BILLY Roche, now 42, has been a constant at the top of the tree in Irish harness racing since his first tentative steps with Spitfire and Hometown Silverwings some twenty years ago. Billy started out as a groom in the Liam Wallace yard and nowadays rents a large barn at the Newtown Stud from the late Liam’s family.

Often referred to as ‘The Red Baron ‘the affable 6’ 3’’ horseman is lucky that a small build is not so crucial on the harness circuit as on the flat.

Nevertheless, Billy is one of the tallest drivers competing and he is easily picked out between his height and bright red on white driving suit.

Billy was his usual unassuming self when contacted by The Irish Field recently.

“2023 was a bit quieter as we cut back on numbers due to the loss of Portmarnock. The highlights were winning the three-year-old Breeders’ Crown with Priceless for the Duggans – I hadn’t won in North Wales since with C.A. Pele over 10 years ago. To win the Irish two-year-old fillies’ race with Always Be Puffin was very sweet too.’’

Roche has always done well with a cast of rogues, unsteerables and cast-offs which he moulded with his trademark patience. In recent years, owners have sent him well-bred young stock and the results are plain to see. Billy is quick to thank John Paul O’Ceallaghain who helps in the yard.

“Market moves should be noted,” is a summary often used with this shrewd yard. The boss did not really answer the question when asked if they landed any gambles in 2023, but he did concede, “We had a nice touch out of Devoir Math in Lyre last August.” As ever with a clever trainer, it’s the bit that Billy leaves out about the following five horses which are the most valuable:

Always Be Puffin (Ire)

3 yo f Always B Miki – Hufflepuff

She has speed but can be hitchy leaving the gate. Once she gets away, she is fine. She grew well over the winter, she needed to. She’s entered in all the three-year-old races here and across the water. She paced 2.02 as a two-year-old.

My brother John, Joe Gannon and Darragh Mitchell own her and they deserve a nice type. We are tied at 2-2 with Patrick Kane’s Anglesey Hall, but I’ll let the filly do the talking.

Churchview Airwave (Ire)

2yo f Cattlewash – Scappa Hanover

The Churchview prefix is from David O’Sullivan’s stud in Charleville. I have four two-year-olds. If they end up in the same heats, I’d say we’ll use ‘the best available’ like they say on the TV. The first crop of Cattlewash progeny have all paced free-legged* - they are very natural. She started a bit late but is making up for lost time.

Churchview Miaow (Ire)

2yo f Foreclosure – House of Dreams

I raced the dam but she went sore. She is a big, strong filly. I like her a lot. Myles Connors, Paddy McCarthy from England, and Joe Gannon are the syndicate. She was bought privately at York sales. We say she’ll be the next Oakwood Annabella, that’s unlikely but you have to aim high.

Ayr Admiral (GB)

2yo g Always B Miki – Ayr Queen

Sean Duggan gave £15,000 at York for him. The dam threw Ayr Regal, Ayr Majesty, and Ayr Empress so she is proven.

He was a bit of a boy before he was cut. He ripped a few rugs on me and liked kicking walls but he’s more sober now. He wears no boots and has a nice low head carriage.

Third Time Lucky (Ire)

3yo Sweet Lou – Coalford Silk

The owner Sean Duggan is hell for picking catchy names. She is three and not yet qualified. She is 16.2 or 16.3hh which is massive for a three-year-old pacing filly. We’ll not be in a hurry. I won with the dam at any grass track we went to. She has a parrot mouth so she wouldn’t do well grazing short grass and I need to think about the type of bit we use.

*Free legged: without the aid of hobbles. If a young horse can pace without the hobbles it is usually a good sign. Hobbles are added for racing as horses might gallop under pressure.

Jamie Hurley from Reenascreena, West Cork drives frequently but he is also the registered trainer of nine pacers and trotters. Not bad for a 27-year-old!

Jamie works with NH trainer Michael Kennedy at Innishannon by day. They start horses for Olly Murphy and trained a winner for yard owner Conor Murphy (no relation to Olly) recently.

Jamie is ably assisted by his sister Rebecca who is studying veterinary nursing at Cork University.

His father James and mum Kay have moved on to breeding thoroughbreds but are a huge help with maintenance at the yard.

Jamie was pleased with how 2023 panned out. “We had a couple of nice two-year-olds but were unfortunate to be in the same crop as Gavin Murdock’s Oakwood Mick.

We won two or three races at the Red John meeting which is our Cheltenham. Rebecca drove her first winner with Dedicace de Rhuys.”

Benny The Legend (USA)

3yo g Bit Of A Legend – Sea Cruise Hanover

He’s small, there’s not much of him, but he’d die for you. He made the final of the VDM over in Wales. He’s entered for the VDM at Wolverhampton. I think the track will suit him.

Fandango de Nile (FR)

9yo g Soleil de Fosse – Sophai Saint Juvain

John Griffin ran a raffle to raise funds for prize money and Hannah (Richardson, Jamie’s girlfriend) and I won him. He has never actually broken but he did take a while to adapt to our tighter tracks.

We were in touch with the former owner who was very helpful. We were approached to sell him but I think Hannah would sell me before she would sell Fandango. The horse likes the Vicarstown track.

Pippa The Terror (Ire)

2yo f Cattlewash – Jimmy The Terror

She is from the IHRA Invest In Ourselves’ breeding programme. I can’t wait to see these Cattlewash foals racing.

She came to her gait very easily. She is very energetic in the stable, always rearing and so on.

I haven’t pushed her yet, it’s a long season.

Living On A Prayer (Ire)

3yo g Apprenti Sourcier – Eltesse de Vivy

He’s a French Trotter, bred in Ireland. He is a full-brother to Humble Beginnings but very different. He belongs to Patrick Carberry and Patrick is so different from his brother Matthew!

We start them all in a blind bridle. He has done very little so far. The prize money for three-year-old trotters is decent, if we can make the races.

Dedicace de Rhuys (FR)

11yo m Rombaldi – Linda de Rhys

She won at Lyre the week after the Red John meeting. She went up the grades then and struggled a bit. She loves a distance race, she stays all day.

We’ll probably use Rebecca’s claim on her. John O’ Sullivan is the owner he is a great supporter of the sport.