THE midlands region opened their season with a new two-day meeting in Kilbarron Village near Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
Ben Coen who graduated from the pony racing circuit at the end of last season has made an instant impact as an apprentice. His 12-year-old brother Jake has stepped into the breech as he landed his first winner when he partnered Chasing A Dream to an impressive victory in the first divide of the 12-furlong race for Ballybrittas, Co. Laois owner John Joe Bailey.
Danny Gilligan took the riding honours on the day as the Craughwell, Co. Galway pilot registered a treble. He opened his account in the opening 12.2hh race where Just For James took the honours for Tony Beegan.
He then took the 15hh race for the Finnerty yard on Peaky Blinders before completing his haul in the second division of the mile race where Call The Cops made a winning debut for Monasterevin owner Ian “Teddy” Worrell.
Fourteen-year-old Kilkea, Co. Kildare rider Mikey McGuane has been under the tutelage of Jockey Coach Warren O’Connor over the winter, and the benefits of his coaching showed as he took the first divide of the mile on his father Martin’s Banned Substance.
It was a good week for the King family. Former pony racing champion Connor rode his first winners since his move to the UK and a switch to jumping as he recorded a double in Kelso.
Youngest brother Danny then opened his seasonal account as Gerard Faulkner’s Moovenis Boy gave his first winner in horse class by taking the 10-furlong race.
Last year’s Dingle Derby winner’s Ida’s Dream and Sam Ewing made a successful seasonal reappearance as they took the finale, the second division of the 12-furlong race under a fine front-running ride from the Templepatrick, Co. Down rider.
Dylan Browne McMonagle is another young rider who already has a Dingle Derby to his credit and he didn’t go home empty-handed as he won the 14.2hh race on Five Stone Of Lead, leading from flagfall to about half-way and then taking back the initiative two furlongs out to win by five lengths.
SUNDAY
After partnering a winner on the opening Saturday card, 14-year-old rider Sam Ewing added a magnificent six-timer on Sunday.
He started off on Don’t Mind Me who got up late for victory in the 14hh race.
He then took the 14.2hh ra for Laois owner Seamus Bergin as his Waratah responded to Ewing’s urgings to grind out the win.
The 15hh race was next as Mr. Bud made all to win for Monasterevin, Co. Kildare-based Buddy Harrison. The first division of the mile saw Sam see off Banned Substance by the minimum margin after a front-running ride on the Uel Adair-owned Derry’s Pride.
Winner number five made it a Uel Adair double as Delmia took the two-mile race and Sam completed his dream day on Try Your Best in the finale, as he dictated matters from the front before quickening away to complete a Buddy Harrison double.
Racing opened with a 13.2hh race and 14-year-old Letterkenny rider Brandon Wilkie took this for Amanda Sweeney. Their chance looked to have disappeared when they ran wide off the bend out of the back-straight but they recovered impressively to win.
It was also a memorable day for 13-year-old Navan, Co. Meath rider Ben Mulligan who partnered his first ever winner as he landed the first divide of the 10-furlong race on former Dingle Derby winner, the 13-year-old veteran Let’s Go.
The most popular winner of the day was the locally-owned I’m On A Mission who landed the second divide of the mile race in the hands of Danny Gilligan.
It was a first success for owner Bill O’Meara who was one of the key figures on the local committee that ensured that the two days racing were such a huge success.
Philip Byrnes (14), the son of well-known Limerick trainer Charles, is looking to build on a very successful first season riding that saw him net eight winners in 2017 and he got his season off to a winning start in the second divide of the 10-furlong race on the P.J. Donnelly-owned Keeper Hill.
Last year’s The Irish Field National Champion jockey, Mikey Sheehy fractured a wrist in a fall last week-end and will be out for six weeks.
North-West: The region kick off their season tomorrow, Sunday at Porthall, Lifford, Co. Donegal with the first race due off at 2.30pm.
Midlands: The next midlands region meeting will be held in Lacken Strand in Co. Mayo on Sunday June 3rd.
Southern: The southern region will recommence their season on Sunday, June 10th with the hosting of Castleisland Races in Co. Kerry.
Results
SATURDAY
12:2HH Race (5F): 1, T. Beegan’s JUST FOR JAMES (Daniel Gilligan); 2, N. Mulligan’s WHERE IT BEGAN (Ben Mulligan).
