Impressive diving double for Hugh Friel

Belfast, UK – The large attendance were treated to some top class harness racing action at Racetime Raceway last Saturday where Donegal’s Hugh Friel took center stage with a driving double aboard his own Rock Show and Alicia Byrne’s Coalford Ollie.

Dubbed the “Donegal Demon” in a cheeky homage to the Green Hornet, the Minister Of Speed and the Purple Jesus, Friel is one of the longest travelers to the venue, which is a tip in itself so every horse he enters must be taken very seriously indeed.

Having won on its debut at Racetime in impressive fashion at the previous meeting, Rock Show was all the rage on the bookmakers boards before the start of the class 2/3/5 Handicap. Instead of taking advantage of his gate draw and leading out, Friel tucked in behind early leader Lucky Cam who had set off at a blistering pace.

At the half John Milligan sent Sunnyside Clinton up alongside Lucky Cam and these two veterans took each other on for most of the final circuit. Just as it looked as if Rock Show was trapped on the rail in behind Sunnyside Clinton, they began to falter and allowed Rock Show a glimmer of daylight.

That was enough for Hugh Friel who sent his charge through the gap and he stormed to the front with the remainder of the pack in pursuit. In the home stretch John Barley came with his customary later challenge, but Rock Show had enough reserves in the tank to fend of Micheal Goggins Cork based raider in a mile time of 2:00 with the distances an ever diminishing neck and a further two lengths back to the gallant Lucky Cam, who clung on for third ahead of the never nearer Rio Bravo.

The winner is by siring sensation Rock N Roll Heaven out of Show Off and was imported into Ireland as a three year old from the United States.

Friel then doubled up with his second drive of the day with Alicia Byrnes Coalford Ollie in the final contest on the program for pacers class 1/2/4.

Mystical Carbs had led them away in this before Castlewood Glensman made an early move to take control just before the quarter pole. At the half Bernard Mullan looked firmly in command with Castlewood Glensman, but all the while Coalford Ollie was creeping stealthily into contention.

Produced by the Donegal Demon going down the backstretch for the final time, Coalford Ollie sprinted past the one-paced Castlewood Glensman and the race was put to bed in a matter of strides. Clocking 2:00.8, a lifetime best for the ten year old By Rogue Hall out of Coalford Desire. He was bred by the Maw family from County Durham in England, responsible for the Coalford prefix who have produced top class pacers since the 1970s at the family stud founded by patriarch the legendary Don Maw.

Peter Lyttle has been having a golden season with Rio Bravo, but whilst she failed to fire last Saturday, he still left Racetime with a red rosette and some winners prizemoney when his debutante Let There Be Rock took out the maiden pacers event.

Clocking in 2:05, the gelding by Kikicolt comfortably disposed of the favourite Despicable Me and Geronimo with the distances 2 lengths and a further 4 lengths. In the winners enclosure a jubilant Lyttle claimed that Let There Be Rock is actually faster than his stablemate in workouts which bodes well for the future of this exciting prospect.

Another juvenile with unlimited potential is the William McLelland owned McIlroy who landed the spoils in a tactical affair for novice graded pacers. Named after a famous soccer player from the region, McIlroy just got up on the line to deny the gallant longtime Leader Ballycoan Major and Oakwood Maverick in 2:01.5, with the distances one and a half lengths and another three lengths.

Two square trots were also held on the day, for both high and low graded French-breds over the extended distance of 1 ¼ miles. In the juveniles division the four year old Hurricane Star took full advantage of a drop in class to claim victory over Elite De La Folie and Evan Jive in 2:37 whilst Finbarr Brickleys Socrates Du Noyer scored his sixth victory of this campaign in the seniors division over arch rival Bocage De Fornet and Diablesse Jisce in 2:35.

by Thomas Bennett, for Harnesslink