THE Midlands circuit returned to Co. Laois for the first time in a number of years with a meeting just outside Ballacolla by kind permission of David Lalor.
On yet another sun-drenched afternoon there were doubles for Nina Doherty and Paddy Finnegan respectively. It was a day to savour for Sean Holohan who gained his first career success and who hopes to follow in the footsteps of his brother Reese.
Nina Doherty was on the mark in the 14hh contest when Wild Venture proved too strong for Jo Malone and Billy Roberts. The pair have dominated this division all season but this was their first occasion to actually go head-to-head.
Wild Venture travelled kindly all the way and ran on relentlessly down the straight to see off his big rival by a length at the line. Both ponies will again face-off at next month’s Dingle Festival and it will undoubtedly be another mouthwatering clash on a very different track.
The Doherty double came in the concluding non-winners’ race when Who’s Whispering Now justified strong market support to see off Leroy Brown and Jake Cromwell in convincing style.
The winner is owned by the Cregg family from Frenchpark, Co Roscommon and is likely to reappear in Ballyconneely tomorrow afternoon.
Double up
The reigning Dingle champion Paddy Finnegan initiated his brace when Michael Zamm put up a power-packed performance to win the 14.2hh contest. The impressive Clare winner was unlucky in Athea when running wide off the home bend but had no such difficulties this time round.
Always travelling on the pace, Paddy pressed the button at the three-furlong pole and Michael Zamm drew away for a hard-held success. This was a most popular victory for Seamus Bergin who was one of the main organisers of the fixture.
The clash of Michael Zamm and his Athea conqueror Lesson Learned will be another highlight in Ballintaggart next month.
Indeed, the day was to get even better for the Bergin family half an hour later when Firedrops came out on top in a three-way head-to-head at the end of the 15hh race. Black Taxi and Stick Season were involved in a battle royal from the furlong pole before Firedrops launched a withering run to land the spoils in the shadows of the post.
This Dingle specialist is a teak-tough performer and will be kept busy before returning to the kingdom.
Breakthrough winner
It was a red-letter day for 14-year-old Mountrath jockey Sean Holohan who gained his breakthrough winner on Rocky in the highly competitive one-mile race.
This new recruit to the Holohan yard bounced out in front here and led them a merry dance to the home turn.
Stepaside and Ben Lecky launched a serious challenge here but Rocky answered every call to run out a ready two-length winner at the post. This former Shane Crabbe inmate will surely have bright prospects over a mile in Dingle.
The Finnerty family from Co Roscommon are enjoying a season to savour and they completed yet another double courtesy of Little Fiddlers and Maverick.
Made in heaven
Holly Halford and Little Fiddlers look like a match made in heaven and they made it six wins on the bounce when sluicing home in the 13.2hh event.
Now settling like a dream in all her races, Little Fiddlers came there with a double handful and settled the issue in a matter of strides. Little Sadie kept on for second place under Peter Cremin.
Maverick has been one of the most consistent performers in recent seasons and he duly followed up his Athea success in the 12-furlong race.
Under an ice-cool Bobby Lambe drive, Maverick cut through the field before the straight and powered away from long-time leader Caro Quintero to win by four lengths.
The winning jockey has certainly come of age over the past number of weeks and looks another big name for the future. Runner-up Caro Quintero showed glimpses of his old form here and connections will no doubt be hoping for further improvement en route back to Dingle.
Meath jockey Kaceylou Carberry, who was on the mark in Portsalon with Shake Me, was back in the winner’s enclosure here with Mine Or Yours in the two-mile race. Under a stylish Carberry drive, Mine Or Yours was settled at the back early doors as the impressive Athea winner The Crooked Cop set a strong pace up front.
Off the home turn, Kaceylou was in full flow on Mine Or Yours and launched to the front inside the distance to run out snug victors for Shane Crabbe. Shane’s powerful yard is currently home to at least six possible strong Dingle Derby contenders.
Gained compensation
Billy Roberts, who was earlier denied on Jo Malone, gained compensation when Fill The Tank came home late and fast to land the 10-furlong race. Shane Tierney’s Ashbourne winner had been a shade disappointing in recent starts but bounced right back to form here for a comprehensive victory. The winner will now be put away for the 10-furlong race on the opening night in Dingle.
Cameron Cromwell continued his stellar season when Minie Hawk put up a taking performance to land the opening 12.2hh contest over six furlongs.
Tony Beegan’s winner is really benefiting from experience and ran on strongly to beat Little Joey and Paddy Finnegan.
Fixture notes
THE rescheduled Letterkenny races will go ahead this afternoon in Carrickadawson at 2.30pm. Please note the change of venue.
The traditional eve of Galway race meeting will be held in Ballyconneely, Co. Galway tomorrow at 1pm.
Racing returns to Omey Island on Sunday, August2nd.
The North West Racing Board will stage the Bank Holiday meeting in Ballintra, Co. Donegal on Monday, August 3rd
Results
12.2HH (6F): 1, T. Beegan’s MINNIE HAWK (Cameron Cromwell); 2, O. Finnegan’s LITTLE JOEY (Paddy Finnegan); 3, Curragh Racing’s LITTLE RORY (Rhiain Daly).
13.2HH (1M): 1, Finnerty Families LITTLE FIDDLERS (Holly Halford); 2, W. McGrath’s LITTLE SADIE (Peter Cremin); 3, F. Byrnes SPEED DIAL (Camillus Byrne).
14HH (1M): 1, A. Doherty’s WILD VENTURE (Nina Doherty); 2, Finnerty Families JO MALONE (Billy Roberts).
14.2HH (10F): 1, S. Bergin’s MICHAEL ZAMM (Paddy Finnegan); 2, A. Lambe’s PACMAN (Bobby Lambe); 3, O. Finnegan’s JUSTASEC (Thady Finnegan).
15HH (12F): 1, S. Bergin’s FIREDROPS (Paddy Finnegan); 2, S. Tynan’s BLACK TAXI (Kian McNally); 3, Cregg Families STICK SEASON (Nina Doherty).
Open Horse Race (1M): 1, N. Holohan’s ROCKY (Sean Holohan); 2, S & M Syndicate’s STEPASIDE (Ben Lecky); 3, H. Worrell’s TAKE ME HOME (Kian McNally).
Open Horse Race (10F): 1, S. Tierney’s FILL THE TANK (Billy Roberts); 2, P. Smith’s ALL EARS (Nina Doherty); 3, A. Thornington’s FAST AND FURIOUS (Callum Mangan).
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, Finnerty Families MAVERICK (Bobby Lambe); 2, L. McLaughlin’s CARA QUINTERO (Nina Doherty); 3, P. Smith’s DOREY’S FORGE (Holly Halford).
Open Horse Race (2M): 1, S. Crabbe’s MINE OR YOURS (Kaceylou Carberry); 2, S. Crabbe’s THE CROOKED COP (Camillus Byrne); 3, K. F. Racing’s RED TED (Bobby Lambe).
Non Winners Race (1M): 1, Cregg Families WHO’S WHISPERING NOW (Nina Doherty); 2, E. Massey’s LEROY BROWN (Jake Cromwell); 3, A. Lambe’s ENDLESS DREAMS (Bobby Lambe).
Local Pony Race: 1, ALFIE (Senan Farrell); 2, HEIDI (Harry McCullough).
Tiny Tots Race: 1, PRINCE (Roan Crabbe).