THE North West Racing Board kicked off the 2026 summer pony racing season in style at Carndonagh on Sunday. The eight-race card produced top-drawer action from a record entry which bodes well for the campaign ahead.
Nina Doherty completed a sparkling treble and now moves on to the five-winner mark following her Ballyheigue New Year’s Day double.
Nina kicked off her winning spree when Wild Venture came home late and fast to catch the longtime leader Aisling’s Charm inside the distance in the 14hh race. The winner quickened up in impressive style and will likely hold high rank in this division in the weeks ahead.
The Meath jockey then combined with the locally based S&R Syndicate to land the 10-furlong event with Our Bridget. This debutante was given a beautiful ride from a mid-field pitch to strike the front at the furlong pole.
It was plain sailing from here with Our Bridget scoring readily by a length and a half at the line. The winner is trained by the youngest trainer on the circuit, Daithi Gormley, who quickly nominated the opening night in Dingle as the big objective for his stable star.
The Doherty treble came courtesy of the evergreen Tommy K who bounced out in front and made every inch of the running to win the two-mile contest in brilliant style. Nina continues to ride out at Gordon Elliott’s, Cullentra Stables and heads to Ashbourne on Sunday in top form. Owner Leona McLaughlin holds a strong hand in this division with Here We Go Again and Caro Quintero both producing taking performances on the day.
Off the mark
Paddy Finnegan, who took Dingle by storm last August got off the mark for the new season when Fat Jesus blitzed the field to win the first split of the mile contest. Shane Crabbe has a high-class string under his care and this new recruit could well be Dingle Golden Mile material on the basis of this performance. Fat Jesus is likely to reappear in Ashbourne on Sunday.
Shane Crabbe was quickly back in the winner’s enclosure after the second division of the mile race when His Or Mine ran out a snug winner under Camillus Byrne.
Two lengths separated the first three home here with Hills Of Donegal running on strongly for second spot and Take Me Home catching the eye in third.
Team Browne enjoyed five winners at this meeting a few years back with Dylan Browne McMonagle and the Letterkenny stable sent out Shake Me to land the 12-furlong contest.
The 2024 Dingle winner missed most of last season through injury but looked back to his very best here under a polished Kaceylou Carberry drive. Another Shane Crabbe debutante Uncle Albert ran on strongly in second and looks a surefire winner in waiting.
Ben Lecky was seen to good effect when Stop On Red made every post a winning one to win the 15hh contest with consummate ease. Jungle Joe caught the eye when running on for second place behind Shane Durning and Michael Orr’s winner. Both horses are Ashbourne bound on Sunday for the rematch.
Guns blazing
The Cromwell brothers are heading into this season with all guns blazing and they filled the first two placings in a red-hot 14.2hh event.
Fiadh’s Fancy tried to make all the running here but was collared a furlong and a half down by Lesson Learned who was now in full flow under Cameron Cromwell.
The partnership quickened impressively inside the distance and had six lengths to spare over All Bets Are Off and Jake Cromwell. The winner is expected to be effective right up to a mile and a half and looks set for a stellar season.
Full marks to all concerned for running this fixture in a timely and professional manner.
Fixture news:
The Midlands circuit will begin tomorrow in Ashbourne, Co. Meath with a 1pm start.
Racing will return to Carndonagh on Sunday, May 24th at 1.30pm.
Results
14hh (1M): 1, A. Doherty’s WILD VENTURE (Nina Doherty); 2, L Mahon’s AISLING’S CHARM (Sean Mahon); 3, K. Cromwell’s LITTLE MICKY (Cameron Cromwell|).
14.2hh (1M): 1, K. Cromwell’s LESSON LEARNED (Cameron Cromwell); 2, K. Cromwell’s ALL BETS ARE OFF (Jake Cromwell); 3, Hollian Syndicate’s (Camillus Byrne).
15hh (1M): 1, S & M Syndicate’s STOP ON RED (Ben Lecky); 2, S. Crabbe’s JUNGLE JOE (Paddy Finnegan); 3, S & M Syndicate’s WEE MIA (Nina Doherty).
Open Horse Race Div 1 (1M): 1, S. Crabbe’s FAT JESUS (Paddy Finnegan); 2, S & M Syndicate’s STEP ASIDE (Ben Lecky); 3, T. Beegan’s COULD BE ANYTHING (Paddy McGowan).
Open Horse Race Div 2 (1M): 1, S, Crabbe’s HIS OR MINE (Camillus Byrne); 2, Team Browne’s HILLS OF DONEGAL (Jake Cromwell); 3, I. Worrell’s TAKE ME HOME (Nina Doherty).
Open Horse Race (10F): 1, S & R Syndicate’s OUR BRIDGET (Nina Doherty); 2, G. Faulkner’s COASTAL VIEW (Camillus Byrne); 3, S. Crabbe’s MR CHOW (Paddy Finnegan).
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, Team Browne’s SHAKE ME (Kaceylou Carberry); 2, S. Crabbe’s UNCLE ALBERT (Camillus Byrne); 3, L, McLaughlin’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Billy Roberts).
Open Horse Race (2M): 1, L. McLaughlin’s TOMMY K (Nina Doherty); 2, S. Crabbe’s MINE OR YOURS (Paddy Finnegan); 3, L. Mahon’s NO COMMENT (Leah Mahon).