NORTH-WEST REGION,
LIFFORD
THE North-West Region returned to Lifford for the second week where Dylan Browne-McMonagle shared a hat-trick with his uncle Adrian.
Let’s Go Now got the pair rolling in the two-mile race under a patient ride as Dylan sat third before delivering his challenge just before the furlong marker and responding well to pressure to draw away from the Joey Dunne-ridden All About Chris.
Dylan’s second winner was as easy as they come as Five Stone Of Lead made most of the running before drawing right away from his two rivals over the final three furlongs, with the Jamie Kelly-ridden My Friend George taking minor honours.
He completed his treble, in the concluding non-winners’ race, on He’s Got It, who was kept in the rear of the field until the final four furlongs from where he made smooth progress to hit the front inside the final furlong and denying the Simpson/Laird combination their treble.
Christina Simpson spent a period riding as an apprentice for Andy Oliver, where she partnered two winners, and she has put that experience to good use upon her return to horse and pony racing as she recorded a double.
She took the opening 12-furlong race on Samuel Laird’s Walk The Line, who held off the determined challenge of the Joey Dunne-ridden Donegal Dan from two furlongs out. She then took the mile race on another Laird charge as Thunderstruck built on the promise of his previous run to score.
Christina sat fourth early and then got a dream run up the inner as they turned out of the straight at the halfway point. A number of her rivals were not so nimble turning in and that left Thunderstruck in total control, going on to score by eight lengths.
Ciara Mannion took the 15hh race with a pillar-to-post success on Angel Eyes for Laura Baird, stretching right away over the final three furlongs to win from Messi, who was a third visit of the day to the runner-up spot for Joey Dunne.
Derry-based Michael Day was another rider to have a day to remember as his victory in the novice rider and pony race was his first ever success.
Results
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Laird’s WALK THE LINE (Christina Simpson); 2, R. Gormley’s DONEGAL DAN (Joey Dunne); 3, D. Mullan’s MOVENS BOY (C. Faulkner).
Open Horse Race (2M): 1, A. Browne’s LET’S GO NOW (Dylan Browne Mc Monagle); 2, G. Collins’s ALL ABOUT CHRIS (Joey Dunne); 3, A. Browne’s YA WE SKITTER (Christina Simpson).
14.2HH/148cm Race (1M): 1, A. Browne’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, , S. Kelly’s MY FRIEND GEORGE (Jamie Kelly); 3, A. Browne’s LITTLE MIX (Christina Simpson).
Open Horse Race (1M): 1, S. Laird’s THUNDERSTRUCK (Christina Simpson); 2, A. Browne’s NEVER SAY NEVER (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, J. Holian’s AIDEEN’S DREAM (Joey Dunne).
15HH/153cm Race (10F) 1, L. Baird’s ANGEL EYES (Ciara Mannion); 2, l. McAteer’s MESSI (Joey Dunne); 3, , A. Browne’s DODGE THE BULLET (Dylan Browne-McMonagle).
Non-Winner’s Race (12F): 1, A. Brown’s HE’S GOT IT (Dylan Browne Mc Monagle); 2, S. Laird’s ALL JOKING ASIDE (Cristina Simpson); 3, S. Kelly’s EVER SO CLEVER (Jamie Kelly).
Novice Riders and Pony Race: 1, M. Day’s THE WHITE PONY (Michael Day); 2, D. Gibbons’ s SCOOTER (Dylan Gibbons); 3, D. Day’s THE MONKEY (Daniel Day).
News
THE Southern Region race in Caherciveen in Kerry today, Saturday, with a 3pm start to avoid a clash with Kerry’s All-Ireland Quarter-Final. Racing takes place the following weekend with the continental style combined gallop/trotting meeting in Ballabuidhe, Dunmanway, Co. Cork on Sunday August 6th and Monday August 7th.
THE Midlands Region Race, tomorrow, Sunday July 30th on Omey Beach, Claddaghduff, near Clifden with a 2pm start.
THE next action in the North-West Region is on the Bank Holiday Monday where the famous Ballintra Races held near Donegal town take their place back on the calendar after a year’s break. The first is due off at 2pm.