WHODA thunk that, during this sizzling summer, it would rain at Downpatrick of all places last Sunday.
Not that it spoiled ‘Style Sunday’ of course and the sun did appear again on an afternoon when among the race sponsors were Randox, Alan Dunlop Agricultural Machinery, J Murdoch Contracts, WTW Willis, Franco Hughes and the Lily O’Hare Memorial.
Following the two-mile, six-furlong mares’ handicap hurdle landed by his Holy Roman Emperor five-year-old Gangster Granny, James Murdoch was the recipient of the winner’s prize presented by Franco Hughes.
After the following maiden hurdle over the same trip won by her six-year-old El Salvador mare Magical Sal, Murdoch presented the winner’s prize to Pamela Ballantine. Both mares are trained by Colin McBratney.
The following Join Us For Ladies Day Handicap Hurdle, again over the same trip, was won by the Gordon Elliott-trained Sneddy Eddie, a six-year-old Churchill gelding running in the colours of Conor McGlone.
We’re going to dip down into Co Monaghan for the winner of the concluding Alan Dunlop 90th Birthday INH Flat Race, the Anthony McCann-trained five-year-old Getaway gelding Martymill.
LAST Thursday week, two local trainers were on the mark in different codes at Leopardstown and Sligo.
Caledon-based Andy Oliver was the first to strike at the south Dublin track, as he saddled the three-year-old Pinatubo colt Hard Promises to justify 5/4 favouritism in the nine-furlong maiden on his third start for joint owners Neil Connor and Gerry McManus.
At Sligo, Noel Kelly and amateur Orán McGill combined to land the two-mile, two-furlong SIS Handicap Hurdle with Norman Houston’s Justicialism, who was recording his first win for the Draperstown handler. Previous trainers of the now eight-year-old Vadamos gelding include Gerald Quinn and Brian Hamilton.
Local owners
Other local owners to have had their colours carried to victory in the period under review were Nigel Dalzell, whose three-year-old Invincible Army filly Beau Army landed the seven-furlong handicap at Gowran Park last Friday, and Paul Hardman whose Minaun View and She’s Ideal were both on the mark at the same track on Wednesday. All three winners are trained by Ado McGuinness.
Andy Oliver also sent out a winner at the Co Kilkenny track on Wednesday, the three-year-old Profitable gelding Rock Of Claremont obliging by one and three-parts of a length on his third start, the first of which was at the end of June. On the jockey front at home, there were wins for Sam Ewing at Ballinrobe on Monday and for Paddy McGettigan and Dylan Browne McMonagle at Gowran on Wednesday.
British action
Across the water, Oisin Orr continued his winning ways with a double at Southwell last Thursday week, a treble at Redcar on Saturday and single winners at Carlisle on Tuesday and Beverley on Wednesday.
There were wins also for Paddy Bradley at Brighton last Thursday week, for Barry McHugh at Thirsk the following day and for Darragh Keenan at Redcar on Saturday.
Honouring Nations Cup heroes
WITH the Coyle brothers, Daniel and Jordan, leading the way, there was plenty of regional interest in the international show jumping at last week’s Gallagher Dublin Horse Show, but this wasn’t just confined to active riders.
On Friday, prior to the FEI Nations Cup for the Aga Khan trophy in the Laya Arena and in celebration of 100 years of Nations Cup jumping at the RDS showgrounds, presentations were made to winning Irish team members including George Stewart.
Plagiarising information supplied to the RDS by Northern Region eventing commentator Paul Nolan, George ‘and the legendary Leapy Lad were members of the winning Aga Khan team at the 1984 Dublin Horse Show. Leapy Lad then went to the United States of America.
‘There the gelding was campaigned by Jay Land. They qualified for and competed at the FEI Jumping World Cup Finals. Jay and Leapy Lad received a great ovation from the crowd at the 1986 Dublin Horse Show when the horse returned here to be runners-up to Lt Col Gerry Mullins and Rockbarton in the international Grand Prix.’
Honoured
Others honoured at the presentation included James Kernan (1977 Condy, 1978 Condy, 1979 Condy and 1992 IJM Touchdown), Trevor Coyle (1995 Cruising and 1997 Cruising), Dermott Lennon (2000 Liscalgot), the current Team Ireland senior jumping chef d’equipe Jessica Kuerten (2000 Paavo N and 2004 Quibell) and Conor Swail (2022 Count Me In).
Also at Dublin, but in Ring 1 on Saturday afternoon, the 16-year-old Tom Malone-owned, Fred Mackey-bred 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River (Indian River - Native Mo, by Be My Native) finished second in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing racehorse to riding horse class under Emily MacMahon.
Among the many people from racing who I met at the show was former amateur Steven Clements, who retired from the saddle in 2017 and these days has nothing to do with horses.
He was in great form and enjoying his busy business life.
Loughanmore date for diary
THERE is no dedicated thoroughbred class at today’s Eventing Ireland Northern Region one-day event in Loughanmore, but 15 thoroughbreds have been entered across the day’s 18 classes, which range from EI115 (Open) down to EI80 (training).
As a result of the disappointing cancellation of the planned new event at Island Lodge on Saturday, August 29th, the Dennison family have kindly stepped forward to run a second event at Loughanmore on that date.
So there you are, here’s another chance to stretch your legs and watch eventing at a top venue, which will host the East Antrim point-to-point on Saturday, October 17th.