 2:03 a very respectable time for the grade.

The skewbald Big Pete finished a distance back in third spot but this race was all about Castlewood Glensman. The four year old is by top sire Kikicolt out of Briwyns Stargazer and being over 16 hands he has needed plenty of time to mature, and Lockhart has given him that time and is now reaping the rewards for her patience. 

Alpha Papa was narrowly defeated by Ballycoan Major when they clashed at the last Racetime meeting but Alex Pattersons four year old exacted sweet revenge this time around in the four runner Novice Class pace. Content to sit at the tail of the field for most of the mile Alpha Papa was produced by Patterson with a withering late challenge in land the spoils by a length from Foxfield Tom and Ballycoan Major with the margin between second and third another half-length. 

Phils Dragon is one of the most exciting young talents on the Irish harness scene and the four year old demonstrated this with a cozy victory in the afternoon’s Grade 1/2/3 handicap. Partnered by owner-trainer North Lucas, Phils Dragon gradually crept into contention as the race progressed and sat parked on the outside of the longtime leader Veelas Imprint until gliding past in the home stretch to score by a neck from the fast finishing Lucky Cam in 2:0:4.3 with the gallant Veelas Imprint another half-length back in third.

The bookmakers and punters got it completely wrong in the afternoons Grade 1 pace when the outsider of the four runners, Sunnyside Clinton, upstaged his more fancied rivals to land the spoils for owner/trainer/driver John Milligan.

Odds-on shot Camden Pro sprinted into a commanding lead at the off in this but by halfway Sunnyside Clinton had loomed up alongside the favourite and driver of Camden Pro Gavin Playford immediately knew he was in trouble. Sunnyside Clinton then grinded his way slowly past Camden Pro and extended his hard fought advantage to six lengths at the wire with the same margin back to Briwyns One-Off in a mile time of 2:02.    

Finbarr Brickleys Socrates Du Noyer has been the real star of the square trotting scene at Racetime in 2021 and the veteran struck again last Saturday making it four wins from five runs for driver Ciaran Brickley. Lowering the colours of arch rival Bocage De Fornet Socrates was quickly into his stride following early mistakes by Evan Jive and Hurricane Star and was soon ten lengths clear of the field.

Although Bocage De Fornet tried to make inroads into the lead Socrates had established he could not peg back the striking chestnut. Socrates Du Noyer trotted out gamely to win by eight lengths in 2:35 for the mile and a quarter with a further twelve lengths back to Evan Jive back in third spot.  

In the final contest on the card Michael Goggin’s John Barley went to post the warm order favourite but the combination parted company on the last bend just as they were beginning to make their move. Fairdays Bret had led for most of the mile in this before being overtaken by Vyrnwy Saddlepan at the three quarter pole.

Hugh Friel the “Donegal Demon” appeared to have the race at his mercy but Keith McCullough was able to galvanize Fairdays Bret into a renewed challenge and the combination wore down Vyrnwy Saddlepan in the shadows of the post to score in 2:02.5.

The only other finisher was Hilltop North Art and the distances were two lengths and five lengths respectively.

Thankfully all drivers and horses involved in the final bend collision were unscathed and they all live to fight another day, which incidentally is this coming Saturday 21st August when the annual pinto pacers derby is due to be staged with a purse of £1,000.

by Thomas Bennett, for Harnesslink