Ashbourne Sunday
THE midlands season resumed in Ashbourne on Sunday last at a track previously used to stage the Shergar Cup of pony racing.
It was yet another day to savour for the National Champion jockey Kian McNally, who completed a five-timer. It was very fitting that his victory on Five Stone Of Lead secured his 150th victory on the pony racing circuit.
Kian, fresh from his double in Ballybunion, kicked off with victory in the 13.2hh contest on Little Fiddlers for the Finnerty family from Roscommon. This high-class filly was clearly below par in Brownstown last time out and put the record straight here with a clear-cut victory. She is likely to reappear in Bundoran tomorrow afternoon.
Five Stone Of Lead, who was such a brilliant performer for Dylan Browne McMonagle, made it career victory 150 for Kian when sluicing home in the 14.2hh race over 10 furlongs. All roads will now lead back to Kerry in August for the “Queen of Dingle”.
Teddy Worrell’s Little Heart pulled out fresh and well on Sunday morning after his epic battle with Dell Boy in Ballybunion and he duly made it two wins for the weekend when landing the 15hh race. The finish developed into a duel with Firedrops, who ran an absolute stormer in second for Paddy Finnegan.
Winner number four for the Armagh maestro came when his Golden Mile hero Honest Bernie proved too strong for the eye-catching Quick Quick Quick and Nina Doherty in the first split of the mile race. The champion miler is likely to have one or two more runs before he returns to defend his Dingle crown.
Five up
The McNally five-timer was completed in the 10-furlong race when She’s Got It bounced out and made every inch of the running to upset the favourite Dell Boy by three lengths. The winner is Bundoran-bound this weekend, while Dell Boy lost little in defeat after his heroic Ballybunion effort.
Local jockey Paddy Finnegan had a large fan club present at the races and they were rewarded when Shane Crabbe’s She’s A Freebie proved just too strong for Verstappen in a grandstand finish to the 12-furlong contest. The winner is a teak tough performer and will have the Dingle Derby Trial as her target on the opening night of the festival.
Verstappen emerged with his Dingle Derby credentials even further enhanced following his brilliant Ballybunion Derby victory 24 hours earlier.
Impress
Mountrath jockey Reese Holohan continues to impress and he was on the mark when The Glen landed the second division of the mile race. The Teddy Worrell-owned winner is on an upward curve and looks an ideal Button Mile contender in August. Runner-up Jacob looks one to follow next time.
Nina Doherty has been one of the jockey finds of the season thus far and, fresh from her Ballybunion victory on The Banger Man, scored again on Tommy K. Leona McLaughlin’s stable star proved far too strong for Maximus and Big Bucks in this two-mile contest.
Jake Cromwell continued his domination of the pony races on the midlands circuit with another sparkling double. Little Micky once again proved too strong for stable companion Moonlight in the opening 12.2hh event.
Jake had three lengths to spare over his brother Cameron at the line. Little Chief will be sent off as one of the shortest-priced favourites of this year’s Dingle Festival and the Brady family pony put up another stellar performance to win the 14hh race.
Cameron Cromwell got on the score sheet later in the afternoon when his own pony Oscar proved too strong for Chico and Little Tiny Timmy in the local race.
THE North West Racing Board will race in Fennor Camp, Bundoran, Co Donegal tomorrow Sunday with a 3pm start.
Athea, Co Limerick will stage one of the biggest meetings of the southern circuit on Sunday, July 6th with a 12.30pm start.
Results
12.2hh (6F): 1, K. Cromwell’s LITTLE MICKY (Jake Cromwell); 2, K. Cromwell’s MOONLIGHT (Cameron Cromwell).
13.2hh (1M): 1, Finnerty Families LITTLE FIDDLERS (Kian McNally); 2, W. McGrath’s LITTLE SADIE (Camillus Byrne); 3, K. Cromwell’s HERE FOR THE CRAIC (Jake Cromwell).
14hh (1M): 1, J. Brady’s LITTLE CHIEF (Jake Cromwell); 2, O. Finnegan’s JUSTASEC (Paddy Finnegan); 3, K. Connell’s FLOORING PORTER (Camillus Byrne).
14.2hh (10F): 1, McNally Racing’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 2, K. Connell’s AN CAPALL DUBH (Camillus Byrne); 3, K. Cromwell’s ALL BETS ARE OFF (Jake Cromwell).
15hh (1M): 1, I. Worrell’s LITTLE HEART (Kian McNally); 2, S. Bergin’s FIREDROPS (Paddy Finnegan); 3, S. Tynan’s LITTLE RED (Jared Huggan).
Open Horse Race Div 1 (1M): 1, McNally Racing’s HONEST BERNIE (Kian McNally); 2, S. Crabbe’s QUICK QUICK QUICK (Nina Doherty); 3, Team Browne’s HE’S SOME BOY (Casey Lou Carberry).
Open Horse Race Div 2 (1M): 1, I. Worrell’s THE GLEN (Reese Holohan); 2, L. Bergin’s JACOB (Paddy Finnegan); 3, J.J. Bailey’s MANHATTAN (Holly Halford).
Open Horse Race (10F): 1, McNally Racing’s SHE’S GOT IT (Kian McNally); 2, S. Crabbe’s DELL BOY (Reese Holohan); 3, L. Halford’s SMOOTH OPERATOR (Holly Halford).
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A FREEBIE (Paddy Finnegan); 2, I, Worrell’s VERSTAPPEN (Kian McNally); 3, D. Gildea’s LITTLE MAN (Camillus Byrne).
Open Horse Race (2M): 1, L. McLaughlin’s TOMMY K (Nina Doherty); 2, Finnerty Families MAXIMUS (Camillus Byrne); 3, L. Halford’s BIG BUCKS (Holly Halford).
Local Pony Race: 1, OSCAR (Cameron Cromwell); 2, CHICO (Daithi Byrne); 3, LITTLE TINY TIMMY (Holly McDonnell).