BILLY Roche (The Red Baron) had a quiet start to last season and he ‘lost’ two of his pacing stars, Churchview Miaow and Always B Puffin to the USA over the winter.

Therefore, it was a relief that the Roche juggernaut got going at Annaghmore on Sunday, where Billy drove a treble.

Winless for the first three meetings, the deep-thinking boss of the Roches won with the pacer Churchview Saka and two trotters, Klauousou d’Amour and Hulk Chantereine.

Churchview Saka was described by Billy in our pre-season preview as ‘a gangly big horse, we’ve had to give him time’.

The Charleville-bred gelding is starting to repay Billy’s patience, as he came from behind to beat Meadowbranch Adira (John Richardson). 5/4 to 4/6 was the business. Only time will tell how far up the ladder the son of Always B Miki can go, he is unlikely to come across a softer race, 2.03.2 was sufficient.

In the same stable tour, Billy remarked that he used to have a good few trotters, but that his numbers were down. Luckily enough, he seems to have picked up two nice sorts in the most recent batch imported by the IHRA. As the ‘K’ in their names would indicate, both are only six.

Klaousou d’Amour only arrived in Ireland a few weeks ago. Unusually for a Roche runner, he was only third favourite, with the top one Korassone d’Aborney from Joe Sheridan’s yard and Emil Paco attracting support. One ‘face’ was seen availing of the 3/1 on offer.

Different horse

Klaousou d‘Amour outstayed Gamin Marandais (Adam Corey). “Billy said he felt like a different horse this week,” said the driver’s brother, John. The winner is a return to ownership by Dublin-based businessman Brian Redmond.

In another unusual twist, Billy Roche came to the aid of the layers in the concluding A to D grade trot. Feugeres Erem was well supported following her impressive seasonal debut a week previous. The plucky little mare (4/5) looked to be on for a double, as she pulled six lengths clear down by the cowshed. However, Billy had other ideas and he got after Hulk Chantereine (3/1) and duly clawed back the pride of Ballyclare.

The winner is owned by Mark McKay from Bettystown. “He came in recently with a fast record and good prize money to his name. He might be able to compete with Harry Knows eventually,” Billy told The Irish Field.

The tightly-knit trotting community looks after their own. There was a groundswell of affection at the meeting as Patsy Kavanagh, known to all as ‘Patsy Fagan’ paid a visit. The Finglas man, in his seventies, is a proper old school horseman from the days when £600 would buy you horse, cart and harness.

Patsy has been unwell and the Roches made a point of bringing him into their second winner’s photo.

Happily, Patsy also saw his nephew Freddie Kavanagh jnr drive a peach of a race with Joy Da Vinci in the Department of Agriculture/HSI Future Broodmares trot. The young owners said: “Just give Freddie the credit. Hopefully, this will be the first of many.”

The gallant runner-up Hot To Trot was carried out on her shield again, with the dashing Mary Gilligan in the bike.

Jonny Cowden struck a blow for ‘The Wee North’, as he was the sole Ulster-based reinsman to win on the day. Blazing Hanover is Pennsylvania bred, trained in Fermanagh by Neville Martin and owned by Limerick’s David Curtin.

The Cowdens take a stable block at the Corey farm in Mallusk. Hopefully there will be no huffing at the yard this week, as Johhny just held off Arts Princess (Adam Corey).

Celebrated

“I celebrated that win like when I won the VDM,” said Jonny, who enjoyed beating his great friend. The favourite Newtown Major was never a factor.

Making Memories was unbeaten at three for Cabra man Calvin Broughan. He picked up where he left off in winning the government-funded four-year-old trot, the first of 2026.

Moet Of Springhill in second was the best of three runners for Trottin’ Joe Sheridan of Garristown.

A positive portent were nine no betting ‘qualifiers’ before racing, with 38 entries.

The bloodlines on display were fit for Delaware or Lexington. Catch My Halo Hanover (Papi Rob Hanover), Aine Story (Captain Crunch), Hunt Me Down (Huntsville out of Robyn Camden) and Coalford River (Henry Hill) all caught the eye. All the youngsters paced like racehorses, a sign of the improving breed.

The Cork region race at Bishopsland, Drimoleague today. Annaghmore (J13 M1 or eight miles east of Richhill) reconvenes tomorrow. Runners, results and information at www.irishharnessracing.com Replays all races can be seen at IHRA You Tube channel.

THE Famous Musselburgh Pace (probably the only pace in the world with ‘Famous’ in the title) takes place today at Musselburgh Racecourse, Edinburgh.

Thought to be dead forever some six years ago, the 130-year-old event got an unlikely reprieve when course manager Bill Farnsworth contacted Darren Owen to establish whether harness racing would return in 2025.

The comeback meeting passed off without any hitches and the harness racing circus returns again today.

Admittedly, the Famous Musselburgh Pace is not as tough a task as in the 80s, when there were 12 heats with heat winners only getting to the final. However, it is classed as a Group 1 by the BHRC and the top-rated 48 pacers on the day will line up.

There is a huge disparity between the IHRA handicap system and that in Britain. The two organisations need to sort a better method of ‘translating’ the handicap marks. For example, Northern Pride, good horse though he may be, is set to give 10 yards to Evenwood Son Of A Gun, who has won the big pot twice before!

Better money

Other factors have held back Irish runners, including better money at home and the glamour of the VDM meeting in North Wales in August.

This much said, there will be four or five Irish entries and a good few travelling spectators.

Gui McCullagh’s Wots A Wash, trained by John Gill at York, is our best chance of an Irish-owned winner. Three points win is the prescription.

Oakwood Dezzie will have to improve on his Appleby run. Sweet Joe would be a massive story for second season driver Rhyce Carroll. Northern Pride always gives his all, but I think the handicapper has him.

John Nixon’s The Lucky One, Crothers Brothers’ Air Mail, the Murdock-owned Springhill Alibi and the West Cork-owned Porterstown Jack are some of the Irish names on the roll of honour.

There are no flat or jumps fixtures in Scotland today, so this might help the attendance.

There will be a live stream and tickets can be purchased at Famous Musselburgh Pace Facebook page.