Racing heating up at Racetime Raceway

The harness racing season is really beginning to heat up at Racetime Raceway in Belfast with many of last seasons top stars finally coming out to play at the venue this coming Saturday.

The third meeting of the harness racing season kicks off with a four runner contest for maiden pacers and all eyes will be on Andrea Lockhart’s Castlewood Glensman in this. This likeable 4 year old gelding has hit the board in his first two appearances at Racetime finishing third and then second so this could be the time that he finally secures a red rosette for the leading lady driver. The spectacularly colored pinto pacer Big Pete can follow Castlewood Glensman home with Dollarscheekygirl and newcomer Ballycoan Major will be looking to fight it out for the remaining prizemoney.     

A full field of 6 pacers will line up behind the the starter in the afternoons Novice/Grade 1 handicap and this looks like a very tricky affair when weighing up the  current form. Rio Bravo caught the eye when running on last time out whilst Phils Dream look all over the winner in the consolation pace on 12th June before running erratically and off the track (subsequently disqualified) Oakwood Maverick is a very talented performer but broke badly on his last appearance and Waverly Jane and Mystical Carbs are capable on their best form but have yet to find it this season. The enigmatic Phils Dream is a tentative selection to emerge victorious here.

The third event has another full house of Grades 1 & 2 participants and is even more of a puzzle than the previous handicap. Camden Pro has been knocking on the door of late and could lead them all a merry dance from the front for driver Gavin Playford. Ballycoan Kolt is a newcomer to Racetime for Donegals Mickey Connors but boasts winning form last season with previous owners down in West Cork.

Fairdays Bret is another making his seasonal debut but is best watched for another day whilst Frisco Hold Up was a winner last time out and never runs a bad race for owner-trainer-driver Darren Smith. That leaves Veelas Imprint and Lucky Cam to fight out the finish and the former is fancied to just edge out Barry Deans veteran campaigner.  

The highest graded handicap on the programme is a six runner Grade 3 to 6 pace with Hilltop North Art and Vyrnwy Saddlepan sharing the starting gate. John Barley smashed the track record on his last appearance at Racetime, but Michael Goggin may not be able to adopt the same front running tactics being handicapped on the second line alongside Derrybeg and Monugs Boy.

The fly in the ointment however could be Tarawood CJ who boasts the best racing record in the line-up and if fully fit on his seasonal debut he will make them all run. A case can be made for all 6 runners here and Monugs Boy is a tentative selection.  

The afternoon ends with a four runner square trot and Finbarr Brickleys Socrates Du Noyer will be all the rage to make it a hat-trick of victories for the striking chestnut at the venue. Unbeaten in 2021 the French bred will once again lock horns with Bocage De Fornet and Hurricane Star who finished second and third to him last time out. The remaining runner Diablesse Jisce showed exceptional speed on debut but made a couple of breaks in stride putting paid to his chances. With a clear round Kavan Dohertys filly could spring a surprise at very rewarding odds 

Post time is 3:00 pm on Saturday and all are welcome to attend. A qualifier will also be held before racing which will see Alpha Papa, Foxfield Tom and Newmoors Jackie Dan attempting to get their racing passport stamped for competitive action in the coming weeks at Racetime Raceway.

by Thomas Bennett, for Harnesslink