Whilst there was no clear cut winner in Sunday’s All Ireland Hurling Final Cork v Clare there was two decisive results in the Ireland v Great Britain at Portmarnock Raceway.
The Connollys Red Mills Sponsored Handicap Final with Ireland fielding 5 runners and Great Britain fielding 3 was a trilling finish with Rhyds Boots driven by Billy Roche failing to get up by a short head from Rebus driven by James Haythornthwaite and the crowds lifted the stand in a in another classic finish for Portmarnock.
The Christopher Dunne Memorial 3 Yr Old carrying the richest purse on record of €10,000 for the winner was a 50/50 match with four from each side of the Irish sea. Last seasons Vincent Delaney 2 Yr old winner Frisco Fiddler took the fastest heat on Saturday evening having got the slip strem run to the three quarters as the hot pots battled wide out.
In the final driver John Richardson made the decisive move on the back straight for the final time and slipped the field by four lenghts in the stretch for home with Meadowbranch Ash as number two stable driver Noel Ryan stayed on the prevail for the runner up slot with Chinatown Kolt by a neck from the much fancied Sepia Sands in rein to Jonathan Dunne. It was a one two for Meadowbranch Stables and trainer William Flanagan in what is believed to be a 3 yr Old Portmarnock track record time of 1:58.5
Roll on 2014………………..
