ONCE again, we lead off our list of winning jockeys this week with Dylan Browne McMonagle, who recorded his first win in a British classic last Friday at Epsom.

This came in the Betfred Oaks, where Thundering On impressed with her three-and-three-quarter-length success, as did the jockey with the ride he gave the Joseph O’Brien-trained chesnut daughter of Frankel.

And his skills didn’t stop there, as Dylan also impressed with his post-race interviews. He’s a great asset for racing.

Before heading to Epsom, where he was unlucky not to bring up a classic double in Saturday’s Betfred Derby on the “unruly beforehand” James J Braddock, Dylan rode a winner at Leopardstown, as did Luke McAteer who, too, was on the mark on Friday, but at Fairyhouse not Epsom. Paddy McGettigan rode a winner at Navan on Sunday.

Lingfield

Remaining on the flat, but across the water, Paddy Bradley rode a winner at Lingfield on Friday and at Carlisle on Tuesday, while Darragh Keenan also struck twice but with a double on Friday at Bath, where Patsy Cosgrave also visited the winner’s enclosure.

Single wins were recorded by Oisin Orr (at Wetherby last Thursday week), Barry McHugh (at Thirsk on Friday).

The only National Hunt jockey to partner a winner in the same time frame was Downpatrick native Danny McMenamin who, on Saturday, landed the concluding near three-mile handicap hurdle at Hexham on the Nicky Richards-trained 3/1 favourite Abbey Scope.

FEW welcomed the rain which fell at the weekend, but it allowed the Noel Kelly-trained Le Grand Vert to utilise his staying prowess and record a two-and-three-quarter-length success in the Ladbrokes ‘Get More With Racing Bet Builder’ handicap chase at Punchestown on Saturday.

Ridden by Carl Millar, the 10-year-old Great Pretender gelding was recording his second win for Kelly, whose Draperstown yard he joined at the end of 2024, and for his owners, the All Play & No Work Syndicate. At the time of writing, Kelly had plenty of horses entered up for Downpatrick this weekend.

So too have David Christie and Mark McNiff, who both saddled winners on Tuesday at Sligo.

Christie was the first to strike when the Ben Harvey-ridden Cherry Red landed the extended two-mile, one-furlong mares’ maiden hurdle by four lengths.

The eight-year-old Ocovango bay was having her first run for Christie, whose own colours she carried to victory. McNiff sent out the Peter Wall-owned Ilbdare to land the amateur handicap hurdle in the hands of Billy Coonan.

Breeding

On the breeding front, there were wins at Musselburgh on Saturday for the David Laverty and Tom Heatrick-bred four-year-old filly Wee Mary (Sands Of Mali - Ty Rock Brandy by Dandy Man) and for the McCracken Farms-bred five-year-old mare Circe (Kodiac - Northeast Moon, by Sea The Moon). Over jumps, the Hugh Suffern-bred seven-year-old mare Beorma (Doyen - Mourneseafood Lass, by Generous) brought up a four-timer when landing the two-mile handicap chase at Southwell.

On the ownership front, the colours of former Armagh player Paddy McKeever were carried to victory at Fairyhouse last Friday on the Ado McGuinness-trained I’m Spartacus, while, trained by Gordon Elliott, the James Conway-owned Flying Ace landed the opening novices’ hurdle at Perth on Sunday.

On Monday at Roscommon, the Conor McGlone-owned Chanceawetmorning, also trained by Elliott, landed the two-and-a-half-mile rated novice hurdle and the Peter FitzGerald-owned Linford made it two for two when landing the concluding bumper by five and a half lengths. The four-year-old Masked Marvel gelding is trained by Willie Mullins.

TT win

And what about one-time racehorse owner Michael Dunlop, who recorded his 36th TT win on Friday? An opportunity to build on that number was denied when the rest of the meeting was called off on Saturday morning. Now there’s a sport where they definitely didn’t need the rain.

LET’s hope that among those attending the two-day meeting at Downpatrick this weekend are some of the children who recently visited the track on one of Horse Racing Ireland’s School Days.

The objective of these is to encourage an affinity with racehorses among the younger generation and demonstrate the variety of careers available in the racing and breeding industries in Ireland.

230 primary school children from 10 local schools got to go behind the scenes at Downpatrick and meet trainer Paddy Turley, whose training yard is based at the racecourse, along with one of his horses.

Paddy explained what his job entails, as well as a typical day-to-day routine for his horses, their exercise schedule and diet and how he prepares them to run in a race.

Equipment

Head groundsman Fintan Ward, along with his team of Gerard Boyle and Alan Livingstone, explained how they prepare the track for a race meeting and all the equipment required to maintain the racing surface. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in Enniskillen, were on hand to give children an opportunity to ride the racehorse simulator and farrier Eamon McCann explained the role of the farrier and the special skills and equipment required to treat racehorses’ hooves.

Former trainer and Downpatrick Racecourse Director Noel Chance and the track’s General Manager Ruth Morrison brought the children into the weighroom to show them the jockeys’ changing room and the kit jockeys wear and use on race days, including boots, back protector, helmet and saddle. The children also got the opportunity to try on racing silks and learn about a jockey’s raceday routine.

Morrison said: “It was fantastic to welcome students from local schools to Downpatrick Racecourse for a behind-the-scenes look at the world of racing. They particularly enjoyed meeting a racehorse and experiencing the racehorse simulator. The day was a great success, and we look forward to creating more opportunities like this to introduce young people to the sport.”

AS is so often the case, or vice versa, this weekend’s meeting at Downpatrick is followed by racing at Down Royal next Friday and Saturday, when there’ll be plenty happening around the racecourse in addition to the action on the track.

Ladies’ Day returns on Saturday with fabulous prizes and, when the racing is over, the party continues. To round off the BoyleSports Summer Festival in style, all racegoers are invited to enjoy a live DJ set from Gareth Ainsworth on the Ladies’ Day stage.

At time of writing, it’s impossible to know what locally-trained horses are going to run, but the Andy Oliver-trained Santa Bravado, a winner last time out at Navan, is among the entries for Saturday’s Boyle Sports Ulster Derby (Premier Handicap). Also on Saturday, Oliver has The Highway Rat entered in the Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) at Royal Ascot.

WE were saddened to learn of the death on Wednesday of Belfast bookmaker Billy Savage and would like to extend our sympathy to his partner Molly and to his daughter Ann-Marie. Billy’s funeral takes place today with requiem mass at 9am in the Holy Family Church followed by burial in Carnmoney Cemetery.