OMEY BEACH

MIDLANDS REGION

OMEY Beach near Clifden in Co. Galway hosted the second stage of the midlands region bank holiday double-header last Sunday where the less than ideal weather failed to deter the large attendance.

The weather would not have dampened the spirits of Ashbourne, Co. Dublin rider Emma Sweeney who landed the feature event over a mile on Dancinginthedark for Sinead Lohan.

Sweeney got the inside berth early and this was to prove crucial as she was forced to pull out all the stops to hold off the persistent challenge of the Rossa Ryan ridden Our Daryl.

Mark Crehan took the overall riding honours as he bagged a double. He took the 14hh race on Kaylessi for P.J. Cregg and they won from the Danny Gilligan-ridden Shoot The Breeze.

He then stepped in for the ride on Pacman for Amanda Sweeney who made most of the running and held off a brave challenge from the Evan Daly-ridden Blazing Glory to follow up their Ballyconneely win of the previous day.

Tammy’s Fly was another pony to do the double as he took the 13hh race for P.J. Davis. Athy rider Robbie Smithers took over from his brother Peter who was victorious the previous day P.J. Davis’s charge.

Drive On George, who finished runner-up to Snowdrop on Saturday, got his revenge when he won the 15hh race from another Finnerty runner, Choc Ice.

Fourteen-year-old Downpatrick rider Caoilin Quinn gave Drive On George a fine drive to win the 15hh race for Gerry Murphy. He sat third on the inner before unleashing a winning run two furlongs from home.

The two-mile race was a real stamina sapping event on the sodden sand and was run at a relentless gallop Luke Bleahen controlled the tempo throughout, holding enough in reserve to win from Mahuta and Mark Crehan.

Rossa Ryan was always going to find the day somewhat of an anti-climax after the five-timer the previous day, but he didn’t go home empty handed however as he won the 12-furlong race on Last Chance Paddy for Monasterevan owner Buddy Harrison.

RESULTS

Sunday, August 2nd

13HH (6F): 1, P.J. Davis’ TAMMY’S FLY (Robert Smithers); 2, R. Cregg’s WEE BUMBLE (Mark Crehan); 3, Finnerty Family’s WAGTAIL (Rossa Ryan).

14HH (1M): 1, P.J Cregg’s KAYLEESI (Luke Bleahen); 3, K. Connell’s SHOOT THE BREEZE (Danny Gilligan); 3, P.J Davis’ BAY LEAF (Robert Smithers).

14.2HH (10F) 1, A. Sweeney’s PACMAN (Evan Daly); 2, J. J. Bailey’s BLAZING GLORY (Evan Daly); 3, K. Cogan’s WEINA (Bryan Tully).

15HH (1M): 1, G. Murphy’s DRIVE ON GEORGE (Caoilin Quinn); 2, J. Finnerty’s CHOC ICE (Rossa Ryan); 3, E. Sweeney’s SHE’S MY BABY (Emma Sweeney).

Omey Derby (1M): 1, S. Lohan’s DANCINGINTHEDARK (Emma Sweeney); 2, B. Harrison’s OUR DARYL(R Smithers); 3, McNamara Syndicate’s OSAKA (Luke Bleahen).

Open Horse (12F): 1, B. Harrison’s LAST CHANCE PADDY (Rossa Ryan); 2, I. Daly’s SECOND CHANCE (Evan Daly); 3, M. Crehan’s TANE HOKA HOKA (Mark Crehan).

Open Horse (2M): 1, Going Broke Syndicate’s SEE YOU AGAIN (Luke Bleahen); 2, M. Crehan’s MAHUTA (Mark Crehan); 3, P. McNamara CASEY’S DILEMMA (Evan Daly).