JONNY Cowden’s fantastic season continued last Sunday as the young North Belfast man reeled off a treble to go with his successful time in Wales the previous week.

Jonny beat his mentor in John Richardson in the All-Ireland Consolation but JR didn’t let the 19-year-old take all the glory as the current champion scored a double on the day.

Sean Kane is never far away with his team of trotters, and the Naul Man also posted a double aboard Soprano Gede (13) and Uldiem Alfa (11). The wins were further evidence of the durability of the Trotteur Français breed and the Kanes’ knack for keeping older horses sweet.

The fare on offer deserved a better attendance. One of the sport’s longest standing sponsors Red Mills Feeds supported the All-Ireland Pacing Final and the Trotting Final, the latter with the help of Le Trot.

The Red Mills Pacing Final was keenly anticipated by ‘fans’ to use the American term, but was robbed of some of its allure when the probable favourite Gentleman Jim was withdrawn due to a dirty nose. Nonetheless, the four pacers served up a very exciting race.

Benny Camden (Patrick Kane jnr) and Meadowbranch Demon (Luke Kelleher) literally traded blows, (there was a moment of contact), while Master Plan (Lawrence Stewart) were tracking the pair.

Porterstown Courage does not have gate speed but he stays and is well named as he has guts in abundance. Walter Stewart loves a horse that responds well to hard driving and the seven-year-old kept pulling out more to get up on the line. I attempted to get a comment from Walter but he was still out of breath! Maybe the trainer needs to jog Downhill strand like the Stewart horses.

In the trotting division, the Collins family were out in force to cheer on Besame Mucho (John Richardson) who did not disappoint. The eight-year-old took it up from Audabe A Helene (Patrick Kane jnr) at Peters Paddock and always looked comfortable. Billy Roche and the mare Beach De Bellouet picked up a handy €1,600 for second place.

John Richardson had instigated his double aboard the Noel Cowden-owned Beat The Clock who equalled his personal ‘clock’ of 1.59.7, easily winning the C to E pace. Noel’s son Jonny started his treble with Jonathan Nixon’s Belle De Bonneval. Nixon told The Irish Field: “She’s a very steady mare and is for sale.”

Cilando Des Temps gave an exhibition of trotting in the consolation final. The small field of three only emphasised his long natural stride. The treble closed off with a 1.57.4 victory on Kevin Corey’s Fairdays Western who must be an autumn type. Buster Gilligan took the lower grade pace with Pa Crawford’s Honor Code. The rugged American-bred looks like he is still learning and there could be more to come.

Patrick Kane jnr has an impressive record when he drives Dennis O’Reilly’s Empereur Souverain. The expected win was gained but Darren Timlin and Epsom Des Corvees gave favourite backers a scare, running the ‘jolly’ to a hard fought head.

Newtown Major and Marcus McAleer waited until the halfway before moving in the Grade F pace. The pair kicked clear although the runner-up Kiki Girl (Billy Roche) should be followed next time out.

Sean Kane was delighted with his win on Soprano Gede. “Today was to be his last ever race and then he throws in a 2.03.9 mile,” stated a bemused Sean. The race was a clockwise contest, which seems to be Soprano Gede’s forte. Uldiem Alfa trotted his best for some time to bring up Sean’s double. The runner up Best Of Burois and Wayne Swindle put in some run off 60 yards. The 3.07.8 for the mile and a half is respectable.

Billy Roche was quick to credit his niece Emma for the success of Urbano Des Selles in the E and F trot. “That’s three this season he has won. We’ve had him for a few years, he’s been a good servant. Emma is very good to him,” Roche told The Irish Field.

The card was interspersed with four pony races, part of the Tiny Hooves series. It was hard to tell who was grinning more, the children or the adult back-up drivers.

For the record, the winners were Owlette and Faye Malone, Captain Sparrow and Jayden Gilligan, and Newtown Elsa with Daniela Karpova, daughter of a certain harness photographer. Finally, the top grade pony race went to Mini Mo and Jayden Mullan, three wins in successive weeks for the combination who train on the mountain high above Belfast.

Action this weekend is today at Annaghmore, Co Armagh, first race 2pm.