LAST year Liam Gilligan visited the winner’s enclosure in Dingle and earlier in the week he rode his first winner on the track as he partnered Nellie Pledge to victory over hurdles in Sligo.
His younger brother Danny made it an even more memorable week as he partnered his first Dingle winner when he took the 14hh race on his family pony Bubbalicious.
Gilligan took up the running four furlongs out and then found that bit extra to see off a brave challenge up the straight by the Darragh Moriarty-ridden Obe One Knobi, with One Of The Girls, who blew her chance at the start, back in third place.
The other pony race on the card, the 13.2hh race was completely dominated by Hello Star who confirmed her status as the biggest banker of the weekend in the hands of Middleton rider Michael O’Connor as she won from the Brandon McGlinchey Wilkie-ridden Little Spirit.
The winner is owned by the Listowel-based Curly Syndicate headed by brothers Jack and Pat O’Sullivan, along with Pat Collins.
Half Price was victorious the previous evening over 10-furlongs and he turned out again on Saturday to take the featured Golden Mile with Dylan Browne McMonagle taking over in the saddle from Ben Coen.
Aidan Melia’s charge sprinted clear up the straight with the Christina Simpson-ridden Ferry’s Pride taking second.
This made it a second double of the meeting for the winning rider who had earlier won the opening 12-furlong race on Let It Go for Adrian Browne.
Browne McMonagle took a position at the back of the field early on as Let It Go can be a bit keen before coming through to challenge up the straight and getting the better of the Joey Dunne-ridden Mr. Mac.
LADIES
The Ladies Derby has increased in popularity over the years and the biggest field to date went to post this year as former Golden Mile winner Good Times Ahead won for the Jerry and Aileen Daly-headed Three County Syndicate.
Jill Robinson delivered the winner with a well-timed run to lead inside the final furlong with Ciara Mannion taking the runner-up spot on Moven’s Boy.
Mikey Sheehy added another double to his opening night brace. As well as the championship Golden Mile there is a second mile race on the card and Follow The Dream made most of the running here as the grey newcomer galloped to an impressive win for Declan McGuigan.
Mikey also won the day’s finale, the 15hh Derby for the Kevin White led, Co. Limerick-based Deelview Racing on Bubba Watson.
Having blown his chance at the start of Friday night, he was on his best behaviour this time, drawing clear from four furlongs out to win by eight lengths.
Pacman was a winner in Dingle last year and he followed that up with another victory this year as he won the 14.2hh race in the hands of Shane Crosse.
Crosse jumped off in mid-division and after getting closer at half-way he took up the running heading down the hill out of the back straight to win by five lengths from the Ben Coen-ridden The Green Monkey who took the runner-up spot after a head to head battle with One Of The Boys.
The winner is owned and trained by Maurice Aherne from Dromahane in Cork.
Results
Saturday August 12th
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, A. Browne’s LET IT GO (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, M. Brady’s MR MAC (Joe Dunne); 3, K. Brophy’s WILD WIND (Ross Sugrue).
Open Horse Race (1M): 1, D. McGuigan’s FOLLOW THE DREAM (Mikey Sheehy); 2, G. O’Boyle’s NEVER SAY NEVER (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 3, Finn Racing’s OSAKA (Ben Coen).
13.2 HH Race (1M): 1, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Michael O’Connor); 2, A. Sweeney’s LITTLE SPIRIT (Brandon McGlinchey Wilkie); 3, S. Bergin’s MICKEY FINN (Sam Ewing).
14.2 HH Race (12F): 1, M. Ahern’s PACMAN (Shane Crosse); 2, R. McMahon’s THE GREEN MONKEY (Ben Coen); 3, Five County Syndicate’s ONE OF THE BOYS (Joey Sheridan).
Golden Mile Race: 1, A. Melia’s HALF PRICE (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, U. Adair’s DERRY’S PRIDE (Nina Simpson); 3, B. Maher’s MAN OF STEEL (Mikey Sheehy).
14 HH Race (10F): 1, N. Gilligan’s BUBBALICOUS (Danny Gilligan); 2, V. Moriarty’s OBI ONE KNOBI (Darragh Moriarty); 3, Three County Syndicate’s ONE OF THE GIRLS (Jack Gilligan).
Lady Riders Derby (10F): 1, Three County Syndicate’s GOOD TIMES AHEAD (Jill Robinson); 2, D. Mullan’s MOVENS BOY (Ciara Mannion); 3, A. Browne’s I’VE GOT IT (Nina Simpson).
15 HH Race (10F): 1, Deelview Racing’s BUBBA WATSON (Mikey Sheehy); 2, A. Sweeney’s SKY’S THE LIMIT (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 3, A. Hamilton’s ON THE EDGE (Shane Crosse).