MIDLANDS REGION,
NAVAN
TIPPERARY rider Ben Coen stole the show at the Navan meeting of the Midlands Region last Sunday where he rode a fabulous four-timer.
Ben whose ability as a rider is demonstrated by the responsibility he shoulders by his riding at the Breeze-Up Sales for his uncle Andy Slattery has been a little below the radar in the Horse and Pony Racing world but he picked a good time to change this with the big Dingle Meeting coming soon.
Ben got his first winner of the day in the 14.2hh Race where he sat second on the John Joe Bailey-owned Blazing Glory until they turned into the straight where they drew clear to win from Waratah.
The Ballybrittas, Co. Laois yard of John Joe and Colin Bailey went on to complete a double as they also provided Ben’s fourth winner of the day when Blazing Saoirse took the concluding Non-Winners’ Race for Colin.
Fitted with first-time blinkers, she led from just over a furlong out but then nearly threw it away as she swerved near the finish when One Direction came with a renewed challenge.
Monasterevin-based Aidan Melia is having a great season with his horses and Jungle Juice provided him and Ben with the winner of the mile and six-furlong race. Jungle Juice took the lead from the four-furlong marker and stayed on well to win from Ben’s cousin Andrew Slattery on Waking Ned.
Brian Laird provided Ben with the other winner in his quartet as Ida’s Dream took the two-mile race from the Joe Conlon-ridden Try Your Best. Ida’s Dream was in the first two the whole way before gaining the upper hand in the final two furlongs.
FIRST WIN
The 14hh race will be memorable for 13-year-old Letterkenny rider Brandon McGlinchey-Wilkie who recorded his first ever win in what is effectively his first season, as he partnered Little Spirit to victory for Amanda Sweeney.
Having had to step up to the 13.2hh Class in Ballygluinan, Just For James was back in the more favourable 12.2-13hh Class and she duly took advantage to win for Tony Beegan in the hands of Danny Gilligan. Danny completed a double then by making all the running to win the 14hh Race on One Of The Girls for The Three County Syndicate.
Sam Ewing was another rider in double form vindicating his decision to choose Navan over the North-West Meeting in Lifford. Sam got his first winner in the mile race where he partnered Banned Substance for Michael Flannery. Sam sat third and showed great coolness as he waited for a gap until a furlong out before delivering his winning run.
The rider doubled-up by landing the 12-furlong race as Stormforce returned to winning ways after two recent runner-up finishes for owner Tom Fennelly. Sam dictated affairs from the front, he had his rivals in trouble a long way out as his mount galloped resolutely to win by six lengths.
Kilkea, Co. Kildare rider Michael McGuane is making significant progress this season and he added another winner to his growing tally as he won the 15hh race for his father Martin on Eclipse.
Michael tracked the pace-setting Mr. Bud before making his challenge as they turned in with about two furlongs to run and, after a ding-dong run to the line, Eclipse prevailed by a head.
The 12-furlong race went to the Bronagh Murphy-owned Go Georgie Go who won in the hands of 16-year-old Downpatrick rider Caoilin Quinn. Caoilin went to the front at about halfway and from there Go Georgie Go galloped on strongly to win readily.
Results
12.2 HH – 13 HH Combined Race (6F): 1, T. Beegan’s JUST FOR JAMES (Daniel Gilligan); 2, N. Mulligan’s WHERE IT BEGAN (Ben Mulligan)
13.2 HH Race (7F): 1, A. Sweeney’s LITTLE SPIRIT (Brandon McGlinchey-Wilkie); 2, L. Bergin MIKEY FINN (Sam Ewing)
14 HH (1 Mile): 1, Three County Syndicate’s ONE OF THE GIRLS (Daniel Gilligan); 2, J. Harris’s DON’T MIND ME (Sam Ewing); 3, K. Connell’s SHOOT THE STARS (Ben Coen).
14.2 HH (10F): 1, JJ Bailey’s BLAZING GLORY (Ben Coen); 2, S. Bergin’s WATATAH (Sam Ewing); 3, P. Lohan’s THE LOW ROAD (Daniel Gilligan).
15 HH Race (10F): 1, M. McGuane’S ECLIPSE (Michael McGuane); 2, B. Harrison’s Mr. Bud (Ben Coen); 3, J. Harris’s ELUSIVE RUBY (Sam Ewing).
Open Horse Race (1M 6F): 1, A. Melia’s JUNGLE JUICE (Ben Coen); 2, J. Finnerty’s WAKING NED (Andrew Slattery); 3, S. Headen’s ITS FATHER TED (J. McDonald).
Open Horse Race (1M): 1, M. Flannery’s BANNED SUBSTANCE (Sam Ewing); 2, S. Lohan’s DANCING IN THE DARK (Michael McGuane); 3, M. Finnerty’s OMEGA (Andrew Slattery)
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, B. Murphy’s GO GEORGIE GO (Caoilin Quinn); 2, L. McCarthy THE RUSSIAN (Michael McGuane); 3, M. Finnerty’s ROSNOVA (Andrew Slattery).
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, T. Fennelly’s STORMFORCE (Sam Ewing); 2, .B Harrison’s LAST CHANCE PADDY (Joe Conlon); 3, T. McCarthy’s STARMAN (Michael McGuane)
Open Horse Race (2M): 1, B. Laird’s IDA’S DREAM (Ben Coen); 2, A. Harrison’s TRY YOUR BEST (Joe Conlon); 3, C. Bergin’s MOSSY (Sam Ewing)
Non-Winners Race (1M): 1, C. Bailey BLAZING SAOIRSE (Ben Coen); 2, N. Gilligan’s ONE DIRECTION (Daniel Gilligan); 3, A. Gallagher’s NEVER SAY DIE (M McGuane).