THE north-west region meeting in Big Isle near Letterkenny proved to be a bonanza for local rider Dylan Browne-McMonagle and Limerick rider Philip Byrnes both of whom partnered five winners on the marathon card.

The highlight of Dylan’s day was his victory in the 12-furlong race on Let It Go, a race run in memory of his grandfather Hugo Browne where he overcame the stubborn challenge of the Philip Byrnes-ridden Will I Am.

Dylan took the 14hh and 14.2hh races on Unhinged and Five Stone Of Lead respectively to make it a treble for the Adrian Browne stable, and he teamed up with The Holian Syndicate to take the 10-furlong 15hh race with the appropriately-named Dylan’s Pride.

The other leg of his five-timer was provided by Sammy Laird as Thunder Struck took the seven-furlong race.

Limerick rider Philip Byrnes skipped the southern region meeting in Caherciveen and headed north instead with an eye on the forthcoming big Dingle meeting.

The Declan and Kyle McGuigan stable, racing under the D&K Racing banner, have had a great season and they made Philip’s trip north worthwhile by providing him with a four-timer. They took the nine and 10-furlong races with Way Up North and Who Knows, while Ted Baker and Churchall took the maiden and non-winners’ race. Philip had earlier got his day started with a win in the seven-furlong 15hh race when Watch This Space provided Sammy Laird with what proved to be the opening leg of a double.

Eleven-year-old Ollie Gilligan is the youngest of four sons of Craughwell trainer Paul Gilligan to cut their teeth in pony racing, following in the footsteps of Danny, Jack and Liam.

Having previously ridden winners in the south and midlands region he added the north-west to his collection when taking the two-mile race on Tiger Mac for Shane McGinley under a fine front-running ride.

Paul McGill has had a great few weeks with his own charge, Cool The Jets and they earned a tilt at the forthcoming Dingle Derby by making it three wins on the trot in the two-mile race as the winner displayed his customary grit when getting back up to win after been headed inside the final furlong. The novice riders’ race went to Nicole Yemm who won on Bailey.

Results

Sunday July 28th

13.2/14hh Race (1M): 1, Team Browne’s UNHINGED (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, S. Crabbe’s WILLIE NO LEGS (Ollie Gilligan); 3, T. Beegan’s MOONRIVER (Paul McGill).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, S. McGinley’s TIGER MAC (Ollie Gilligan); 2, D&K Racing’s STAND BY ME (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, I. Worrell’s CALL THE COPS (Philip Byrnes).

15hh/153cm Race (7F): 1, S. Laird’s WATCH THIS SPACE (Philip Byrnes); 2, A. Melia’s WHACKY THREE FINGERS (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, Team Browne’s BARR NA STRAIDE (Paul McGill).

Open Horse race (10F): 1, D&K Racing’s WAY UP NORTH (Philip Byrnes); 2, Team Browne’s LET’S ROLL (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, Holian Syndicate’s AIDEEN’S DREAM (Ryan Sexton).

Open Horse race (9F): 1, D&K Racing’s WHO KNOWS (Philip Byrnes); 2, Team Browne’s DERRY’S PRIDE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, Holian Syndicate’s ROCK THE BOAT (Paul McGill).

Open Horse race (12F): 1, Team Browne’s LET IT GO (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, D&K Racing’s WILL I AM (Philip Byrnes); 3, S. Quinn’s TEQUILA SUNRISE (Dara McGill).

Open Horse race (14F): 1, P. McGill’s COOL THE JETS (Paul McGill); 2, Team Browne’s LET HIM GO (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, A. Melia’s WATCH OUT TED (Ryan Sexton).

Open Horse Race (7F): 1, S. Laird’s THUNDER STRUCK (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, A. Scott’s UNDER PRESSURE (Philip Byrnes); 3, S. McGinley’s MRS MAC (Ollie Gilligan)

15hh/153cm Race (10F): 1, Holian Syndicate’s DYLAN’S PRIDE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, D&K Racing’s MR. BALBAO (Philip Byrnes); 3, A. Sweeney’s SKY’S THE LIMIT (Paul McGill).

Maiden Race (14F): 1, D&K Racing’s TED BAKER (Philip Byrnes); 2, A D Sweeney’s OLD MAN RIVER (Paul McGill). Only 2 finished

14.2hh/148cm Race (1M): 1 Team Browne’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, S. McGinley’s WEE MAC (Ollie Gilligan); 3, C. Kerrigan’s ANNIE’S PET (Sam Hamilton).

Non-Winners Race (10F): 1, D&K Racing’s CHURCHALL (Philip Byrnes); 2, S. Crabbe’s I’M NOT SURE (Ryan Sexton); 3, S. Gildea’s TREASURED MEMORIES (Paul McGill)

Novice Riders’ Pony Race: 1, N. Yemm’s BAILEY (Nicole Yemm); 2, L. Magee’s CHIP (Lea Magee); 3, K. McNally’s THE SINFUL MAN (Kian McNally).

News

Southern region: The region has a combined Ballabuidhe Gallop and Trot Meeting tomorrow, Sunday and Monday in Dunmanway, Co. Cork

Northern: The next meeting is the traditional Ballintra bankholiday Monday Races which takes place in Murvagh near Donegal town with a 2pm start.

Midlands: The region hosts its famous Omey Strand Races in Claddaghduff tomorrow Sunday at 1pm.

Dingle: All roads lead to Dingle next weekend as the three-day Racing Festival kicks off on Friday at 4pm and continues on Saturday and Sunday with 2.30pm starts and the feature event, the famed Dingle Derby, due off at 4.45pm.