NORTH WEST REGION

GARVAGH SATURDAY

THE North West Region got their season underway last weekend with a two day meeting in Garvagh, Co Derry.

It also marked the first appearance in pony racing of 13-year-old Pat Taaffe, son of well-known trainer Tom and grandson of the legendary Pat. He opened his account in the first race on the card as he partnered newcomer Don’t Know to victory for Ronan Welsh in the mile and a quarter race. Pat sat handy throughout before hitting the front a furlong out and then withstanding the late charge of Let Him Go.

Taaffe then went on to win the two-mile maiden on Where’s Johnny.

Despite being a multiple winner in the Midlands, the conditions of the race were for horses who had not won in the North West Region and the Ronnie Wilson-owned horse exploited this under a confident ride.

Taaffe was happy to take his time early, however once asked to take closer order with about three furlongs to travel, they quickly put the issue beyond doubt as they drew away for an impressive win.

Taaffe must have had high hopes of a treble in the 15hh race where he partnered Who Dat, but he had to give way here to Rossa Ryan who partnered The Wagon Wheel to a four-length win.

The mile race was won by Morgan Spice who Evan Daly produced up the inside off the final turn to win for Peter Mooney.

The concluding 14-furlong race was who by Forget Me Not who was given a very confident ride by 18-year-old Strabane rider Erin Campbell.

The rider sat last through the early part of the race but maintaining an even tempo on the tacky ground paid off for her as she came through smoothly to lead before the distance and won easily by four lengths.

Jamie Kelly, son of Draperstown trainer Noel, took the local novice riders race on Little Moonshine.

RESULTS

Open Horse (10F): 1, R. Walsh’s DON’T KNOW (Pat Taaffe); 2, A. Browne’s LET HIM GO (Rossa Ryan); 3, P. Mooney’s SCRAGGY BAY (Evan Daly).

Open Horse (1M): 1, P. Mooney’s MORGAN SPICE (Evan Daly); 2, A. Browne’s ONWARDS AND UPWARDS (Ciara Mannion); 3, A. Browne’s THE BULL McCABE (Rossa Ryan).

Maiden Horse (2M): 1, R. Wilson’s WHERE’S JOHNNY (Pat Taaffe); 2, J. Toal’s WELSH HOPE (Evan Daly); 3, U. Adair’s DILEMMA (Jay Gibney).

15HH (153cm) (10F): 1, A. Browne’s THE WAGON WHEEL (Rossa Ryan); 2, S. Laird’s WHO DAT (Pat Taaffe); 3, L. McAteer’s TAYLOR (Luke McAteer).

Open Horse (14F): 1, B. Duffy’s FORGET ME NOT (Erin Campbell); 2, A. Browne’s FORGET ME NOT (Rossa Ryan); 3, P. Mooney’s LIBBY’S DREAM (Liam Gilligan).

Local Pony: 1, J. Kelly’s LITTLE MOONSHINE (Jamie Kelly); 2, R. Laird’s BELLE (R. Laird);