Carndonagh Sunday
THE North West Racing Board staged their second meeting of the season in beautiful Carndonagh on Sunday afternoon last.
A record crowd turned out for some really exciting action in sweltering heat. Meath jockey Nina Doherty, who had a quiet day in Ashbourne by her own high standards, bounced right back with a sparkling treble while Cameron Cromwell completed a double.
Nina began her great day at the office when Wild Venture scored back-to-back course victories in the 14hh contest.
The winner drew right away off the final bend for a very impressive victory. A clash with Ashbourne winner Jo Malone will be eagerly anticipated in the weeks ahead.
The Doherty double was completed in equally impressive fashion when Our Bridget put up an eye-catching performance to land the 10-furlong race. Owned by the locally-based S & R Syndicate and trained by Daithi Gormley, Our Bridget looks destined to hold high rank in the 10-furlong division this season.
Big upset
Nina’s treble came courtesy of Second Violin who caused a big upset when winning the 12-furlong contest. Now owned by McGinley Racing, Second Violin came right through from the tail of the field and forged clear inside the distance for a six-length victory.
The winner ran well in last year’s Dingle Derby and is likely to form part of a strong Donegal contingent for this year’s Dingle feature.
Cameron Cromwell is rapidly making his mark in the pony ranks and he initiated a double when Little Micky ran out a stylish winner of the 13.2hh race. Smoky Lady kept on well under Thady Finnegan but was three lengths down at the line.
Lesson Learned looks a really smart recruit for the Cromwell team and blitzed the field to win the 14.2hh race in tremendous style. Cameron will no doubt have high hopes of Dingle glory with his winner come next August.
Unbeaten record
Camillus Byrne maintained his unbeaten record on Hasta La Vista in the 15hh race. This multiple Dingle winner stayed on strongly up the straight to hold off the last rattle of the eye-catching Jungle Joe by a length at the line. Both ponies are likely to renew rivalry in Letterkenny next month.
Perhaps the most impressive winner of the afternoon was Shane Crabbe’s Mr Chow in the two-mile event. In what looked an early season Dingle Derby trial, Mr Chow travelled ominously well throughout and forged right away off the final bend under an ultra-confident Paddy Finnegan drive. Stable companion Tommy Tango was eight lengths away in second place. The Athea Derby was quickly nominated as the main target by the winning owners enroute to the Dingle Festival.
Donegal jockey Ben Lecky is certainly catching the eye this season and he was on the mark again when Step Aside put up a smart performance to win the mile race. Shane Crabbe’s pair of Yours Or Mine and Rocky completed the placings.
Unfortunately, due to the wet spring and later than usual silage cutting campaign, there will be no racing again until Sunday, June 14th next. Letterkenny and Ballybunion will both race at 1pm start.
Results
13.2HH (6F): 1, K. Cromwell’s LITTLE MICKY (Cameron Cromwell); 2, O. Finnegan’s SMOKY LADY (Thady Finnegan).
14HH (1M): 1, A. Doherty’s WILD VENTURE (Nina Doherty); 2, O. Finnegan’s ABLE MARBLE (Thady Finnegan); 3, T. Beegan’s AISHLING’S CHARM (Sean Mahon).
14.2HH (1M): 1, K. Cromwell’s LESSON LEARNED (Cameron Cromwell); 2, Holian Syndicate’s WEE BUCKS (Thady Finnegan); 3, K. Cromwell’s ALL BETS ARE OFF (Jake Cromwell).
15HH (1M): 1, F. Byrne’s HASTA LA VISTA (Camillus Byrne); 2, S. Crabbe’s JUNGLE JOE (Kaceylou Carberry); 3, S & M Syndicate’s STOP ON RED (Ben Lecky).
Open Horse Race (1M): 1, S & M Syndicate’s STEP ASIDE (Ben Lecky); 2, S. Crabbe’s YOURS OR MINE (Paddy Finnegan); 3, S. Crabbe’s ROCKY (Kaceylou Carberry).
Open Horse Race (10F): S & R Syndicate’s OUR BRIDGET (Nina Doherty); 2, S. Crabbe’s RUN RUN RIVER (Paddy Finnegan); 3, Team Browne’s SHAKE ME (Kaceylou Carberry).
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, McGinley Racing’s SECOND VIOLIN (Nina Doherty); 2, Holian Syndicate’s DARE TO DREAM (Camillus Byrne); 3, B. Mahon’s NO COMMENT (Leah Mahon).
Open Horse Race (2M): 1, S. Crabbe’s MR CHOW (Paddy Finnegan); 2, S. Crabbe’s TOMMY TANGO (Kaceylou Carberry); 3, F. Byrne’s GREEN WHISTLE (Camillus Byrne).