THE Midlands meeting in Roscrea was another good day for Letterkenny rider Dylan Browne-McMonagle who, though not hitting the heights of the previous week – where he rode 11 winners over two days – he nevertheless partnered a treble.
Waratah has been one of the leading 14.2hh ponies over recent years and she showed she has lost none of her zest as she made all. Dylan gave her a breather four furlongs out and once he asked her to go about her business she quickly put the issue to rest to win for the Seamus Bergin from Shanahoe in Laois and make it two for the season.
Half Price looks to be an improving horse for Monasterevin owner Aidan Melia and he followed up his win on the beach in Louisburgh with a snug win. Browne-McMonagle sat second early before taking control and increasing the tempo four furlongs out.
Another horse from the Melia yard, Jungle Juice completed the rider’s hat-trick. He gave his mount a chance to find his feet early but saving as much ground as possible on the inside he got him home to win by three-quarters of a length.
As was the case in Louisburgh the previous week, it was a good day for horses from the Monasterevin area as, in addition the two Melia winners, the Buddy Harrison yard also sent out two winners.
Mr. Bud took the 15hh race in the hands of Ben Coen. Coen was in the first two throughout, hitting the front four furlongs out to win from the Daniel Gilligan-ridden Choc Ice.
Try Your Best then took the finale, the second division of the two-mile race for Angela Harrison. Joe Conlon made all the running here, getting a breather into him four furlongs out before quickening up for a comprehensive win.
In the first division of the two-mile race, another owner from the Monasterevin area, Teddy Worrell would have held high hopes for his Call The Guards, winner of the Derby in Glenbeigh last year but he had to give best to the Bronagh Murphy-owned Go Georgie Go in the hands of Gorey rider Cathal Gahan.
The Andrew Slattery-ridden Call The Guards would be considered unlucky however as he almost slipped up on the final bend with Andrew displaying great horsemanship to keep the partnership intact.
Slattery did have the consolation of winning the 14hh race on Fiddler’s Bridge. The Killenaule sat second early and once he nipped up the inside at half-way they never had a concern as they stretched clear to win readily from Bubalicious for the Finnerty stable.
Pat Taaffe landed the mile race as Mr. Pablo made all for a very impressive win although still displaying signs of greenness in what was only his third run. Thirteen-year-old Kilkea, Co. Kildare rider Michael McGuane is making great strides this year and following his first winner in horse class in Louisburgh, he quickly followed up with a win in the second division of the mile race.
McGuane gave a canny display of front-running riding as he dictated affairs from the front, gradually increasing the tempo to win from Banned Substance, one of three runner-up finishes on the day for Daniel Gilligan.
Gilligan did get a winner however, in the opening 12.2hh race where Just For James, another pony off the Tony Beegan conveyor belt, was the lone finisher as her solitary rival slipped-up.
RESULTS
Sunday, July 2nd
12.2HH Race: 1 T. Beegan’s JUST FOR JAMES (Daniel Gilligan) (only 1 Finished).
14 HH Race: 1, N, Finnerty’s FIDDLERS BRIDGE (Andrew Slattery): 2, N. Gilligan’s BUBALICIOUS (Daniel Gilligan) 3, Three County Syndicate’s ONE OF THE GIRLS (Jack Gilligan).
14.2 HH Race: 1, S. Bergin’s WARATAH (Dylan Browne-McMonagle): 2, JJ Bailey’s BLAZING GLORY (Ben Coen): 3, T. O’ Donovan’s PACMAN (J. Tudor).
15 HH Race: 1, B Harrison’s MR. BUD (Ben Coen): 2, M. Finnerty’s CHOC ICE (Daniel Gilligan): 3, C. Browne’s FOUR STONE OF LEAD (Dylan Browne-McMonagle).
Open Horse Race (1M) Div. 1: 1, J. Torrens’s MR. PABLO (Pat Taaffe): 2, T. Fennelly’s STORMFORCE (Ben Coen): 3, G. Boyle’s NEVER SAY NEVER (Dylan Browne-McMonagle)
Open Horse Race (1M) Div. 2: 1, Finn Syndicate’s OSAKA (Michael McGuane): 2, M. Flannery’s BANNED SUBSTANCE (Daniel Gilligan): 3, C. Casey’s SMILE FOR MILES (Chris Casey).
Open Horse Race (10F): 1, A. Melia’s HALF PRICE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle): 2, J. Torrens’s MORGAN SPICE (Pat Taaffe): 3, B. Harrison’s LAST CHANCE PADDY (Joe Conlon).
Open Horse Race (10F): 1, A. Melia’s JUNGLE JUICE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle): 2, N. Gilligan’s PHANTOM (Jack Gilligan): 3, L. McCarthy’s THE RUSSIAN (Ben Coen).
Open Horse Race (2M) Div. 1: 1, B. Murphy’s GO GEORGIE GO (Cathal Gahan): 2, I. Worrall’s CALL THE GUARDS (Andrew Slattery): 3, C. Bergin’s MOSSY (Dylan Browne-McMonagle)
Open Horse Race (2M) Div. 2: 1, A. Harrison’s TRY YOUR BEST (Joe Conlon): 2, R. Lynch’s CHESTNUT CHARLIE (Pat Taaffe): 3, J. Clifford’s SENSIBLE (J. Clifford)