THE meeting at Annaghmore on Saturday 3rd was a low-key affair, coming after the popular Ladies Day and before the conclusion of the various juvenile ‘series’.

John Richardson has a great strike rate at the Armagh venue and clocked up a four-timer on the day.

The four winners will help John’s total on the national drivers’ championship, although Billy Roche may be ahead in the ‘Portmarnock only’ standings.

J.R.’s four kicked off when the strong-looking Epopee Du Layon took the lowest grade trot. Erin Flanagan will surely get some good spins with this six-year-old when the apprentice races come around.

There was nothing novicey about the drivers on show here. J.R. made the pace, Billy Roche with Umbratica badgered him and young Luke Timlin got a late run out of Durandal Jihaime. However, the perennial champion always looked comfortable with Epopee Du Layon.

All the French trots on the day were over a mile. A mile race comprises 99% of the races run in America but would be considered a sprint in France. Emeric Du Perreux posted 2.07 in winning the B to C handicap for Richardson.

The race produced an exciting finish as Curly Du Layon (Martin Loughran) and Urbano Des Selles (Billy Roche) made the winner work all the way to the line.

On the pacing gait, Meadowbranch Duke gave J.R. his second win of the four. The steady but unspectacular Indie Hanover made for home early but Richardson always had the measure of him.

Meadowbranch Duke, who was curtailed by setbacks as a young horse, now reads 261411 from recent runs.

Amy Camden (Ricky Hanson) and Coalford Ollie (Gabriel McDonogh) made the Ballyboughal runner sweat. A quarter length and one and a quarter length were the distances.

John Richardson’s final win of the day came with Ricky Burke’s chesnut mare Dahlya De Massara. The mare has been in and out of form since an impressive couple of runs when she arrived in Ireland. She made no mistake here, another front-running winner for the man in lemon and chocolate.

The locally-owned Diablesse Jisce (Simon Duggan) stayed on for second with the strapping Varus De Cormon (Bernard Nicholson) in third.

The equine performance of the day belonged to Rainbow Writer, driven by Patrick Kane jnr for Benny Grendon. Some Ben Hur-style reckless driving forced the three-year-old filly to the outside rail on the first turn. She looked to have lost all chance.

However, Patrick did not give up and she gradually ate up the 100 yards she lost to pin back Elski and Gavin Murdock.

Patrick Kane jnr recorded a double on the day when his regular drive Master Plan demolished the rest in the top grade pace. The old war horse Rhyds Boots was a game second for Simon Duggan.

Jonny Cowden will tell you he gained much from the tuition of John Richardson. The teenager showed maturity beyond his years in guiding Arts Closure to a win in the grade G pace.

Although a slow race (2.06.3), this run is a nice pipe-opener for the three-year-old final this weekend.

The son of sire-of-the-moment Foreclosure is peaking at the right time and could burst the bubble of Meadowbranch Rio and Oakwood Cowboy.

Larry Camden with Marcus McAleer ran second here, a big run for a two-year-old and another nice market for the big meeting.

Next week we will summarise the top lots at Ireland’s first official sale of trotters and pacers which was due to take place last night at Mullingar Equestrian Centre.

Portmarnock Raceway hosts a two-day meeting today and tomorrow, under strict Covid-19 guidelines.

For results and fixture details see www.portmarnockraceway.ie