Ireland vs UK
Challenge
HORSE Racing as part of the Rose of Tralee Festival returned to Ballybeggan Park last Saturday as the first day of the two-day meeting involved an Ireland vs UK Pony Race Riders Challenge where riders were allocated their mounts by a random draw.
Victory and the Dougie Thompson Perpetual Cup went to the Irish team who edged out their UK compatriots by 160 points to 155 despite the visitors winning five of the nine races on the card.
It was a memorable day for all who took part but especially for 16-year-old Tara McCrissican who hails from near to Tyrella in Co Down and 15-year-old Frankie Pullar who hails from Staplehurst in Kent, who both partnered their first winners.
After a number of placed efforts over the last couple of seasons Tara McCrissican achieved that important first win when she won the 14hh race on debutant, The Fairy Bush for Co Clare owner John Curley.
McCrissican jumped off in second and then led from before halfway drawing away to win from the Shane Crosse-ridden Hannah’s Dream.
Frankie Pullar who rides out for trainer Linda Jewell took the lady riders race on Mountain Hawk for Des Donnelly who trains the winner. She sat second as the Niamh Crehan-ridden On The Edge cut out the pace.
However Frankie judged the pace to perfection and after they turned in, she started her run, producing Mountain Hawk up the inside to snatch the lead in the shadow of the post.
The feature event of the day was the Meadowlands Hotel mile race and Denis Linehan had to watch from second spot, as his normal partner the Castle Racing-owned Che Guevara won in the hands of 13-year-old James Bowen. Bowen who comes from Pembrokeshire in Wales, son of leading National Hunt trainer Peter, brought the winner through to lead two furlongs out and they won a little snugly from Your Achilles.
Linehan did gain some consolation later in the day as he won the Davy Russell sponsored 12-furlong race on the Christy Kerrigan-owned Forget Me Not who made the long journey from Gerry Collins’s Northern Ireland base.
Linehan and Rossa Ryan on Titanium Rock sat upsides in front throughout and nothing else got into the race as they set down into a duel over the final two furlongs with Denis and Forget Me Not edging it at the finish.
The opening race on the card was a 12.2hh/13hh pony race and victory here went to the 18-year-old Tail To Tail who was given a fine positive ride by Conor Murtagh to win from the Rory King-ridden Arjan.
Conor is a son of Cumbrian-based trainer, Barry Murtagh and the day got better for the family later as older brother Lorcan took the two-mile race on Call Of Duty for Dingle owner Jerry Devane in front of their many Irish relatives who made the journey from Drogheda and Mayo to support them.
The winner benefited from a strong drive up the straight from Lorcan as the soft ground made it a true test of stamina. Lady Zena took second place under another UK-based pilot, Theo Gillard.
Danny Sheehy followed up his Allihies double of the previous day with victory for Castle Racing on Credit Crunch in the 14.2hh race. Sheehy sat third until the entrance into the straight and the issue was quickly put beyond doubt as they stretched clear to win from the Joshua Bryan-ridden Georgie’s Girl.
The 15hh race went to Amy’s Magic who was given a well-judged front-running ride by 15-year-old William Cox from Street in Somerset. Cox who has gained invaluable experience riding out for his uncle Clive Cox, dictated things cleverly on Ellen Hayes’s talented mare who clearly appreciated the ease in the ground, and were able to quicken after the turn in to win impressively from the Luke Bleahen-ridden Red Handed. The consolation race saw Mikey Mulvihill continue his rich vein of form as he scored for The Three County Syndicate on English Bill.