JONNY Cowden (23) feels like he has been around for longer than six seasons. Indeed, he is by some way the youngest apprentice in modern records to drive 50 winners.

The North Belfast native rides out in Stuart Crawford’s National Hunt yard by day and the rest of the team at Magheramourne keep him going about his exploits in The Irish Field.

Wherever he picked up his know-how, there can be little doubt that Jonny and his father Noel can keep horses fresh and fit throughout the season. The string is very similar to the 2022 preview, with Emil Paco the only new face hanging over the half door.

Jonny was at pains to thank Kevin and Marguerite Corey who own the yard high above Belfast. “The Coreys are great to us. If we need a hand we only have to ask.”

“I was delighted to win the apprentice title last year. It’s supposed to qualify me for Majorca, where I came third in 2019.”

Cowden has four going to war in 2023.

Just Look At Me (Ire)

4yo g Ut d’Erable – Vodka Griotte

Our first Irish-bred trotter. He didn’t make the races at three due to some niggly problems. He has grown well over the winter. If you get a young trotter to go up the grades they can earn well.

Beat The Clock (Ire)

9yo g Kikicolt – Gee n Tee

We bred him but in his early career he was trained at Meadowbranch. He has been some servant, but realistically he is just below top class. We have to ride him. If we yoke him, he pulls like a train and if we tow him behind a sulky he stops to a walk. He will pick up place money in the top races.

Celui La Laye (Fr)

11yo Nil du Rib – Pelaye de Montfort

He was great in 2022 in the apprentice races. He will plug away although he has gone up the grades. He is laid back and easy to do.

Emil Paco (Fr)

9yo Ouragan de Celland – Reine de la Ville.

We bought him mid-season last year from the Morgans of Omeath. I spent most of the year sussing him out, was he better covered up or off the front? He is a good solid horse and he might go to the top.

A READER was in touch during the week with a crossover story taken from the Racing Post. Recent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs was actually bred near Caen, France, by M. Hubert Brunel who concentrates more on trotters.

Sons Phillipe and Christophe nowadays run things. The family bred a trotting ‘Galopin des Champs’ who was only average. However, the Brunels did breed the trotting mare Ulka des Champs who won 17 races and €750,000 over six seasons. What would happen if Willie Mullins got his shopping list mixed up?