FOLLOWING a meeting dominated by John Richardson, then a card when Alan Wallace ruled the roost, the Sunday, October 22nd meeting was Billy Roche’s turn to show what he can do. The tall boss of the Roche barn (situated at the Newtown Stud) enjoyed a four-timer as a driver – unusual in that all four winners were Trotteurs Français.

Roche opened the batting when Efficacitie took a weak, end-of-season three-year-old contest. The filly’s task was made easier when the obvious danger Epsom De Corvees was scratched. Eclipse Saint Jean, one of the lesser lights in the Meadowbranch yard, got the forecast up for backers.

Leg two came in the E and F grade trot when Valiant De Gueham who never runs a bad race saw off Sean Kane’s mare Brasilia Match. Urbano Des Selles made it three in the B to D trot.

Last week’s winner Bolero De La Fye (D Murphy) jumped it off early, possibly feeling the effects of a long season. Jack Killeen’s Rocky Atout briefly rallied but Billy was always winning this.

The quartet was completed when Une De Donzy took the clockwise trot. Jonathan Nixon’s Vie De Saint Sauvy showed some improvement with a decent second off a troubled passage for Mark Kane.

In some ways Roche scored a memorable five-timer in that his cousin’s son, Marcus McAleer was crowned the C Class Driver of the Year following a month long, points based series.

Marcus only managed third aboard his recent acquisition Newtown Major in the concluding leg but he had accumulated enough points in the preceding weeks to take the title.

Marcus will be awarded C class Driver of the Year at the awards night.

C driver standings

M McAleer 30 points

A Caffrey 28 points

J Cowden 20 points

All awards are subject to a clean post (test results coming back from the laboratory).

In the actual race there was a nip and tuck finish between long-time leader Meadowbranch Milli (Shannon Flanagan) and man of the moment Aidan Caffrey on Fairdays Western.

After much American style rocking in the bike, Aidan managed to get Fairdays Western up on the line from the two females. Milli and Shannon have been game competitors all season, and it would nice to see one of our few emerging lady drivers get some recognition at tonight’s SHRI awards night.

Aidan has burst on the scene in recent weeks – impressing seasoned observers with all aspects of his driving. Will he stay in Ireland or will he go the way of Ciaran Morrison and Anthony Haughan and get cold and wet in Canada for a share of $10,000 per race as opposed to €500 on these shores?

Caffrey was fortunate (some might say clever) in Sunday’s final as the other drivers in the chasing pack came off the rail and allowed him a dream run up the inner at the three-quarter pole. The various mentors will be explaining to the young drivers that this is the number one cardinal sin.

Even when he was a fresh-faced innocent, John Richardson wouldn’t let anyone up his inside.

The habits of a lifetime surfaced again on Sunday as the champion elect won the G and G1 pace with Paddy Carberry’s Rock Show, a well-backed favourite. Breakwater still can’t break his duck for Jack Killeen, second yet again.

The Liam Carlin Memorial Cup cut up badly, attracting only four entries. As can happen at this stage of the season, there were two non-runners so the race became a match.

Maximus Lad (P Kane junior) led from Camden Casanova (J Richardson) and that is how they crossed the line, in a time of 2.01. There was more excitement when Maximus Lad put on a circus style display of rearing as family friend John Nixon presented the cup. No signs of tiredness there, so maybe one too follow at tomorrow’s closing meeting?

MUCH CHEERING

Aidan Caffrey made it three wins against his elders in recent weeks, giving IB Cyrmro a confident drive to take the D to F pace accompanied by much cheering from owners the McDonogh brothers from Irvinestown. This was another dirty result for the layers on an afternoon where the backers had the best of things.

Best Of Burois continued his decent late season form in taking the top grade trot to give JR a double on the day. Tenor Meslois (D Murphy) ran second for the Baltimore yard.

The Portmarnock season closes tomorrow with a 1pm start to counteract the changing of the clocks. Usually the closing meeting of the season has a party-type atmosphere.

Amongst the entertainment mooted for tomorrow is a bookies’ race – after a gap of maybe 20 years. At least three of the usual bookmakers are due to take part. As a ‘declared driver’ myself, I wonder will they need Clydesdales as opposed to standardbreds to get the bookies round the track? One thing for sure, nobody will mistake us for the rake thin Tadhg Murphy!

Full results are on www.irishharnessracing.ie