EVEN though flat racing is currently the focus of attention, we will start our look at successful jockeys this week by noting Brian Hughes’s first win since his return from injury.
This came at Cartmel last Friday when the former three-time champion, who broke his tibia in a fall at Newcastle in March, landed the extended three-mile, one-furlong handicap chase on the James Moffatt-trained 7/4 favourite Caughtinyourtrance.
This 2019 Ocovango bay, who began his career with a first-time-out success in a four-year-old geldings’ maiden at Toomebridge in October 2023, finished second last time out under the now-retired Charlotte Jones.
On the level across the water, Paddy Bradley had a good week, riding a winner at Yarmouth on Friday, recording a double at Lingfield on Saturday and visiting the winner’s enclosure at Brighton on Tuesday.
Darragh Keenan scored twice at Doncaster on Friday, a day after Oisin Orr had been on the mark at Newcastle.
Dylan Browne McMonagle had 15 rides over the three days of the Kildare Derby Festival meeting at the Curragh last weekend but, disappointingly, while he partnered plenty of placed horses, he didn’t record a win.
The reigning champion flat jockey brought his seasonal total in this country up to 28 on Wednesday evening at Gowran, where he rode two winners for his boss, Joseph O’Brien.
NOEL Kelly ran 11 horses over last Friday and Sunday at Cartmel where, despite numerous placings, the Draperstown trainer had to wait until the concluding extended two-mile, one-furlong handicap chase before registering a win.
This came via the Orán McGill-partnered 85/40 shot Fort Randall, a seven-year-old Valirann gelding who scored by four and a quarter lengths in the colours of the PMSS Syndicate.
Many of the owners were present to greet their winner on a beautiful summer’s day, as was Tyson Fury, joint-owner of Big Gypsy King, who landed the opening mares’ novices’ hurdle.
On the Friday, the opening two-mile, six-furlong novices’ hurdle was won by the Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old
gelding Loch Cuan (Court Cave - Inisharoan, by Jimble), who justified 30/100 favouritism by 20 lengths in the colours of his joint-breeder, Alan Dunlop.
THE Natalia Lupini-trained Caravaggio gelding Summer Island recorded the third win of 2026, and of his career, when landing the seven-furlong handicap at the Curragh last Friday evening.
The four-year-old, who justified his position at the top of the market by a well-timed half-length win in the hands of Oisin Murphy, is owned by Nigel O’Hare, Martin White, Mark Devlin and the trainer’s partner Craig Bryson. You can read their interview on pages 10-11 this week.
On Dubai Duty Free Derby Day at the Curragh, Co Kildare trainer Johnny Murtagh saddled his third winner of the weekend, when the Ben Coen-ridden Zodiac Bear landed Listed Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes over a mile. Also winning by half a length, the four-year-old Kodi Bear gelding runs in the colours of Seamus McPeake.
Also on Sunday, the James Conway-owned, Gordon Elliott-trained Flying Ace landed the two and a half mile novices’ hurdle at Uttoxeter as the 1/2 favourite while, at Musselburgh on Tuesday, Iain Jardine sent out Darrell Torrens’s Classy Clarets to justify 2/1 favouritism in the seven-furlong handicap. Jardine also saddled the David Laverty-bred five-year-old mare Little Mi Mi (Dandy Man - Alasaayel, by Shamardal) to win the five-furlong handicap at Newcastle last Friday evening.
THOSE interested have up until Wednesday next, July 8th, to enter Downpatrick Racecourse’s latest competition, which is to design the racecard cover for the track’s Family Fun RaceDay on Tuesday, July 14th.
We have to point out that this competition is only open to children, so any adult artists thinking they might like their work to feature on the cover, whilst also winning a family day pass, are barred from taking part. Templates can be downloaded by using a QR code on Downpatrick’s Facebook page or by contacting the racecourse office on 028-44612054. Printed templates are available throughout various business’ and schools in the Co Down area. Entries can be submitted via post (Downpatrick Racecourse, 24 Ballydugan Road, Downpatrick, BT306TE) or email (info@downpatrickracecourse.co.uk).
WHILE waiting on the next local race meeting, or, if it’s your preference, the start of the 2026/2027 point-to-point season in the region, which is some way off, you can get a bit of exercise by attending this month’s Eventing Ireland Northern Region fixtures.
These are taking place today at Hazeldene, where there are nine entries in the Treo Eile Thoroughbred EI90 class, and at Tullymurry on Saturday next and Saturday, July 18th. The first regional event the following month is on Saturday, August 15th at Loughanmore.
A VERY active, and informative, user of social media, leading Co Down veterinary surgeon Esther Skelly-Smith was delighted to welcome Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, to Shanaghan Veterinary Services last Friday, as part of the British Horse Society Ireland’s equine futures day.
“It was a privilege to showcase the work we are passionate about every day - placing horse welfare at the centre of everything we do through evidence-based veterinary medicine, rehabilitation and an integrated approach to equine health.
“The visit provided an opportunity to demonstrate how veterinary science, education, regenerative land management and practical horsemanship can work together to improve outcomes for horses and the people who care for them.
“We were delighted to discuss topics including equine welfare and rehabilitation, integrated veterinary care, sustainable pasture and soil management, evidence-based parasite control, regenerative farming practices and the future of the equine industry.
“Thank you to the British Horse Society Ireland, Susan Spratt and everyone who attended and helped make the day such a success. It was an honour to represent our profession and to showcase the innovation, collaboration and commitment that exists within Northern Ireland’s equine community.”