Harness racing returns to the famous Inchydoney beach on Sunday for the first time since 1995 and the final meeting of the ITHRF summer season features the running of the Red Mills/Inchydoney Lodge & Spa All Ireland harness racing championship with eight runners will line up behind the starting car and the field is full of Irelands leading pacers. Three runners from Dublin will seek to take the coveted prize back to the capital .Meadowbranch DJ will start as race favourite. Owned by Noel Cowden and The Meadowranch Stud he is Irelands leading standarbred. This season he has won heats of the Famous Musselburgh Pace and the Oriel Welsh Classic in Tregaron and is almost unbeatable in Portmarnock Raceway.
Maithi Buachill represents the Kane Family from Raheny. This home bred won a heat of the Grand Prix in Ballabuidhe and is a former winner of the Strata Florida handicap in Tregaron.
Oakwood Outlaw is owned by the Delaney Brothers and trained in the Newtown Stud in North County Dublin by Alan Wallace. This son of Ambro Operative is versatile on all surfaces and on his day is one of the best in training.
Bon Camotion represents the Co Kerry based Quill Brothers the oldest horse in the race is rarely out of the money and will be staying on in this contest.
The remaining four runners are Cork based three of them are trained in or around the Baltimore area. Red Mischief won the Grand Prix in Ballabuidhe for owner Denny “Bob” O Sullivan from Old Court and is trained by Kieran Sheehy. He has been lightly raced this campaign and would be a popular winner.
IB Gucci is owned trained and was bred just across the road from Kieran Sheehy by the Murphy Bros in Innisbeg and was the 2012 ITHRF horse of the year .He has climbed through the ranks and is one Corks best. Ringo Star owned by the Brickley family in Reengereoige just a stone throw away from both the Murphy and Sheehys and will start as an outsider but is another who could cause a shock on the big day.
Meadowbranch Demon hails from the Kelleher Brothers based yard in Macroom and may just have hit top form at the right time for the classic. Second in the Stayers Championship in Wales was followed up by a win in the top grade free for all in Lisangle last Sunday.
So it all points to a classic renewal of one of the biggest prizes in Harness Racing in West Cork. There are five more races down for decision on Sunday where racing gets under way at 1 pm sharp and with tidal conditions and a warm weather forecast it promises to end the 2013 season on a high note. Details of all entries can be found on www.irishharnessracing.com or on facebook harnessracingcork.
