THE southern circuit crossed the Shannon on Sunday afternoon for a top quality card in Cooraclare, Co Clare by kind permission of Chris O’Donoghue.

Local public representative Dinny Gould and his enthusiastic committee left no stone unturned and they were rewarded with some brilliant finishes. Following the demise of the fixtures at Whitegate, Ballyvaughan and Lisdoonvarna, it was gratifying to see such a large crowd in attendance.

The Cooraclare committee were proud to launch the first running of the South Clare Invitational Race over two miles. With a winners’ cheque of €2,000, it not surprisingly brought together seven of the smartest stayers in the country.

The reigning Dingle Derby winner Here We Go Again was prominent all the way under Nina Doherty before Red Ted and Sam’s Friend threw down the gauntlet on the final circuit. Red Ted, under Jake Cromwell, took over passing the three-furlong point with Camillus Byrne and Sam’s Friend now making giant strides to track the leader’s every move. Shane Crabbe’s Dingle Derby runner-up Sam’s Friend found a brilliant change of gear off the final bend and ran on powerfully up the hill for a famous victory.

Solid form

The form looks rock solid with runner-up Red Ted having scored in the Ballybunion Derby and Here We Go Again just behind in third place. All three will renew rivalry in the Dingle Blue Riband on August 9th next.

Full marks to the committee for a wonderful initiative which can only go from strength to strength in the years ahead.

Sam’s Friend was completing a double for the powerful Crabbe stable who had earlier collected with Rocky in the second division of the mile race. This contest developed into an enthralling battle between the eventual winner Rocky under Paddy Finnegan, and Hanna Worrell’s Take Me Home and Nina Doherty.

There was no quarter asked or given here on the final circuit but the inside berth might just have proved decisive with Rocky just on top by a neck at the line. Paddy Finnegan was thus completing a double following the impressive victory of Michael Zamm in the 14.2hh contest over a mile. The Seamus Bergin-owned Culmullen eye-catcher travelled ominously well throughout and sprouted wings up the hill to beat I Don’t Care and Cameron Cromwell.

Michael Zamm could well be the leader in this division and will bid to cement his reputation in Athea tomorrow.

Cromwell double

Jake Cromwell was another jockey to complete a double courtesy of Firedrops and The New House. Firedrops really comes alive at this time of the season and he made every inch of the running to win the 15hh race in impressive style.

Stick Season was a persistent challenger here under Nina Doherty before Firedrops asserted to complete a double for owner Seamus Bergin.

Jake caused a mild upset in the first division of the mile race when The New House proved too strong for the Golden Mile hero Silver Hill. Owned by K.F. Racing, the winner stuck to his task dourly on the final circuit for a two-length victory.

The Finnerty family from Co Roscommon had a day to savour in the Banner County with a sparkling treble. Little Fiddlers was certainly the ‘Rose of Clare’ after she put up another impeccable display in the hands of Holly Halford.

Held up by the Kildare jockey early doors, Little Fiddlers led well before the straight and eased away to beat Little Sadie and Kara’s Call. Holly is no doubt counting down the days to the Dingle Saturday!

All the running

The Finnerty family were back in the winner’s enclosure half an hour later when Jo Malone made every inch of the running to win the 14hh race under Billy Roberts.

The Finnerty treble was completed when Athy Flyer gave jockey Bobby Lambe a day to savour with his first career victory in the maiden race. Bobby has certainly come of age this season and gave Athy Flyer an ice-cool drive from the front and had enough in the locker to hold off Dawn’s Magic by three parts of a length at the line.

Bobby rides out for Jessica Harrington at Commonstown Stables and looks a bright prospect for the future.

Nina Doherty who had been hitting the crossbar throughout the afternoon got a well-deserved winning turn when Tommy K landed the 12-furlong race for Donegal owner Leona McLaughlin. The ever-green Tommy K bounced out in front here and answered every call to hold off the sustained challenge of Run Run River and Camillus Byrne by a length and a half.

