THE summer returned last Saturday as a glorious day saw bumper crowd converge on Rossbeigh Strand for the first day of the Glenbeigh Racing Festival.

The feature race of the day, the Glenbeigh Derby over 12 furlongs went to Monasterevin owner/trainer Aidan Melia as Half Price, a course winner over 10 furlongs in 2017, made a successful move up in trip in the hands of Letterkenny rider Dylan Browne-McMonagle.

Dylan saved lengths on the two bends and that ensured he was always travelling comfortably and he drew clear over the final two furlongs under a hands and heels ride to win from the Philip Byrnes-ridden Bubba Watson who made a brave effort to make a successful transition from 15hh class.

DOUBLE

Browne-McMonagle then went on to complete a double as he landed the 14hh race on local hope Obi One Knobi who is trained by Darragh Moriarty for his mother Val.

The winner came home three lengths clear of Carrig Ava who was ridden by the youngest jockey in action over the week-end, nine-year-old Dylan O’Connor, the son of well-known amateur rider and trainer Mikey O’Connor.

Joey Sheridan was another rider to register a double and he took the 10-furlong race on another popular winner as Cali Cartel continued to enhance his growing reputation.

He produced an impressive turn of foot to take him clear of Storm Force as he successfully moved up from 15hh class for Killorglin owner Eoghan O’Sullivan.

Sheridan also tasted victory in the maiden race as Kingfisher proved strongest inside the final furlong to come out on top in a thrilling three-way finish with Ring Him and Hill View Girl having to settle for minor honours.

HIGH HOPES

The rider had high hopes of making it a treble in the concluding local race as Close Encounter went for an incredible eighth win in nine years but she had to settle for the runner-up spot as The Bosses Daughter in the hands of Danny King, made it a great day for the O’Sullivan family, winning for Pat, father of Eoghan.

This completed a double for Danny who earlier took the 15hh race for Castle Racing on Xantico, who had to dig deep to deny local veteran Red Handed.

Danny Gilligan made his journey from Galway worthwhile as he took the opening 14.2hh race on Pacman as Maurice Ahern’s charge collared Rosa Parks inside the distance, while Philip Byrnes teamed up with Loughrea, Co. Galway owner Des Donnelly to take the two-mile race as Out Of The Clouds drew clear over the final two furlongs to win from another Galway horse, Silver Dollar.

RESULTS

Saturday September 1st

14.2HH Race (10F): 1, M. Ahern’s PACMAN (Danny Gilligan); 2, R. King’s ROSA PARKS (Daniel King); 3, Last Minute Syndicate’s THE LOW ROAD (Sam Ewing).

15HH Race (12F): 1, Castle Racing’s XANTICO (Daniel King); 2, Soft Touch Syndicate’s RED HANDED (Joey Sheridan); 3, El Hayes WINDY CITY (Sam Ewing).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, D. Donnelly’s OUT OF THE CLOUDS (Philip Byrnes); 2, S. Glynn’s SILVER DOLLAR (Joey Sheridan); 3, I. Worrell’s JUST IN TIME (Danny Gilligan).

Glenbeigh Derby (12F): 1, A. Melia’s HALF PRICE (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, Deelview Racing’s BUBBA WATSON (Philip Byrnes); 3, H. Carey’s WILD WIND (Sam Ewing).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, E. O’Sullivan’s CALI CARTEL (Joey Sheridan); 2, T. Fennelly’s STORM FORCE (Sam Ewing); 3, Team Browne Syndicate’s ATHEA JADE (Dylan Browne McMonagle).

Maiden Horse Race (10F): 1, D. Granville’s KINGFISHER (Joey Sheridan); 2, B. Tierney’s RING HIM (Daniel King); 3, D. Cahill’s HILL VIEW GIRL (Jacky Mulvihill).

14HH Race (10F): 1, V. Moriarty’s OBI ONE KNOBI (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, O’Sullivan/King’s CARRIG AVA (Dylan O’Connor); 3, B. Sexton’s TELL THE STORY (Daniel King).

Local Horse Race (1M): 1, P. O’Sullivan’s THE BOSSES DAUGHTER (Daniel King); 2, Soft Touch Syndicate’s CLOSE ENCOUNTER (Joey Sheridan); 3, Soft Touch Syndicate’s THE MAC FACTOR (Sam Ewing).