FOURTEEN-year-old Andy Ott Burke had a day to remember last Sunday at Caherciveen as he registered his first ever winner while Ed Vaughan, son of Welsh trainer Tim, who makes an occasional foray onto the Irish circuit, followed up on his 2017 winner at the venue with a treble, all for the Listowel-based Curly Syndicate.

Vaughan who is one of the leading riders on the UK pony racing circuit, took the opening 12.2hh race as Another Tiger had to be driven out to beat the veteran Tail To Tail, ridden by Dylan O’Connor.

Sore Looser caused an upset in the 13.2hh race as he burst through inside the final 100 yards to defeat stablemate Hello Thunder to make it a double. Vaughan then completed his hat-trick in the 14.2hh as Sandycove won over a 12-furlong trip many would have thought to be unfavourably long. The rider bounced out in front, got a breather into his mount after half-way and then saw off the late challenge of The Green Monkey.

Conor Walsh who has dominated these smaller pony classes didn’t go home empty-handed either as he took the 14hh race where Hello Star made all to last home by a length from Obi One Knobi.

Danny King continued his relentless gallop towards the southern riders’ championship with a four-timer, three of the winners shared with the Davy Keane-led Castle Racing.

Xantico took the 12-furlong 15hh race as Danny kicked on half a mile out before holding off the late challenge of stamina-proven Red Handed. Kobayashi returned to winning ways in the first divide of the 10-furlong race, with the Michael McGuane-ridden That’s Our Grouse taking the runner-up spot. Michael was again to fill the runner-up spot following the featured Caherciveen Derby where Tiger Force, who looked a certain winner turning in, held off the late surge of The Boss by the minimum margin.

King completed his four-timer in the maiden where Kieran Murphy’s Killian’s Pride reeled in Roll Of Thunder for a length win.

Newmarket, Co. Cork rider Andy Burke Ott landed his first career victory on I’m On A Mission, as his father Alex’s charge took the second divide of the 10-furlong race, making all to win from the Joey Sheridan-ridden Shrek. Sheridan gained quick compensation however, as he then took the next race on the card, the 12-furlong race as The Poacher ran out a very impressive winner for James Collins with the Brian Barry-ridden Not Now Ned chasing them home.

The finale was a local horse race for horses from the Iveragh Peninsula and that went to Killorglin owner Eoghan O’Sullivan whose Cali Cartel scored in the hands of Ross Sugrue, denying Close Encounters’ attempt to land the race for the fourth time in five years in the process.