THE Midlands season came to a conclusion on the beautiful Carrowniskey Beach in Louisburgh on Sunday last.
Mayo people are still on a high following their All-Ireland victory and race goers were certainly in an ebullient mood for the six-race card. We all wish Dylan Browne McMonagle - who was a former champion jockey at this meeting - a very speedy recovery and it was gratifying to see him out and about at the Curragh races on Saturday.
Camillus Byrne who will shortly end his pony racing career completed a double on Speed Dial and Black Betty respectively. The Meath jockey has enjoyed a remarkable season and looks destined for an exciting career on the track.
Speed Dial is a young pony who has gained invaluable experience this season and put up a fine performance to win the 13.2hh contest. The Frances Byrne-owned pony travelled well throughout and quickened nicely at the furlong pole to run out a very snug two-length winner. Speed Dial could well reappear in Carndonagh tomorrow afternoon.
Camillus completed his double when Black Betty followed up her Geesala victory in the 14.2hh race over one mile. Now owned by Shane Crabbe, the winner enjoys a similar profile to Speed Dial and looks rapidly on the upgrade.
Retained in Ireland
Let us hope that these two winners and the placed ponies will be retained in Ireland for the many young jockeys who are currently beginning their pony racing careers.
Paddy Finnegan, who looks set to be crowned the champion jockey for the 2026 season, was on the mark when Little Heart put up another blistering performance to win the one-mile 15hh contest.
Ollie Finnegan’s multiple Dingle winner routed the opposition in Cahersiveen and, if anything, was even more impressive on this occasion. With his customary change of gear, Little Heart is equally effective on grass or sand and will now head to Scotland this weekend with all guns blazing for the featured Peter Pan Handicap Race.
Runner-up The Wee Warrior ran another creditable race in second and while no match for the winner is a decent prospect for next season.
A Better Plan has certainly been well named and continued on his merry winning way when putting up a stellar performance to win the first split of the mile race. Shane Gildea’s shrewd pre-Dingle purchase was never out of second gear here and absolutely blitzed his rivals under the welter burden of 10st 10lbs.
Rathmolyon, Co Meath jockey Nina Doherty could afford a leisurely look around for non-existent dangers as the Dingle Golden Mile hero sluiced home with any amount in hand. A Better Plan will bid to extend his winning sequence in Carndonagh tomorrow.
Perfect end
The on-course bookmakers had the perfect end to the midlands season when the outsider of the party Ask Mama landed the second division of the mile race under Ethan Hogan.
This debutante, owned by the M & M Syndicate, made every inch of the running to win by two lengths from Luke Kelly and Jake Cromwell. Winning jockey Ethan Hogan has caught the eye in recent weeks and will surely be a big force on the circuit next season.
Cameron Cromwell has enjoyed a season to savour and he opened the meeting in style when Minie Hawk proved too strong for Little Joey in the 12.2hh race.
Tony Beegan’s Dingle-winning pony, who was third in Cahersiveen, gained revenge on Little Joey by two lengths on this occasion. Cameron Cromwell and Thady Finnegan, who finished second, have both enjoyed wonderful seasons up and down the country and form part of an impressive cohort of young riders on the circuit.
THE North West Racing Board, fresh from a remarkable strike-rate at the Dingle Festival, will race in Carndonagh, Co Donegal tomorrow at 1.30pm.
Results
12.2HH (6F): 1, T. Beegan’s MINIE HAWK (Cameron Cromwell); 2, O. Finnegan’s LITTLE JOEY (Thady Finnegan).
13.2HH (1M): 1, F. Byrne’s SPEED DIAL (Camillus Byrne); 2, K. Cromwell’s LITTLE MICKEY (Cameron Cromwell); 3, O. Finnegan’s SMOKEY LADY (Thady Finnegan).
14.2HH (1M): 1, S. Crabbe’s BLACK BETTY (Camillus Byrne); 2, S. Crabbe’s LITTLE PRINCESS (Paddy Finnegan); 3, P.J. Donnelly’s FOREIGN IVY (Ethan Hogan).
15HH (1M): 1, O. Finnegan’s LITTLE HEART (Paddy Finnegan); 2, P. McGill’s THE WEE WARRIOR (Ethan Hogan); 3, O. Finnegan’s LITTLE MAN (Thady Finnegan).
Louisburgh Derby Div 1 (1M): 1, S. Gildea’s A BETTER PLAN (Nina Doherty); 2, S. Crabbe’s SEAFORD SUNSET (Paddy Finnegan); 3, F. Byrne’s BUBBLES (Camillus Byrne).
Louisburgh Derby Div 2 (1M): 1, M & M Syndicate’s ASK MAMA (Ethan Hogan); 2, I. Worrell’s LUKE KELLY (Jake Cromwell); 3, Finnerty Families MAVERICK (Nina Doherty).