14:2HH Race (1M): 1, Browne Syndicate’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, M. Ahern’s PACMAN (Mikey Sheehy); 3, K. Egan’s SYDNEY HARBOUR (O. McSweeney).
15 HH Race (1M): 1, Finnerty’s PEAKY BLINDERS (Daniel Gilligan); 2, Browne Syndicate’s FOUR STONE OF LEAD (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, D. White’s BUBBA WATSON (Philip Byrnes).
Open Horse Race (1M) Div. 1: 1, M. McGuane’s BANNED SUBSTANCE (Michael McGuane); 2, Browne Syndicate’s LET HIM GO (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, M. Mulligan’s TULLYVEARAGA (Ben Mulligan).
Open Horse Race (1M) Div. 2: 1, I. Worrell’s CALL THE COPS (Daniel Gilligan); 2, Finnerty’s OMEGA (Sam Ewing); 3, S. Laird’s THUNDERSTRUCK (Z. McMullan).
Open Horse Race (10F): 1, G. Faulkner’s MOOVENIS BOY (Daniel King); 2, K D Racing’s FOLLOW A DREAM (Mikey Sheehy); 3, A. Melia’s HALF PRICE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle).
Open Horse Race (12F) Div. 1: JJ. Bailey’s CHASING A DREAM (Jake Coen); 2, Finnerty’s MR.GREY (Daniel Gilligan); 3, Browne Syndicate’s LET IT GO (Dylan Browne-McMonagle).
Open Horse Race (12F) Div. 2: S. Ewing’s IDA’S DREAM (Sam Ewing); 2, S. Laird’s WALK THE LINE (Z. McMullan); 3, C. Byrnes’s MAKE ME (Philip Byrnes).
SUNDAY
13:2HH Race (7F): 1, A. Sweeney’s LITTLE SPIRIT (Brandon Wilkie); 2, P. Tracy’s RED FOX (Mikey Sheehy); 3, S. Bergin’s MICKEY FINN (Dylan Browne McMonagle).
14 HH Race (7F): 1, J. Harris’s DONT MIND ME (Sam Ewing); 2, N. Gilligan’s BUBBALICIOUS (Jack Gilligan)
14:2HH Race (10F): 1, S. Bergin’s WARATAH (Sam Ewing); 2, Last Minute Syndicate’s THE LOW ROAD (Daniel King); 3, P. McDonald’s ITS FATHER TED (J. McDonald)
15 HH Race (10F): 1, B. Harrison’s MR.BUD (Sam Ewing); 2, P. Sullivan’s THE BOSSES DAUGHTER (Mikey Sheehy); 3, T. Beegan’s LAST FAREWELL (E. Broadman).
Open Horse Race (1M) Div. 1: 1, U. Adair’s DERRY’S PRIDE (Sam Ewing); 2, M. McGuane’s BANNED SUBSTANCE (Michael McGuane) 3, l. McCarthy’s TEDDYS BOY (Joey Dunne)
Open Horse Race (1M) Div. 2: 1, O’Meara’s I’M ON A MISSION (Daniel Gilligan); 2, M. McGuane’s THE RASHER MAN (Michael McGuane); 3, N. Mulligan’s CAPALL DUBH (Ben Mulligan).
Open Horse Race (10F) Div. 1: 1, M. Mulligan’s LET’S GO (Ben Mulligan); 2, B. Harrison’s LAST CHANCE PADDY (Sam Ewing); 3, B.O Sullivan’s NON POSITIVE (A. Ellis).
Open Horse Race (10F) Div. 2: 1, P.J. Donnelly’s KEEPER HILL (Philip Byrnes); 2, T. Fennelly’s STORMFORCE (Joey Sheridan); 3, Browne Syndicate’s ATHEA JADE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle).
Open Horse Race (2M): Div. 1: 1, U. Adair’s DELLMIA (Sam Ewing); 2, Browne Syndicate’s LETS DANCE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, A. Melia’s STAY SOUND (Joey Sheridan)
Open Horse Race (2M) Div. 2: 1, B. Harrison’s TRY YOUR BEST (Sam Ewing); 2, C. Byrnes’s MAKE ME (Philip Byrnes); 3, R. Sugrue’s FORGIVE AND FORGET (Ross Sugrue).