In another night of world class racing at Tir Prince Jonathan Dunne driving He’s for Real smashed the British 1 ¼ mile record by over a second in 2.286 in a fabulous Crock of Gold heat. The draw which took place in front of a large crowd was eagerly awaited and when in form Blue Russian drew number one he quickly became the odds on favourite. The race was run over the rarely run distance of 1 ¼ miles and the early pace was set by River Inny now trained by John Foy and driven by Andrew Cairns the quarter was reached in 29.0 and the half in 58.2 and the mile in 1.582. Coming round the last bend it was anyones race as the noise from the crowd became a crescendo as they cheared their favorite. It became a three horse race with Andrew Stenhouse on Blue Russian trying to get to River Inney the pace setter but with an electrifying turn of pace from He’s for Real he just got up to beat River Inney, Blue Russian and Coalford Torpedo into second, third and fourth. There was a gasp from the crowd as Darren Owen confirmed the time, 2.286 a British record for the mile and a quarter, in fact the first three were all inside the old record, a great race.
The Jane Patterson free for all trot over 1 ¼ miles was won comfortably by Paul Mather on the very classy trotter Stas Hazelhaar in 2.356 a track record not far away from the British record.
The preferred free for all was won by the very elegant pacer Rhyds Hallstar, driven superbly by Andrew Cairns in 1.587, this was only the second race for the horse in three years but it showed its undoubted class.
The Welsh Cup heat was won by a three year old colt Wexford Beach in 2.024, driven by Mark Jones this is one to look out for.
Earlier in the night Jonathan Dunne rode the very impressive grade three Portersdown Kirk to victory in 1.593 another winner of an under 2 minute rug , John Howard junior rode Howards Clourmein to victory in the maiden pace and in the closest race of the night Andrew Cairns drove Crogies Heat to victory by a nose from Jason Podmore on My Lightening Blue with Howards Gigolo only a length back in third.
The Ladies Night was a great success and was shown live on Rasus the S4c harness racing series.
The next meeting is Tuesday 25th August.