Long standing patrons

The Cahill brothers from Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick are long standing patrons of the pony racing circuit and they were in the winner’s enclosure after Kiss Cam landed the 10-furlong contest for Calum Mangan.

The winner was prominent throughout and proved brave as a lion to hold the determined challenges of Fill The Tank and Yours Or Mine in a gripping finish.

Tiny Dancer and Maya Nolan made every post a winning one in the Tis Na Nog Plate \ Healy Racing

Ballyheigue, Co Kerry jockey Maya Nolan is enjoying a tremendous season with Tiny Dancer and the partnership made every post a winning one in the opening 12.2hh race. The grey pony had already notched up victories this season in Ballyheigue, Ballybunion and Ashbourne.

The local pony race saw Jake Hunter catch the eye on Montana and he could well be a jockey to follow when he signs up on the circuit next season.

THE North West Racing Board have had to cancel their annual meeting today due to flooding.

The southern season will continue tomorrow in Athea, Co Limerick at 1pm.

12.2HH (6F): 1, J. Mulvihill’s TINY DANCER (Maya Nolan); 2, T. Beegan’s MINIE HAWK (Cameron Cromwell); 3, Curragh Racing’s LITTLE RORY (Rhiain Daly).

13.2HH (10F): 1, Finnerty Families LITTLE FIDDLERS (Holly Halford); 2, W. McGrath’s LITTLE SADIE (Peter Cremin); 3, S. Tierney’s KARA’S CALL (Jake Cromwell).

14HH (9F): 1, Finnerty Families JO MALONE (Billy Roberts); 2, N. Brosnan’s CLEVER CRYSTAL (Thady Finnegan); 3, O. Finnegan’s ABLE MABLE (Thady Finnegan).

14.2HH (12F): 1, S. Bergin’s MICHAEL ZAMM (Paddy Finnegan); 2, K. Cromwell’s I DON’T CARE (Cameron Cromwell); 3, Your Know Yourself Syndicate’s DREAM ALLIANCE (Billy Roberts).

15HH (12F): 1, S. Bergin’s FIREDROPS (Jake Cromwell); 2, Cregg Families STICK SEASON (Nina Doherty); 3, S. Tynan’s BLACK TAXI (Kian McNally).

Open Horse Race Div 1 (1M): 1, K.F. Racing’s THE NEW HOUSE (Jake Cromwell); 2, McNamara Families SILVER HILL (Kian McNally); 3, P. Smith’s LAKEVIEW LADY (Holly Halford).

Open Horse Race Div 2 (1M): 1, S. Crabbe’s ROCKY (Paddy Finnegan); 2, H. Worrell’s TAKE ME HOME (Nina Doherty); 3, S. Crabbe’s SPOT ON (Kian McNally).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, Cahill Brothers KISS CAM (Callum Mangan); 2, S. Tierney’s FILL THE TANK (Billy Roberts); 3, S. Crabbe’s YOURS OR MINE (Camillus Byrne).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, L. McLaughlin’s TOMMY K (Nina Doherty); 2, S. Crabbe’s RUN RUN RIVER (Camillus Byrne); 3, O. Finnegan’s LITTLE HEART (Paddy Finnegan).

South Clare Invitational Race (2M): 1, S. Crabbe’s SAM’S FRIEND (Camillus Byrne); 2, K.F. Racing’s RED TED (Jake Cromwell); 3, L. McLaughlin’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Nina Doherty).

Maiden Horse Race (10F): 1, Finnerty Families ATHY FLYER (Bobby Lambe); 2, You Know Yourself Syndicate’s DAWN’S MAGIC (Billy Roberts); 3, S. Kerin’s JELLY BABY (Ethan Hogan).

Local Pony Race:1, T. Flynn’s MONTANA (Jake Hunter); 2, F. Byrne’s CHICO (Daithi Byrne).