Dingle Saturday

A MASSIVE crowd returned to the Ballintaggart track on Saturday afternoon for the second stage of this historic race meeting. The sun shone brightly over Dingle town as Paddy Finnegan and Nina Doherty continued their domination, sharing six winners between them.

It was another marvellous day for the Bergin family from Co Laois, when Michael Zamm became the first dual winner of the meeting in the 10-furlong 14.2hh contest. This impressive recruit to the pony racing circuit always travelled best and was never seriously challenged up the home straight. Michael Zamm has now won four races in a short space of time.

Visiting English jockey Charlie Chalmers enjoyed a wonderful first visit to Dingle and filled the runner-up spot on Little Princess, having occupied the same position on the opening night.

The Finnegan double was completed by course specialist Little Heart in the 15hh race over 10 furlongs. Ollie Finnegan’s prolific winner got an absolute peach of a drive from the front here as Paddy gradually turned the screw from the top of Heartbreak Hill.

Hard as great rival Hasta La Vista tried, she could never reel him in under the penalty and Little Heart ran out an impressive winner. Paddy made it three on the bounce, when Mr Chow landed the 12-furlong race.

This was a fine training performance from Shane Crabbe to get him back after a mid-season injury. Green Whistle and Camillus Byrne kept on gamely for second place.

Blistering form

Nina Doherty maintained her blistering form when A Better Plan followed up Friday night’s victory in the featured Dingle Distillery Golden Mile race.

After landing a tasty touch on that occasion, punters latched on again despite the top drawer opposition. Those that kept the faith were well rewarded as A Better Plan swooped down the outside and cleared away for another stellar victory.

It was yet another success for Donegal with the Gildea family over the moon with their recent acquisition. She’s A Maniac and Paddy Finnegan ran a corker in second with the defending champion Silver Hill in third place.

The banker of the meeting for many was the unbeaten Our Bridget in the Laura Barry Memorial Ladies’ Derby over 10 furlongs. The hotpot duly obliged and punters were certainly on good terms with themselves by this stage!

This contest developed into a match with Shake Me and Kaceylou Carberry, who had won the feature in Ballintra on the Bank Holiday Monday. Shake Me made a brave bid here from the front, but once Our Bridget moved alongside on the Binn Bán turn, it was all over bar the shouting.

It was a first festival winner for young trainer Daithi Gormley, whilst Shake Me lost very little in defeat.

Treble Venture

The Doherty treble was completed in the 14hh race when Wild Venture pulled one back on his great rival Jo Malone.

However, the race took a dramatic change when Jo Malone, who was in hot pursuit at the time, ran very wide off the final bend. Hard as Paddy Finnegan tried under the stand rail, he just could not get there.

Holly Halford and Little Fiddlers have been one of the big success stories of the 2026 season and it was a case of the icing on the cake with festival glory.

In truth, Little Fiddlers was simply awesome here under a supremely confident Halford drive. The home-bred daughter of Fiddlers Bridge is in a league of her own and an absolute credit to the Finnerty family. Peter Cremin filled the runner-up spot with the gallant Little Sadie.

The bookmakers finally got some semblance of salvation when I Like The Way You Dance landed the Push The Button Mile under Jake Cromwell.

He’s Got There looked all over a winner at the furlong pole before I Like The Way You Dance came with a withering run down the outside for a cosy victory.

Results

13.2HH (1M): 1, Finnerty Families LITTLE FIDDLERS (Holly Halford); 2, W. McGrath’s LITTLE SADIE (Peter Cremin); 3, K. Cromwell’s LITTLE MICKEY (Corey Power).

14HH (10F): 1, A. Doherty’s WILD VENTURE (Nina Doherty); 2, Finnerty Families JO MALONE (Paddy Finnegan); 3, N. Brosnan’s CLEVER CRYSTAL (Thady Finnegan).

14.2HH (10F): 1, S, Bergin’s MICHAEL ZAMM (Paddy Finnegan); 2, M. Brady’s LITTLE PRINCESS (Charlie Chalmers); 3, K. Cromwell’s I DON’T CARE (Kaceylou Carberry).

15HH (10F): 1, O. Finnegan’s LITTLE HEART (Paddy Finnegan); 2, F. Byrnes HASTA LA VISTA (Camillus Byrne); 3, McGinley Racing’s DREAM DANCER (Kaceylou Carberry); .

Push The Button Race (1M): 1, J. O’ Dwyer’s I LIKE THE WAY YOU DANCE (Jake Cromwell); 2, S. Crabbe’s HE’S GOT THERE (Camillus Byrne); 3, K. F. Racing’s THE NEW HOUSE (Bobby Lambe).

Dingle Distillery Golden Mile Race (1M): D. Gildea’s A BETTER PLAN (Nina Doherty); 2, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A MANIAC (Paddy Finnegan); 3, McNamara Families SILVER HILL (Kian McNally).

Laura Barry Ladies Derby Race (10F): 1, S & R Syndicate’s OUR BRIDGET (Nina Doherty); 2, Team Browne’s SHAKE ME (Kaceylou Carberry); 3, T. Beegan’s COULD BE ANYTHING (Sophie Mae Kerin).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s MR CHOW (Paddy Finnegan); 2, F. Byrne’s GREEN WHISTLE (Camillus Byrne); 3, Finnerty Families MAVERICK (Bobby Lambe).