ONCE again, Dylan Browne McMonagle takes the plaudits on the flat jockey front in the period under review as he landed a winner at Leopardstown last Thursday week and on Thursday of this week, the latter being preceded by a double at Limerick on Wednesday.
Across the water, Oisin Orr, Patsy Cosgrave and Darragh Keenan all partnered three winners in the same time frame, Orr’s wins coming at Hamilton last Thursday week, at Epsom on Friday (on the Richard Fahey-trained Ecureuil Secret in the 10-furlong handicap) and at Hamilton again on Wednesday.
Cosgrave’s wins were recorded last Thursday week at Lingfield, where he scored again on Wednesday, and at Chelmsford on Thursday while Keenan struck twice at Lingfield on Saturday and partnered one winner at Brighton on Monday. Brandon Wilkie notched up win number 10 for the season when landing the extended mile handicap at Wolverhampton on Tuesday.
Over jumps, Brian Hughes was on the mark at Bangor on Friday, at Hexham on Saturday and at Perth on Sunday. Danny McMenamin also got among the winners at Hexham while Caoilin Quinn visited the winners’ enclosure at Fontwell on Tuesday. Over here, Liam McKenna partnered a winner at Clonmel on Friday.
Breeding scene
On the flat breeding scene, wins were recorded by the McCracken Farms-bred five-year-old gelding Three Yorkshiremen (Massaat – House Of Roses, by New Approach) at Kempton on Wednesday and the three-year-old gelding The Pouncing Lion (Ghaiyyath – Northeast Moon, by Sea The Moon) at Chelmsford on Thursday. The first race at that Chelmsford meeting was won by the Stonethorn Stud Farm-bred two-year-old colt Champion Island (Starspangledbanner – Greenisland, by Fasliyev).
On the National Hunt breeding front, there was a win at Worcester on Thursday for the Robert Kirkwood-bred nine-year-old gelding Pull Again Green (Kalanisi – Clogher Valley, by Oscar).
DOWNPATRICK amateur and international event rider Toni Quail suffered both the highs and lows of racing last weekend. On Saturday night, the 26-year-old attended the Gain point-to-point awards function in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny where she was presented with the p2p.ie champion lady rider award for 2024/25. On Sunday night, Quail was in Tallaght Hospital following a heavy first-fence fall in the afternoon’s ladies’ handicap hurdle at Punchestown.
We received the following update on Thursday from the IHRB’s senior medical officer, Dr Jennifer Pugh: “Toni has been fitted with a Halo neck brace, and she remains in Tallaght Hospital hoping for discharge after the weekend. She is very grateful for all the well wishes.”
Toni, her parents Donna and Brian plus Dr Pugh all thanked the medical personnel on duty at the track and in the hospital for the care she received following her fall.
MAGHERA amateur Orán McGill, Draperstown trainer Noel Kelly and their travelling entourage, which included the rider’s brother Dara, had a profitable break away from home last weekend.
Kelly saddled two runners in the two-and-a-half-mile amateur handicap hurdle at Hexham on Saturday, Dara finishing sixth on Tiny Angel while, overcoming a mistake at the final flight, Orán recorded a length-and-three-quarters success on the National Defense gelding Nakassama who was sent off the 11/8 favourite.
The following afternoon, our friends were up in Perth where only one of the yard’s five runners failed to be placed. Only one of the quintet, Garrick Painter, was sent off favourite and punters were rewarded when, overcoming a 181-day break, the Zoffany gelding landed the two-mile handicap hurdle by four lengths under Orán. Both five-year-old winners ran in the colours of the All Play & No Work Syndicate.
Orchid blooms for Oliver
Last Friday, there were wins at Fairyhouse for the Andy Oliver-trained 3/1 favourite Orchidaceae in the seven-furlong handicap and for the Stuart Crawford-trained 25/1 shot Fervent in the second division of the concluding 10-furlong handicap. Having his first start for the Larne trainer following three runs for Ado McGuinness as a juvenile, the three-year-old Elzaam gelding Fervent is owned by Gary Devlin, Kevin Osborne and Joe McCrory.
The colours of Peter FitzGerald were carried to victory at Punchestown on Sunday when the Willie Mullins-trained Spanish Harlem justified odds-on favouritism in the opening three-mile, one-furlong novice chase. On his previous start, at Sandown in late April, the seven-year-old Spanish Moon gelding finished fourth of 19 in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase.
WHILE most racing fans will be at Downpatrick today, and again tomorrow, others might forsake today’s fare in favour of a visit to Killyleagh Show where Anna Moore and Philippa Baird are judging the three racehorse to riding horse classes.
In one of the many frustrating clashes this year on the equestrian scene, there is a Dublin Horse Show racehorse to riding horse qualifier at today’s Armagh County Agricultural Show in Gosford Forest Park. For those going racing this weekend, it’s great to see the support for the sport from sponsors such as Randox, Denvir’s of Downpatrick, Racing TV, C. Russell Auto Sales, the AJC Group, Adare Manor, Dunlop Homes, Cab Plant and the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders’ Fund.
The feature race at next weekend’s BoyleSports Summer Festival at Down Royal is, of course, the BoyleSports Ulster Derby (Premier Handicap) of €100,000 which will be preceded on Saturday by the BoyleSports Irish EBF Ulster Oakes Fillies Handicap of €32,500.
The feature race on Friday evening’s card is the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap of €24,000. For some racegoers, the focus of their attention will be on the three best-dressed competitions taking place on Saturday for which pre-registration is open.