BENNY Camden added another string to his bow when landing the Heineken/Hurley & White Grand Prix at a rain-sodden Ballabuidhe on bank holiday Monday.

BY TIM KELLEHER

Driven by Reenascreena-based Jamie Hurley, the winner is owned by Wayne McNevin from Dublin.

For a Few Pearls More led for the opening lap and a half, but Benny Camden was always comfortable in second place. When he made his move, the winner was never in any danger, eventually leading home the staying-on IB Paddington.

He was also a winner on Sunday when leading from the start in The Dublin Plant & Digger/Doheny Bar Grade B Pace, beating Biggins and Get Me Out of Here.

The Paddy Connolly Memorial Trot was the main event for the trotters, and the prize made its way to Baskin in Dublin for Klaousou D’Amour. Fandango De Nile led going into the final lap of this four-lap race, but Billy Roche, driving Klaousou D’Amour, had the leader in his sights, led on the back straight and impressed in his five-length winning margin.

Like Benny Camden he also turned out on Sunday in The Keohane Readymix/Cotter & Keane Grade D & C Trot and came from what looked like an impossible position to overcome long-time leader Instinct De Jomax.

The Pat O’Brien Car Sales/O’Brien Solicitors Free for All Pace was a three-runner affair, but it turned out to be a classic. Always Skye led out from Northern Pride with Top Dollar in behind. Nothing much changed up front with two lengths covering the field. Northern Pride made his move on the final lap but Always Skye had the move covered and stayed on to beat Northern Pride by half a length, with Top Dollar another half a length back in third. The winner is owned by Laurence Stewart from Port Stewart in Antrim and driven by Jono Cowden from Belfast.

IB Paddington, driven by Donal Murphy, won The McSweeney Bros/D Oil Grade D & C Pace. (Photo: Andy Gibson)

The John McCarthy Furniture/Euro Bar High Grade Trot saw another win for Graal Du Dollar. Kirio Scott was the hare in this, but Jamie Hurley was all class on Graal Du Dollar and won with a bit in hand from Fairplay Briolais. This was Hurley's third winner of the weekend, which secured the leading driver accolade. The winner is owned by John O’Sullivan from Goleen and heads to the UK next for a Free for All Trot in Tir Prince.

Mark Kane from Meath and Limerick-based John Cross Jnr both drove two winners over the two-day festival. Kane drove his own horse Elwood to lead home IB Felicity in The Quills Of Bantry Grade F Pace and on Sunday teamed up with Anthony Malone to take The Clona Milk Trot with Eliano Love.

Cross had a brace of winners. Firstly, Sure Am Classy, a three-year-old daughter of Henry Hill, broke her maiden tag in The Clona/Maybury Coaches & Parkway Hotel Grade G & G1 Pace, leading home Newtown Happy Feet. He then teamed up with his first cousin Stephen Gallagher to take the honours in The Goodness Sake/Arch Bar Grade F & E Pace with Bett on Me who came home a long way clear of Lady Lou and Desert Ranger.

Mike O’Mahony from Schull was seen at his best when Humour De Cosse landed The Drinagh Co-Op/Buckley Financial Grade E & D Trot. The winner, owned by Pete Hill from Leap, took advantage of early traffic and stayed on to beat the fast-finishing Lieutenant Dan by half a length. This was the second leg of a double for O’Mahony.

He came in for the spare drive on Newtown Electra for Alan Wallace and took full advantage, beating IB Queen Bee and Rock on Belle.

Donal Murphy from Baltimore also got on the scoresheet in The McSweeney Bros/D Oil Grade D & C Pace. Emily Rose and Anglesey Hall had been battling out up front, but IB Paddington was never too far away and led turning for home to beat Anglesey Hall, giving trainer Tadhg Murphy a one-two in the race.

Ronan Norton from Longford has been lucky on his visits to Cork and Iron Paddy continued that run, winning The Cahalane Bros Builders Grade B Trot. Duc D’Arry got away early here and was still in front turning for home but Iron Paddy got on terms in the final 100 yards to deny Duc D’Arry by half a length.

Joy Street gave the Quills from Kenmare another win in The Le Trot/Murray Bros Tarmacadam Grade F & E Trot. Jalexia Scott was the tour guide here and was only collared late on by Joy Street with Oisin Quill in the bike.

Pan Cam Corona, owned by Charleville-based Alan O’Neill, recorded his second win of the season in The John Buckley Hardware/Crowley Drapers Grade G1 & G2 Pace. With his son Dylan doing the steering, they made a move on the final lap to overtake Micky The Marcher and win going away.

Racing now moves to Lyre on Sunday with a 3.30pm start.