DARREN Timlin’s dream start to the 2021 harness racing season continued at Annaghmore last Sunday, April 18th.

The Tempo farrier and driver gets on well with Johnny Burns’ Meadowbranch Roman. The pair just touched off Double Deuce and Johnny Cowden by the smallest of noses.

Double Deuce raced prominently and was only caught on the line by Meadowbranch Roman, a second last-to-first swoop in five weeks for the Monaghan-trained eight-year-old.

The win came in a grade F pace. Double Deuce lost nothing in defeat as Jonny Cowden made plenty of use of him and these were a better class of horses than those that the pair beat previously.

The time was 2.04. Due to the narrow margin winning distance, it can be accepted that both horses recorded that figure.

The runner-up is owned by the Corey’s from Glengormley. Young Adam Corey had his first drive ‘in public’ aboard Art At The Beach in a qualifier before racing.

The other pace on the card attracted only two runners. Veelas Inprint from the Cavan yard of Gabriel McDonogh and Anglesey Gayle from the Paddy Kane set up at Trim. In a minor upset, Veelas Inprint (Gabriel McDonogh jnr) won the match by one and three quarter lengths in a respectable 2.05. The winner is an improving type and was sold after the meeting.

In a year when a certain female jump jockey is running rings around the men, Erin Flanagan became the first lady driver to win a race in the new season. Erin gave Epopee Du Layon a great drive to win the grade F trot. She sat still as Europeen (Nigel Quigley) and Ella Du Fosse (Patrick Kane jnr) traded blows then she produced her mare on the line to pick up €1,128.

Erin calls the winner ‘Poppy’ in the stable. “Poppy is a great mare for me to learn with, in fact she has taught me lots. We got boxed in the last day but when the gap opened she ran her heart out.”

Europeen produced his best run for ages to finish second and could win a race soon if he can repeat the performance.

Eddie Marceaux has been knocking on the door for Martin Loughran recently and got his first win on Irish soil at this Armagh venue. Loughran had his charge quickly away and even the useful Boyardo (John Richardson for Joe Sheridan) could not keep up. Eleven lengths was the verdict in the Grade E trot.

Sequence

The Loughrans gave a demonstration of how to place a horse with Curly Du Layon last year and it would be no surprise if the two-years-younger Eddie Marceaux were to reel off a sequence.

JR had a better spin in the B to D trot. Here Sean Kane attempted to make all with Duccio and looked to have stolen the race with a lively opening half.

However, the perennial champion, driving Columbia d’Oyse, gradually whittled down the lead, a taking performance off 40 yards. They eventually won by six lengths.

“That win puts him up to a Grade A, but at least he is sure to get into the main competition at the upcoming Bernie Kelly Memorial,” was John’s comment, “he was a decent horse in France and he seems uncomplicated.”

Jonny Cowden gained some compensation for his agonising defeat with Double Deuce when his father’s Celui De Laye took the concluding race, a clockwise affair.

There are few finer sights than a good tussle between two game trotters and Avenir De Vauvert with Darren Timlin took a bit of passing. Eventually Celui De Laye ran out the two-and-a-half-length victor and probably could have won by further.

“We’ve always thought he was a nice horse, but he had some niggly issues. It’s all about getting his confidence up,’’ Jonny told The Irish Field.

Jonny’s grandfather John was in attendance. He will have seen a huge improvement in the sport since his days at Lambeg Stadium, Some of the horses brought in for 1969 were ‘walking wounded’ compared to the best of 2021.

Racing continues at Portmarnock Raceway tomorrow (2pm). Only connections can be admitted due to Covid regulations.

Video footage, with a few minutes delay can be seen on IHRA Facebook page. Full results can be viewed at www.irisharnessracing.com

2021 National Leading Harness Driver Award (sponsored by The Irish Field)

Driver No. of wins at April 20th

Darren Timlin, Tempo 5

Pat Kane jnr, Trim 4

Oisin Quill, Kenmare 3

Billy Roche, Dublin 3

Donal Murphy, Baltimore 3

Jonny Cowden, Belfast 3

John Richardson, Dublin 3