THE busy village of Randalstown, Co Antrim is not a well-known trotting hot bed. Admittedly, the defunct Antrim Stadium where so many drivers (including yours truly) got started is just three miles away but these days only one family race out of the village by the River Maine.

Daniel McAteer was a useful amateur boxer before turning to harness racing. The family are mainly plasterers with grandfather James recently retiring at the tender age of 84.

Daniel travels every Sunday with his father, also Jim. Jim shares the training duties, Daniel drives the runners.

The McAteers are comparatively recent converts to track racing but have made quick inroads.

Last year Daniel picked up Small Owner of The Year, Small Trainer and Trotting Mare of the Year at the Portmarnock Awards.

As so often happens, now they have five in work. Thomas McBrien is head of operations at the yard. A third of a mile track was added two years ago and is ample for the early workouts.

Cyclone De Couriere

8yo g Ludo de Castelle – Fio des Couriere.

He’s our best racehorse. I had high hopes last year and then he was in a nasty accident. It took us a while to get his confidence back. Emma Kane rode him under saddle for me.

Then he won six races in late season.

If there were more two-mile races it would suit him. He’s some stayer. I wouldn’t be scared to travel him to race in England.

Cool

8yo g Pablo - Pasadiva

He was the opposite from Cyclone last season. He started well and went back a bit. He can be a bit hot. When he stays down he has serious speed.

Belle De Bonneval

9yo m Echo – Rathena Du Livaya

A grand honest mare. She belongs to Robin Farquhar of Kells.

I daresay he’ll breed from her eventually. We missed her when Meadowbranch sold her, so we had a deal with Jonathan Nixon.

She won first time out for Robin. She’s the same grade as Cyclone so Freddie Kavanagh drove her often.

Night Skater

7yo m The One Night Pan - Ice Skater Hanover

Our only pacer in work. She’s bred in the purple. We’ve had a lot of sickness with her. All the same she has a 1.59 record. We think she’s sorted for the new season.

Etil Des Crennes

6yo g Nil Du Rib – Nature des Crennes

The draw for new horses is literally a lottery. But then again we drew Cyclone De Couriere and he has been lucky. He’s lightly-raced and has won on grass. Martin Loughran drove him in the trials and liked the feel of him.

These horses are race fit when they come in, which is handy.