GEESALA - MIDLANDS

REGION

GEESALA races in Mayo are always one of the best attended meetings of the year, as the beach races form the centre-piece of their Annual Homecoming Festival.

Danny Sheehy and Rossa Ryan were both clocking up the miles last weekend in the quest for The Irish Field National Rider Championship Honours and both were in action here following their appearance at Allihies on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork the previous day.

It was honours even as both recorded doubles.

Sheehy’s two wins were both for the Three County Syndicate with the sprightly 19-year-old Tail To Tail taking the 12.2hh/13hh race, while Good Times Ahead bounced back to winning ways in the 10 furlong race.

Ryan got his winners courtesy of Finnerty Stable, who are enjoying a fabulous season. Choc Ice got Ryan his first winner in the 15hh race, albeit in a dead-heat with Second Chance who was ridden by Evan Daly for his father Iggy. Rossa then landed the 12 furlong race as Mr. Grey made it three for the season.

The big race of the day, over two miles, went to Mossy who is owned and trained in Shanahoe, Co Laois by Seamus Bergin. Luke Bleahen made most of the running on the winner who was impressive in seeing off Dingle Derby runner-up Jack Daniels to make it three wins from five runs in horse and pony racing.

Mark Crehan was another rider to record a double, with the Meath rider taking the 14.2hh race for Amanda Sweeney on Pacman.

Crehan was deputising for Co Donegal rider Luke McAteer, who was unavailable due to the sad passing of his grandfather and former trainer under rules, Tom McLaughlin.

Crehan went on to win the 14hh race for P.J. Cregg as Kaylessi saw off Lady Di for her third win of this, her first campaign. This completed a double for the Cregg family as earlier P.J.’s father saddled his own Fully Loaded to take the non-winners race under Pat Taaffe.

Racing concluded with a straight mile event and Aideen’s Dream won for Co Kildare-based Ian Kelly, with Athy jockey Robbie Smithers in the plate.

RESULTS

Sunday, August 16th

12.2 – 13hh (6F): 1, Three County Syndicate’s TAIL TO TAIL (Danny Sheehy); 2, J. Finnerty’s WAGTAIL (Rossa Ryan); 3, K Connell’s LITTLE MS MAGIC- (Evan Daly)

14.2hh (10F): 1, A. Sweeney’s PACMAN (Mark Crehan); 2, G. Murphy’s GEORGIE’S GIRL (Caoilin Quinn); 3, Five County Syndicate’s ONE OF THE BOYS (Danny Sheehy).

15hh (10F): 1, Dead heat Between, I. Daly’s SECOND CHANCE (Evan Daly) and J. Finnerty’s CHOC ICE (Rossa Ryan); 3, T. Beegan’s MAMMY’S TROUBLE (Caoilin Quinn).

Open Horse (12F): 1, J. Finnerty’s MR GREY (Rossa Ryan); 2, Three County Syndicate’s SCRAGGY BAY (Danny Sheehy); 3, S. Laird’s ALL JOKING ASIDE (Pat Taaffe).

Geesala Derby (2M): 1, C. Mills’s MOSSY (Luke Bleahen); 2, P. Mooney’s JACK DANIELS (Evan Daly); 3, G. Faulkner’s WELSH HOPE (Pat Taaffe).

Open Horse (10F): 1, Three County Syndicate’s GOOD TIMES AHEAD (Danny Sheehy); 2, T. McCarthy’s THE RUSSIAN (Luke Bleahen); 3, K. Flannery’s AMONGST FRIENDS (Evan Daly).

Non-Winners (10F): 1, D. Cregg’s FULLY LOADED ((Pat Taaffe); 2, F. Finnerty’s OSCAR DE LA HOYA (Danny Sheehy); 3, M. Harrison’s OUR DARYL (Rossa Ryan)

14hh (1M): 1, P.J Cregg’s KAYLEESI (Mark Crehan); 2, F. Glynn’s LADY DI (Rossa Ryan); 3, S. Carey’s TWINKLE (Ben Bleahen).

Open Horse (1M): 1, I. Kelly’s AIDEEN’S DREAM (Robbie Smithers); 2, B. Maher MAN OF STEEL (Danny Sheehy); 3, M. Ryan’s JAKE (Rossa Ryan).