THE two-day Lisdoonvarna Midlands meeting opened with a Friday evening fixture which was dominated by Jack Kennedy who bagged three of the five races.

The Three County Syndicate-owned Coola Boola suffered a rare reverse in a dream season in the big Glenbeigh Invitational the previous Sunday as he had to settle for fourth place but he quickly bounced back to winning ways here by taking the opening two-mile race.

Kennedy dropped out last before gradually creeping into the race and leading from just over two furlongs out to win from the Niamh Crehan-ridden Pebble Beach.

The Three County Syndicate have two of the leading lights of horse and pony racing in Coola Boola and Good Times Ahead and the latter took the following 10-furlong race from the Luke Bleahen-ridden The Russian.

Kennedy sat third early and then made his race-winning move as he took up the running with just under half a mile to travel.

Last year’s champion completed his hat-trick in the concluding feature race over a mile as he teamed up with Omega from the Co Roscommon-based Finnerty stable. He made all here to consign recent Geesala winner Dancinginthedark to his fifth runner-up spot of the season.

The 12-furlong race saw Tane Hoka Hoka gain her first win of the season as Co Meath rider Niamh Crehan got her mother Miriam’s charge home in front of the Rossa Ryan-ridden Alabama.

Crehan was always in a prominent position and the winner stayed on strongly under pressure to win by half a length.

The 15hh race went to 14-year-old Rathmullen, Co Donegal-based Luke McAteer who rode, owns and trains the winner Messi. McAteer sat in midfield early before coming through with a run up the inside to win by a length from the Evan Daly-ridden Treasure Beach.

RESULTS

LISDOONVARNA, FRIDAY,

SEPTEMBER 4TH

Open horse (2ml): 1. The Three County Syndicate’s COOLA BOOLA (Jack Kennedy); 2. G. McNamara’s PEBBLE BEACH (Niamh Crehan); 3. G. Collins’ WELL BOY (Emma Sweeney).

Open horse (10f): 1. The Three County Syndicate’s GOOD TIMES AHEAD (Jack Kennedy); 2. L. McCarthy’s THE RUSSIAN (Luke Bleahen); 3. G. Collins’ FORGET ME NOT (Emma Sweeney).

15HH (12f): 1. L. McAteer’s MESSI (Luke McAteer); 2. R. McNamara’s TREASURE BEACH (Evan Daly); 3. J. Harris’ ELUSIVE RUBY (Liam Gilligan).

Open horse (12f): 1. M. Crehan’s TANE HOKA HOKA (Niamh Crehan); 2. P. Nicholson’s ALABAMA (Rossa Ryan); 3. J. Finnerty’s MR. GREY (Luke Bleahen).

Open horse Derby (1m): 1. J. Finnerty’s OMEGA (Jack Kennedy); 2. S. Glynn Lohan’s DANCING IN THE DARK (Rossa Ryan); 3. B. Harrison’s OUR DARYL (Evan Daly);