GALWAY Races was not the only racing action in the west last week and the annual Errismore Races took place on the commonage beside Ballyconneely Golf Club in Clifden.

Luke Burke Ott from Meelin near Newmarket in Cork rode his first winner in horse and pony racing (although he did ride the winners of the pony races at the recent Dromahane and Tralee point-to-points) while another Cork rider, Michael O’Connor from Middleton, rode a double to take the leading rider award.

Tail To Tail won the 12.2hh race in Errismore Races under Ross Coakley as far back as 2006 and 11 years later, returned for his third victory at the venue having also won in 2015.

Eleven-year-old Luke Burke Ott who has ridden the 21-year-old veteran in the majority of his races this year made most of the running as they held off the late challenge of Biscuit who had to settle for runner-up for the third consecutive week.

The winner is trained by Ben and Jerry Daly junior in Newmarket, Co. Cork for the Three County Syndicate.

CANTER

The 13.2hh race was little more than an exercise canter for Hello Star whose only reverse came when she ran-out in Abbeyfeale. Michael O’Connor never had any concerns as she made all the running to see-off her solitary rival, the Brandon McGlinchey Wilkie-ridden Kaylessi.

O’Connor then took the 15hh race, completing a double for the Three County Syndicate as he sat second on Farmer Boyce before getting a dream run up the inside of Mr. Bud off the final turn to win by a couple of lengths.

Mr. Bud would have to be considered unlucky however as his saddle had slipped at this stage, resulting in Ben Coen coming off before the line.

The 14.2hh race was won by the Ben Coen-ridden Blazing Glory for John Joe Bailey. Saving ground along the inside, he travelled in third place throughout before hitting the front inside the final furlong to win from the Joey Sheridan-ridden One Of The Boys.

Andrew Slattery, who would have travelled to the races with Ben, didn’t go home empty-handed either as he teamed up with the Finnerty stable to win the 14hh race on Fiddler’s Bridge.

Slattery rode a patient race after missing the break and it was only inside the final three furlongs that he got involved before quickening away impressively.

BREAKTHROUGH SEASON

Michael McGuane is enjoying a breakthrough season and he made another visit to the winner’s enclosure landing the non-winners’ race on Lisa McCarthy’s stalwart, The Russian.

The Russian was striking another blow for the veterans and at 14 years old he is a year older than his jockey. McGuane jumped him off in front and made pretty much all to win by close on six lengths.

Buddy Harrison and Joe Conlon teamed up to win the 10-furlong race as Last Chance Paddy returned to winning ways after a couple of runner-up finishes.

Conlon sat in midfield early before kicking for home with about three furlongs to travel to win snugly. Pat Taaffe took the 12-furlong race on Morgan Spice who was running for the first time in the ownership of Cork-based Maurice Aherne having previously being owned by the late James Torrens who sadly passed away recently.

Taaffe led from about four furlongs out and then quickened away over the final couple of furlongs to win well.

Fourteen-year-old Craughwell, Co. Galway rider Jack Gilligan is in his first season pony racing and he rode his second winner, and his first in horse class, as he partnered his own Phantom to win the two-mile race.

Having led from about half-way, he stayed on well to win from a never nearer Chestnut Charlie.

Mikey Sheehy maintained his momentum with a winner in the mile finale where Keeper’s Hill won from Omega.

RESULTS

Sunday, August 6th

12.2-13HH Race (6F): 1, Three County Syndicate’s TAIL TO TAIL (Luke Burke Ott); 2, Curly Syndicate’s BISCUIT (Mikey Sheehy); 3, N. Mulligan’s WHERE IT BEGAN (Ben Mulligan).

13.2 HH Race: 1, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Michael O’Connor); 2, A. Sweeney’s LITTLE SPIRIT (Brandon McGlinchey Wilkie).

14.2HH RACE: 1, JJ Bailey’s BLAZING GLORY (Ben Coen); 2, Five County Syndicate’s ONE OF THE BOYS (Joey Sheridan); 3, A. Sweeney’s KAYLESSI (Brandon McGlinchey Wilkie).

15 HH Race: 1, Three County Syndicate’s FARMER BOYCE (Michael O’Connor); 2, M. Finnerty’s CHOC ICE (Mikey Sheehy); 3. M. McGuane’s ECLIPSE (Michael McGuane).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, N. Gilligan’s PHANTOM (Jack Gilligan); 2, R. Lynch’s CHESTNUT CHARLIE (Pat Taaffe); 3, M. McNamara’s CASEY’S DILEMMA (Shane Crosse).

14 HH Race (1M): 1, N. Finnerty’s FIDDLERS BRIDGE (Andrew Slattery): 2, Three County Syndicate’s ONE OF THE GIRLS (Jack Gilligan); 3, A. Sweeney’s WEE BUMBEE (Brandon McGlinchey Wilkie).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, M. Aherne’s MORGAN SPICE (Pat Taaffe); 2, M. Finnerty’s MR. GREY (Andrew Slattery); 3, B. O’Sullivan’s DONNACHA’S DELIGHT (Shane Crosse).

Non-Winners Race (12F): 1, , L. McCarthy’s THE RUSSIAN (Michael McGuane); 2, J. Finnerty’s WAKING NED (Shane Crosse); 3, M. Finnerty’s ROSS NOVA (Shane Crosse).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, B. Harrison’s LAST CHANCE PADDY (Joe Conlon); 2, M. Flannery’s I’M ON A MISSION (Shane Crosse); 3, T. McCarthy’s STARMAN (Michael McGuane).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, P. J. Donnelly’s KEEPER’S HILL (Mikey Sheehy); 2, Finnerty Family’s OMEGA (Shane Crosse); 3, Three County Syndicate’s PAVLOVA (Michael O’Connor).