HEAVY Sunday morning fog lifted for the first four races, but unfortunately came right back over Ballintaggart just before the feature.

Dingle Derby day has produced some of the most iconic moments in pony racing from local hero Jack Kennedy on Coola Boola to Dylan Browne McMonagle on Let’s Go.

This year’s Derby, sponsored for the first time by Barr Na Sraide and Paul Geaney, was again no exception.

It was 14-year-old Ballyduff, Co Kerry jockey Billy Roberts, having his first Derby ride, who emerged from the fog on Here We Go Again to land a famous victory.

Now owned by Leona McLaughlin, Here We Go Again is a three-time winner of the Derby Trial, but had previously failed to put it all together in Sunday’s feature.

Front rank

Billy had the imposing chesnut in front rank throughout and he stayed on powerfully to see off Ladies’ Derby winner Sam’s Friend and Paddy Finnegan with stable companion Tommy K in third for Nina Doherty.

Billy represents the younger cohort of pony racing jockeys and the talented teenager is attached to the Eoin McCarthy yard.

Paddy Finnegan, who was runner-up in the Derby, completed a double for the Bergin family from Co Laois. Firedrops, who finished like a train on Saturday evening, appreciated the step up in distance to land the 15hh race.

Seamus Bergin’s Athea winner thus reversing form from the previous night with Hasta La Vista.

Liam Bergin’s Jacob, who ran a cracker to be third in the Golden Mile, put up a stellar performance to win the opening 10-furlong contest.

Jacob proved too strong for the gallant Bubbles inside the final furlong.

Halford double

Holly Halford has really enjoyed her pony racing career and she was rewarded with a brilliant double in the final two races of the festival.

Holly gave Athy Spirit a peach of a drive to land the mile race from Green Whistle. Up there all the way, the Finnerty-owned Athy Spirit forged away in the closing stages for a snug win.

This was a very poignant victory as the horse’s previous owner, Tom Fennelly, never missed a Dingle Festival and sadly passed away just a few months ago.

Consolation

Holly completed a famous double when the family-owned Smooth Operator sluiced home in the concluding consolation race over 12 furlongs.

The 12.2hh Pony Derby produced yet another dramatic finish between South Of The Border and Tiny Dancer. The photo-finish camera was needed yet again, but this time failed to split the mounts of Ciano Goff and Peter Cremin.

Jake Cromwell has certainly relished his first Dingle Festival and he rounded it off in the best possible fashion when Little Chief became the third dual winner of the meeting in the 14.2hh contest. Jimmy Brady’s winner made all the running here to see off Wee Bucks.

Paddy Finnegan was crowned the Champion Jockey of Dingle Races 2025 with Nina Doherty as the Ladies’ Champion.

Full marks to the Dingle Race Committee led by Colm Sayers on another outstanding Dingle Festival which was run in a timely and professional manner.

Fixture notes

The Midlands circuit will resume in Geesala this afternoon and will continue again tomorrow.

Sunday Results

12.2HH (1M): Dead-Heat 1, M. Mulcahy’s TINY DANCER (Peter Cremin); Dead-Heat 1, P. Collins SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Ciano Goff); 3, W. McGrath’s LITTLE BLUEBELL (Camillus Byrne).

14.2HH (12F): 1, J. Brady’s LITTLE CHIEF (Jake Cromwell); 2, Holian Syndicate’s WEE BUCKS (Camillus Byrne); 3, K. Connell’s AN CAPALL DUBH (Nina Doherty).

15HH (12F): 1, S. Bergin’s FIREDROPS (Paddy Finnegan); 2, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LA VISTA (Reese Holohan); 3, O. Finnegan’s NOT ANOTHER HORSE (Thady Finnegan).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, Finnerty Families ATHY SPIRIT (Holly Halford); 2, F. Byrne’s GREEN WHISTLE (Camillus Bryne); 3, H. McGee’s HUGGIN DE GRASS (Eoin Sheehan).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, L. Bergin’s JACOB (Paddy Finnegan); 2, F. Byrne’s BUBBLES (Camillus Byrne); 3, McGinley Racing’s DREAM DANCER (Nina Doherty).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, L. Halford’s SMOOTH OPERATOR (Holly Halford); 2, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A FREEBIE (Paddy Finnegan); 3, Irish Angle Syndicate’s COASTAL VIEW (Camillus Byrne).

Barr Na Sraide Inn & Paul Geaney Dingle Derby: 1, L. McLaughlin’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Billy Roberts); 2, S. Crabbe’s SAM’S FRIEND (Paddy Finnegan); 3, L. McLaughlin’s TOMMY K (Nina Doherty).