THE Midlands circuit resumed in Ballyconneely, just outside Clifden on Sunday last for the traditional eve of Galway races fixture.

It was certainly an historic afternoon to be in the West of Ireland with the big match holding sway in the specially erected marquee. The two stand-out moments of the afternoon were the rapturous applause which greeted Mayo’s victory in Croke Park and the impressive victory of the local hotpot Silver Hill in the featured mile race.

Paddy Finnegan maintained his impressive strike-rate with yet another treble, while there were also doubles for both Kian McNally and Jake Cromwell. The King Of Ballyhaunis looked every inch a potential Dingle star when sluicing home in the 10-furlong contest under Cayden Power.

Meath jockey Paddy Finnegan struck first when She’s A Freebie came out on top after a pulsating duel with the local debutante Buncrana in the 12-furlong race. Shane Crabbe’s Athea winner ran on relentlessly from the back straight for a snug victory.

She’s A Freebie was below par in Dingle last year, but will surely hold high rank on the opening night of this year’s festival.

Power-packed performance

Sam’s Friend, who was third over an inadequate trip the previous day, put up a power-packed performance to land the two-mile contest. Former Dingle Derby winner Verstappen kept on for second place under Holly Halford. Both horses are now Dingle Derby-bound.

The Finnegan treble came in the concluding non-winners’ race, when USA made most of the running for a convincing victory. Betty Mahon’s winner is likely to reappear in Omey tomorrow.

Kian McNally, who now sports the J.P. McManus silks, was in double form, courtesy of Silver Hill and Black Taxi. The reigning Golden Mile champion Silver Hill was simply awesome when landing the mile race.

The McNamara family-owned superstar simply toyed with the opposition here and won eased down by eight lengths. All roads now lead back to Dingle and the defence of his Golden Mile crown.

The Armagh jockey was back in the winner’s enclosure at the end of the 15hh race when Black Taxi proved far too strong for some better-fancied rivals.

The Tynan family-owned winner had shown signs of a resurgence in recent weeks and stayed on strongly up the straight to beat Spot On under Camillus Byrne. Kian will be signing up to trainer Natalia Lupini after Dingle, whilst also completing his final year in school.

Jake Cromwell initiated his double in the opening 12.2hh pony race, when Tiny Dancer made every inch of the running to see off Minie Hawk by a length at the line. John Mulvihill’s grey pony will now head back to Dingle with all guns blazing, having dead-heated there a year ago. Tiny Dancer’s unbeaten run now stretches back to Ballyheigue’s Christmas meeting. All Bets Are Off completed the Cromwell double, when coming right back to form to land the 14.2hh race. The winner travelled kindly all the way and forged clear up the straight to beat Justasec and Thady Finnegan by six lengths.

All Bets Are Off will now join stable companions I Don’t Care and Lesson Learned in the 14.2hh contests in Dingle.

Real star

The Worrell family have found a real star in The King Of Ballyhaunis, who maintained his unbeaten record with a brilliant victory in the 10-furlong race. Under an ice-cool Cayden Power drive, The King Of Ballyhaunis took over in the back straight as Remember Us cried ‘enough’ and it was one-way traffic from there.

Teddy Worrell hinted that the winner may well come back in trip for the Golden Mile and set up a mouth-watering clash with Silver Hill to mention just one.

The Finnerty family continue to have the season of all seasons and landed another double with the high-class ponies Little Fiddlers and Jo Malone.

Little Fiddlers was ultra-impressive, when landing the 13.2hh contest under a confident Holly Halford drive.

The home-bred daughter of Fiddlers Bridge (herself a three-time Ballyconneely winner) is nearly unbeatable and will be one of the shortest favourites at the festival.

Jo Malone, who was beaten by Wild Venture a week earlier, reversed the form in the 14hh contest with some aplomb. Billy Roberts bounced out in front here and never looked in the slightest danger, eventually running out six-length victors over Wild Venture. It is now one each between the big pair in this division, with both likely Omey Beach bound tomorrow before the trip to Dingle.

Fixture notes

Ballyconneely results

12.2HH (6F): J. Mulvihill’s TINY DANCER (Jake Cromwell); 2, T. Beegan’s MINIE HAWK (Cameron Cromwell); 3, O. Finnegan’s LITTLE JOEY (Thady Finnegan).

13.2HH (1M): 1, Finnerty Families LITTLE FIDDLERS (Holly Halford); 2, W. McGrath’s LITTLE SADIE (Peter Cremin); 3, T. Beegan’s SOLDIER ON (Cormac Munnelly).

14HH (10F): 1, Finnerty Families JO MALONE (Billy Roberts); 2, A. Doherty’s WILD VENTURE (Cameron Cromwell); 3, O. Finnegan’s ABLE MABLE (Thady Finnegan).

14.2HH (1M): 1, K. Cromwell’s ALL BETS ARE OFF (Jake Cromwell); 2, O. Finnegan’s JUSTASEC (Thady Finnegan); 3, F. Byrne’s BLACK BETTY (Camillus Byrne).

15HH (1M): 1, S. Tynan’s BLACK TAXI (Kian McNally); 2, S. Crabbe’s SPOT ON (Camillus Byrne); 3, O. Finnegan’s LITTLE MAN (Thady Finnegan).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, McNamara Families SILVER HILL (Kian McNally); 2, F. Byrne’s BUBBLES (Camillus Byrne); 3, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A MANIAC (Paddy Finnegan).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, H. Worrell’s THE KING OF BALLYHAUNIS (Cayden Power); 2, S. Lohan’s REMEMBER US (Kian McNally); 3, A. Lambe’s ENDLESS DREAM (Bobby Lambe).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A FREEBIE (Paddy Finnegan); 2, McNamara Families BUNCRANA (Kian McNally); 3, S. Crabbe’s JUNGLE JOE (Valentina Botti).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, S. Crabbe’s SAM’S FRIEND (Paddy Finnegan); 2, L. Halford’s VERSTAPPEN (Holly Halford); 3, S. Crabbe’s MINE OR YOURS (Charlie Chambers).

Non Winners Race (1M): 1, B. Mahon’s U.S.A. (Paddy Finnegan); 2, L. Halford’s SMOOTH OPERATOR (Holly Halford); 3, T. Beegan’s COULD BE ANYTHING (Harley Blackwood).