Bundoran Saturday

THE North West Racing Board staged the rearranged Bundoran meeting on Saturday last near Finner Camp.

Unfortunately, there was no let up in the rainfall that had plagued the county over the last week and conditions were extremely testing for man and beast.

However, the show must go on and there were doubles apiece for Nina Doherty and Paddy Finnegan respectively.

Nina opened proceedings, with Wild Venture making practically every inch of the running to win the 14hh contest. The real eye-catcher here was the inexperienced Able Mable, who stayed on strongly down the straight to get within a length of the winner. Everyone will be awaiting the mouth-watering clash between Wild Venture and Jo Malone at next month’s Dingle festival.

Nina was again seen to great effect when Our Bridget landed a highly-competitive 10-furlong contest in scintillating fashion. Under a fine patient Doherty drive, Our Bridget sluiced through the field before the home turn and forged clear up the straight for an eight-length victory. The Daithi Gormley-trained winner looks an ideal candidate for the Laura Barry Ladies’ Derby next month in Ballintaggart.

Meath jockey Paddy Finnegan is enjoying a wonderful season and he initiated a double when Rocky ran out a slick winner of the mile race. Shane Crabbe’s winner had scored in Clare a week earlier and looks rapidly on the upgrade. The powerful Crabbe stable struck again when the debutant The Monk powered home to catch Tommy K in the two-mile contest.

Well supported in the betting ring, the winner was quickly nominated for next month’s Dingle Derby. The gallant runner-up Tommy K will head for the Derby Trial on the opening night of the festival.

Unbeaten record

The brilliant Hasta La Vista maintained her unbeaten record when landing the 15hh race under Camillus Byrne. This was certainly the finish of the afternoon, with Little Heart looking all over a winner having quickened impressively on the down hill run to the straight.

Hasta La Vista is as tough as teak however and, under a strong Camillus drive, flashed home to gain the spoils in the shadows of the post. The rematch over three days in Dingle will be eagerly awaited.

Second Violin is enjoying a great season for McGinley Racing and he was back in the winner’s enclosure following a cosy victory in the 12-furlong race. This event was run in memory of the late Margo Quinn, who was a longstanding stalwart of the Bundoran races. Second Violin revelled in the soft conditions, under a cool Jake Cromwell drive. The partnership ran on dourly for a three-length victory over Here We Go Again.

Thady Finnegan is one of the bright stars of the pony division and he was on the mark with Wee Bucks in the 14.2hh race over 12 furlongs. Again revelling in the conditions, the battle hardened Wee Bucks proved too strong for All Bets Are Off down the straight, with three lengths between them at the line.

Results

14HH (1M): 1, A. Doherty’s WILD VENTURE (Nina Doherty); 2, O. Finnegan’s ABLE MABLE (Thady Finnegan); 3, F. Byrne’s SPEED DIAL (Camillus Byrne).

14.2HH (12F): 1, Holian Syndicate’s WEE BUCKS (Thady Finnegan); 2, K. Cromwell’s ALL BETS ARE OFF (Jake Cromwell); 3, J. McGettigan’s FIADH’S FANCY (Nina Doherty).

15HH (1M): 1, F. Byrne’s HASTA LA VISTA (Camillus Byrne); 2, O. Finnegan’s LITTLE HEART (Paddy Finnegan); 3, S & M Syndicate’s STOP ON RED (Ben Lecky).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, S. Crabbe’s ROCKY (Paddy Finnegan); 2, Team Browne’s LET’S TRY AGAIN (Kaceylou Carberry); 3, S. Crabbe’s HIS OR MINE (Camillus Byrne).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, S & R Syndicate’s OUR BRIDGET (Nina Doherty); 2, Holian Syndicate’s DARE TO DREAM (Jake Cromwell); 3, McGinley Racing’s DREAM DANCER (Cayden Power).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, McGinley Racing’s SECOND VIOLIN (Jake Cromwell); 2, L. McLaughlin’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Nina Doherty); 3, S. Crabbe’s MINE OR YOURS (Kaceylou Carberry).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, S. Crabbe’s THE MONK (Paddy Finnegan); 2, L. McLaughlin’s TOMMY K (Nina Doherty); 3, S. Crabbe’s SAM’S FRIEND (Camillus Byrne).