THE field of dreams in Ballintaggart certainly lived up to its name on Friday evening for the opening stage of the Dingle Festival. A record crowd, in glorious sunshine, overlooking Dingle Bay were treated to top drawer racing and there were doubles for Reese Holohan and Paddy Finnegan respectively.

The biggest upset of the evening came in the 14.2hh contest over a mile when Fiadh’s Fancy put up a tremendous performance to see off Five Stone Of Lead.

Reese set sail off the final bend and Fiadh’s Fancy quickened impressively for a first festival triumph. The winner is owned by the McGettigan family, who are living the dream with Paddy’s success on the track. Runner-up Five Stone Of Lead went out on her shield and her Dingle record is unlikely ever to be equalled.

Reese doubled up in equally impressive style when Hasta La Vista gained another course victory in the one-mile, 15hh race. Mags O’Connor’s winner made every inch of the running and won with loads in hand over Stick Season.

Paddy Finnegan from Navan represents the bright young brigade of new pony racing recruits and he gave Mr Bean an ultra-cool drive to win the mile and six furlong race. This attractive grey horse bounced away in front and Paddy judged the fractions to perfection for a cosy victory.

The Finnegan double came courtesy of the high-class Little Heart who won the mile race on the bridle. This course specialist looks sure to give Paddy many more big days in the saddle.

Carberry first

Kaceylou Carberry gained her first Dingle victory when Check It Out was awarded the opening mile and a half contest in the stewards’ room. Team Browne’s Ballintra winner lost out by a short-head in a driving finish to Caro Quintero here, but the stewards were unhappy with a pre-race incident and quickly amended the result.

Nina Doherty continued her outstanding season when Here We Go Again landed his third successive Derby Trial race. The imposing chesnut, now owned by Donegal’s Leona McLaughlin, once again made all the running to win in style from Little Rocket. This was also the first Dingle victory for the Meath jockey.

Jared Huggan from Hawick in the Scottish Borders was on the mark when Remember Us followed up his Ballyconneely win by landing the mile and two-furlong contest.

Remember Us looks a really high-class recruit to the Lohan stable in Co Galway and forged clear up the straight for a resounding success.

Friday Results

14.2HH (1M): 1, J. McGettigan’s FIADH’S FANCY (Reese Holohan); 2, McNally Racing’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 3, K. Cromwell’s ALL BETS ARE OFF (Jake Cromwell).

15HH (1M): 1, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LA VISTA (Reese Holohan); 2, Cregg Family’s STICK SEASON (Nina Doherty); 3, O. Finnegan’s NOT ANOTHER HORSE (Thady Finnegan).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, I. Worrell’s LITTLE HEART (Paddy Finnegan); 2, K. Flannery’s THE NEW HOUSE (Eoin Sheehan); 3, Team Browne’s HE’S SOME BOY (Kaceylou Carberry).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, S. Lohan’s REMEMBER US (Jared Huggan); 2, McNally Racing’s SHE’S GOT IT (Kian McNally); 3, Team Browne’s HILL OF DONEGAL (Kaceylou Carberry).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, Team Browne’s CHECK IT OUT (Kaceylou Carberry); 2, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A FREEBIE (Reese Holohan); 3, A. Sweeney’s WALTZING MATILDA (Nina Doherty).

Open Horse Race (14F): 1, O. Finnegan’s MR BEAN (Paddy Finnegan); 2, D. Gildea’s LITTLE MAN (Kian McNally); 3, M. Mulcahy’s COME MR DJ (John Mulvilhill).

Derby Trial Race (2M): 1, L. McLaughlin’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Nina Doherty); 2, K. Flannery’s LITTLE ROCKET (Eoin Sheehan); 3, Cregg Family’s KING OF THE HILL (Kian McNally).

Saturday Results

13.2HH (1M): 1, Finnerty Family’s LITTLE FIDDLERS (Kian McNally); 2, K. Cromwell’s HERE FOR THE CRAIC (Jake Cromwell); 3, N. Brosnan’s CLEVER CRYSTAL (Billy Roberts).

14HH (10F): 1, J. Brady’s LITTLE CHIEF (Jake Cromwell); 2, K. Connell’s FLOORING PORTER (Camillus Bryne); 3, O. Finnegan’s JUSTASEC (Paddy Finnegan).

14.2HH (10F); 1, Cregg Family’s THE LITTLE BROWN JUG (Nina Doherty); 2, K. Cromwell’s ALL BETS ARE OFF (Jake Cromwell); 3, K. Cromwell’s LESSON LEARNED (Cameron Cromwell).

15HH (10F): 1, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LA VISTA (Reese Holohan); 2, S. Bergin’s FIREDROPS (Paddy Finnegan); 3, O. Finnegan’s NOT ANOTHER HORSE (Thady Finnegan).

Dingle Distillery Golden Mile: 1, McNamara Family’s SILVER HILL (Nina Doherty); 2, S. Crabbe’s DEL BOY (Reese Holohan); 3, L. Bergin’s JACOB (Paddy Finnegan).

Push The Button Mile: 1, F. Byrne’s BUBBLES (Camillus Byrne); 2, C. Toole’s DAITHI’S DREAM (Reese Holohan); 3, Team Browne’s HE’S SOME BOY (Kaceylou Carberry).

Laura Barry Ladies Derby: 1, S. Crabbe’s SAM’S FRIEND (Nina Doherty); 2, Team Browne’s SHAKE ME (Kaceylou Carberry); 3, Finnerty Family’s ATHY SPIRIT (Holly Halford).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, McNally Racing’s SHE’S GOT IT (Kian McNally); 2, In For The Craic Syndicate’s AMBLE (Nina Doherty); 3, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A FREEBIE (Reese Holohan).

Sunday Results

12.2HH (1M): Dead-Heat 1, M. Mulcahy’s TINY DANCER (Peter Cremin); 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 Family’s 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).