PRIDE of place on the jockey front this week goes to Co Donegal native Martin Harley who may only have ridden one winner but victory on the Chris and Corey Munce-trained Cool Archie came in a $1,000,000 Group 2 race for two-year-olds at Eagle Farm, Australia, last Saturday.

In Britain, Patsy Cosgrave partnered a winner at Wetherby on Monday and one the following evening at Lingfield while there were single wins on the level for Barry McHugh at Ripon last Thursday week, when Brandon Wilkie struck at Yarmouth, and for Darragh Keenan at Lingfield on Saturday.

Over jumps, Brian Hughes rode one winner from two rides at Fakenham last Sunday while both of his mounts at Southwell on Tuesday obliged. There were wins also for Caoilin Quinn at Stratford on Saturday and for Danny McMenanin at Market Rasen on Monday.

At home, Dylan Browne McMonagle struck at Fairyhouse last Thursday week while the following evening he was in action at Down Royal where he landed the two-mile Listed His Majesty’s Plate on the Joseph O’Brien-trained favourite Goodie Two Shoes and the BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden, over an extended 10 furlongs, on the O’Brien-trained favourite Angelo Pio.

22nd success

Liam McAteer partnered a winner at Listowel on Sunday but had no rides the following day at Gowran where Browne McMonagle recorded his 22nd success of the home season by landing the opening mile maiden for three-year-old fillies on Dancing Teapot, another O’Brien-trained favourite.

It was quiet on the National Hunt front, with just Sam Ewing featuring here having partnered the Gordon Elliott-trained Emily Love to justify odds-on favouritism at Limerick last Thursday week.

Caledon-based trainer Andy Oliver has his horses in good form and saw his own colours carried to victory in a division of the apprentice handicap at Gowran on Monday by the four-year-old Almanzor gelding Sierra De Gredos.

On the breeding front, Brian and Ann Marie Kennedy were credited with breeding two winners at Ripon in the period under review but it was actually the same horse, Precious Spartan, who obliged at the north Yorkshire track last Thursday week and again on Wednesday.

These were the first two wins in the career of the three-year-old Magna Grecia gelding who is out of the Tobougg mare Skeleton who is dam of five other winners.

The nine-year-old Sageburg gelding Do No Wrong, who was one of Brian Hughes’s two winners at Southwell on Tuesday, was bred by J.P. King and Patrick Turley out of the Dr Massini mare Uncommitted.

THERE is racing next Saturday and Sunday at Downpatrick where there will be live music, street performers and children’s entertainment both days.

On Saturday, there’s a mascot race with cash prizes for the race winner and the best dressed while on Sunday, which is Father’s Day, you can have a dedication to your dad printed in the racecard.

If you would like your note included you have to email your brief message (maximum 20 words) to info@downpatrickracecourse.co.uk by 5pm on Wednesday and let the organisers know which day you are bringing your dad to the races.

The only locally-trained winner over the two days last year was Liam Lennon’s charge Kalsman who, at odds of 16/1, landed the second division of the Randox (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle on the Saturday in the colours of Scarva’s William Anderson.

THE 2025 BoyleSports Summer Festival of Racing takes place on Friday and Saturday, June 20th and 21st, and while you’re free to dress to the nines on the first evening, it might be better to save the best outfit for Saturday afternoon which is Ladies Day.

This year, the Best Dressed Lady competition is set to be bigger and better than ever, thanks to the support of two fabulous sponsors – Younique Aesthetics Clinics and bottlegreen. And there’s more with two new categories being introduced for the fashion conscious, a Best Dressed Man competition, sponsored by Freddie Hatchet, and a Best Dressed Couple competition, sponsored by Lough Erne Resort.

All three competitions will be hosted on a new outdoor Ladies Day Stage, designed to give finalists the platform they deserve, right in the heart of the action. leading the judging panel once again is Cool FM presenter and style aficionado Rebecca McKinney who will be joined by the newly crowned Miss Northern Ireland 2025.

Best Dressed

Back for a third year, Younique Aesthetics Clinics will once again sponsor the Best Dressed Lady competition. The award-winning clinic, with branches in Belfast, Newry and The Culloden Estate & Spa, is renowned for its professional aesthetic treatments, injectables and skincare services. One lucky winner will receive a £3,000 voucher – an incredible prize for one stylish racegoer.

The Best Dressed Man winner will take home a bespoke, made-to-measure outfit from Freddie Hatchet, including a three-piece suit, shirt, tie and pocket square, shoes and accessories – the ultimate prize for the modern gentleman.

Meanwhile the Best Dressed Couple will be treated to an indulgent escape to Lough Erne Resort.

Sparkle

Adding extra sparkle to this year’s event, bottlegreen – creators of refreshing sparkling pressés made with natural ingredients – joins as co-sponsor, bringing their signature flair and flavour to the occasion.

Chloe Ferris, commercial director at Down Royal Racecourse said: “We’re proud to be evolving our Ladies Day celebrations for 2025. With the addition of new categories and the support of two outstanding sponsors – Younique Aesthetics Clinics and bottlegreen – this year’s event is shaping up to be our most inclusive and style-led yet.”

Áine Larkin, clinical director at Younique Aesthetics Clinics, added: “It’s a pleasure to return for our third year at Down Royal. Ladies Day continues to be a celebration of individuality and confidence, and we’re proud to support an event that empowers women to express themselves through fashion.”

Rebecca McKinney, returning as head judge, commented: “It’s great to be back at Down Royal for what promises to be a standout Ladies Day. The introduction of a new stage, refreshed format and exciting new categories – including Best Dressed Man and Best Dressed Couple – brings fresh energy to this iconic event.”

For ticket bookings or more information visit downroyal.com and remember, for a stress-free journey to and from the racecourse, Translink services are the perfect option, letting racegoers relax and enjoy the day in style. Tickets can be booked in advance at translink.co.uk.

AS the traditional Torrington Farmers’ end-of-season meeting at Umberleigh, scheduled for today, was abandoned, the final fixture of the 2024/’25 British point-to-point season took place last Sunday at Bratton Down.

Six of the seven winners at this Tiverton Staghounds’ meeting were bred in Ireland including Ninth Wave who, at odds of 1/7, brought up a treble for Will Biddick in the final contest of the season, the three-runner hunt members’ race. The 11-year-old September Storm gelding was bred by Martin McCaughey out of the Cloudings mare Royale Pearl.