MENTIONED as one of those who rode winners 10 years ago at Castle Irvine, Necarne, Noel McParlan was on the mark at Toomebridge last Saturday when landing the Noel C. Kelly Racing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden on the Philip McBurney-owned, Gerald Quinn-trained Braidside Boy, a Diamond Boy bay having just his third career start.

There were wins also for Wilson Dennison, Caroline McCaldin and Deckie Lavery with the British-bred Chichester Park in the Raymart five-year-old geldings’ maiden and for Peita McAlistair, Stuart Crawford and Stephen Connor with Southey in the Cunningham Covers five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts’ maiden.

Raymond Scullion enjoyed his first success as a handler when saddling Largy Bloodstock’s four-time track winner City Chief to win the INHSC open for novice riders under Darragh Hanlon. At Stowlin the following afternoon, Crawford and Connor brought up a weekend double when landing division two of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden with the French-bred newcomer Masked Man. The bay son of Masked Marvel ran in the double green colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Quail prevails

At the same East Galway Foxhounds’ meeting, Downpatrick’s Toni Quail won the mares’ open on the Sam Curling-trained The Great Unknown.

Across the water, there were wins on Saturday for the Ray McMurray-bred Caspers Court at Flete Park and for the Joseph Cunningham-bred Mcmurroughs Court at Godstone.

At Witton Castle on Monday, the following returned to the No 1 post – the Ivor McGrath-bred Sunset On Fire, the Danny Fitzsimons-bred Tanora and Do No Wrong who was bred by J.P. King and Paddy Turley.

THE 2024/2025 National Hunt season concluded on Saturday at Puchestown and we must pay tribute to the huge part bloodstock agent Harold Kirk played in Willie Mullins being crowned champion trainer for 19th time.

We should also acknowledge the part played by Kevin Ross Bloodstock in ensuring there was some local connection to a winner on the first day of the 2025/2026 season at Down Royal on Monday, they having signed for the bumper winner Flying Trix when the now four-year-old Wings Of Eagles gelding was sold as a foal.

(See also page 7)

DONEGAL-born jockeys booted home plenty of winners on the flat in the period under review led by Dylan Browne Monagle who scored at Chelmsford last Thursday week, at the Curragh on Monday, at Cork on Tuesday and at Gowran on Wednesday.

Also on the level, were single wins for Oisin Orr at Newcastle last Friday, for Brandon Wilkie at Doncaster on Saturday, for Darragh Keenan at Salisbury on Sunday and for Luke McAteer at Cork on Tuesday.

Over jumps, Sam Ewing partnered a winner at Punchestown last Thursday week, Brian Hughes rode winners at Hexham on Saturday and at Kelso on Wednesday, Danny McMenamin also scored at Hexham while Caoilin Quinn was on the mark at Fontwell on Wednesday.

Andy Oliver did his bit for the local training ranks by sending out Trevor Dalzell’s 50/1 shot Prime Sign to land the concluding six-furlong handicap at the Curragh on Monday under Billy Lee while McCracken Farms did the double on the breeding front with the four-year-old filly Circe (Kodiac – Northeast Moon, by Sea The Moon) winning at Newmarket last Friday and the three-year-old filly Cala Bonita (Inns Of Court – Aalia, by Teofilo) winning at Gowran on Wednesday.

SOME people will have gone racing solely at Downpatrick yesterday evening while others will have headed over there following the afternoon session on day one of the Fermanaghs’ two-day meeting at Castle Irvine, Necarne.

Some others, who share a love for horse racing and motorbike racing, may have gone up to the North West 200 and are still there. At the Northern Region one-day event at Hazeldene Farm, a new parking team had to be found as the usual suspects decided to take a day off and go in support of Michael Dunlop et al – and that despite the fact that the action from Badminton is being shown on a big screen at the event.

While it was described as sunny and mild on the day, the ground conditions were heavy at Necarne on Saturday, May 7th 2005 when no rider partnered more than one winner on the six-race card. Those who did unsaddle at the No 1 spot were Johnny Vance, Clare MacMahon, Jimmy Henry, Jim Keeling, Robert Widger and Andrew Duff.

Winners 10 years ago

Among those who rode winners at the 2015 Saturday fixture were Shane Fitzgerald, Barry Browne, Mark O’Hare and Noel McParlan. The last-named joined forces with his trainer father Sean to win the five-runner open with Mr Bolt, who beat the odds-on favourite Chosen Dream by four lengths, and the concluding seven-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden with Tareesh Lane.

While we need some rain of course, hopefully the sun will be out at Caste Irvine, Necarne today and for the four days of the annual Balmoral show which starts on Wednesday.