NORTH-WEST
REGION - LIFFORD
THE north-west region of the horse and pony racing association kicked off their season at a damp Lifford last Sunday where stamina was at a premium on testing ground.
It was the only meeting of the week, and a number of horses and riders made long journeys to compete and Mallow, Co Cork rider Darragh O’Keeffe justified his long journey with a double.
O’Keeffe took the 14.2hh race on Pacman for Amanda Sweeney as he made most of the running, getting a breather into him at half-way before kicking clear to win from One Of The Boys. He then completed his double in the 15hh race as Angel Eyes took the honours for Laura Baird, again making the running and denying a brave effort from the Luke McAteer-ridden Messi.
Galway rider Rossa Ryan was last year’s north-west region champion jockey and he got his title defence off to a solid start by also registering a double for Letterkenny-based Adrian Browne.
Ryan landed the day’s opener on Never Say Never as he dictated affairs from the front to win the mile race from last year’s champion lady rider, Ciara Mannion on I’m On A Mission.
Ryan later landed the 12-furlong race on Let Him Go. The rider was content to sit back and let others contest the lead early on before swooping past two furlongs out for a comprehensive victory. This completed a treble for the Adrian Browne team as they also landed the maiden race with Athea Jade who was ridden by last year’s Dingle Derby hero Dylan Browne-McMonagle.
Formerly campaigned in the south, this recent addition to the Browne stable had to dig deep to see off the persistent challenge of the Ciara Mannion-ridden Banned Substance inside the final 50 yards.
Pat Taaffe took the two-mile race on Mr. Bowen, the grey winning in very impressive fashion, making it three from three in horse and pony racing, as he reinforced his credentials as a leading contender for this year’s Dingle Derby.
Kanturk, Co Cork-based Jerry Daly who heads up the Three County Syndicate made the long trip north and they took two races to make the journey home feel a bit shorter.
Good Times Ahead took the 10-furlong race under Danny Sheehy who sat second early on before striking for home with about two furlongs to travel to win from the Daniel McMenamin-ridden Tinkerbell. Danny’s younger brother Mikey scored on Jerry’s other winner as Raynuso took the 13.2/14hh combined race from Little Molly. The novice pony race saw two 10-year-old riders going head-to-head with Carndonagh rider Luke Turner on Jim getting the better of Paddy who was ridden by Meath-based Rory Mulligan. This was Luke’s first ever race, while Rory had participated in just one previous race.
RESULTS
Sunday May 22nd
Open Horse Race (1M): 1, A. Browne’s NEVER SAY NEVER (Rossa Ryan); 2, M. Flannery’s I’M ON A MISSION (Ciara Mannion); 3, P. Mooney’s MORGAN SPICE (Pat Taaffe).
Open Horse race (10F): 1, Jerry Daly’s GOOD TIMES AHEAD (Danny Sheehy); 2, Laura Baird’s TINKERBELL (Daniel McMenamin); 3, A. Browne’s LET US GO (Rossa Ryan).
14.2HH/148cm Race (1M): 1, A. Sweeney’s PACMAN (Darragh O‘Keeffe); 2, Jerry Daly’s ONE OF THE BOYS (Danny Sheehy); 3, K. Orr’s ONE DIRECTION (Rossa Ryan).
Maiden Horse Race (1M): 1, A Browne’s ATHEA JADE (Dylan Browne Mc Monagle); 2, M. Flannery’s BANNED SUBSTANCE (Ciara Mannion); 3, J. Torren’s MR CARSON (Pat Taaffe).
13.2/14HH Race (1M): 1, Jerry Daly’s RAYNUSSO (Mikey Sheehy); 2, D Donnelly’s LITTLE MOLLY (Rossa Ryan); 3, A. Sweeney’s KAYLESSIE (Darragh O’Keeffe).
15HH/153cm Race (1M): 1, Laura Baird’s ANGEL EYES (Darragh O’Keeffe); 2, l. McAteer’s MESSI (Luke McAteer); 3, P. Holion’s SEABISCUIT (Joe Conlon).
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, A. Browne’s LET HIM GO (Rossa Ryan); 2, Jerry Daly’s THE BALLYOGAN ROAD (Danny Sheehy); 3, G. Collins FORGET ME NOT (Killian Gallagher).
Open Horse Race (2M): 1, J. Torren’s MR BOWEN (Pat Taaffe); 2, U. Adair’s DELMIA (Darragh Keenan); 3, S. Laird’s WALK THE LINE (Luke McAteer).
Novice Pony Race: 1, L. Turner’s JIM (Luke Turner); 2, R. Mulligan’s PADDY (Rory Mulligan)
Southern: The region race in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny tomorrow, Sunday with a 1pm start. Registrations will be taken from 11.30am and must be made before racing starts. Passports must be available for inspection. All jockeys must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to sign the relevant Registration Forms.
North-West: The region will hold their next meeting in Ramelton, Co Donegal on Sunday June 5th at 2pm. This is a pre-entry meeting sand entries which can be given to 086-3974065, close on Wednesday June 1st at 6pm.
Midlands: The region’s next fixture is in Dartfield, Loughrea, Co Galway on Sunday June 5th with a 1pm start. All Registrations must be completed before racing starts.
Congratulations: Everyone in pony racing was delighted to see two former riders win their first classics last weekend, Chris Hayes and Shane Foley, who was mainly based on the north-west circuit where he rode for Letterkenny-based Adrian Browne.