Big Isle, Letterkenny, Co Donegal \ Jerry and Aileen Daly

RACING returned to the North West region last Sunday with the traditional visit to the Big Isle in Letterkenny.

The committee headed up by Adrian Browne were rewarded with another big attendance on another glorious August afternoon. Dylan O’Connor extended his lead at the top of the jockeys’ championship with an impressive four-timer while there were also doubles for Kian McNally and Sam Coen.

Dylan kicked off an afternoon to savour when Way Up North gained his seventh win of the season in the mile contest. This dual Dingle winner was sent on off the final bend and forged clear up the straight for another hugely impressive victory. Ann Kerrigan’s charge will now head to Glenbeigh.

The Dromahane, Co Cork yard of Maurice Ahern continues in blistering form and provided Dylan with his next two winners. All Bets Are Off who was successful at Allihies on Monday took the 15hh race to confirm himself as a horse on the upgrade. The winner was always travelling best to see off local hope Wee Bucks.

Cookies And Cream landed the odds in the mile-and-six-furlong contest to make it a treble for the Liscarroll, Co Cork-based Dylan with Let It Go running another blinder in second spot.

Fitting four-timer

It was fitting that the four-timer was completed for a Donegal owner when The Muckish Man came right back to form to win the 10-furlong maiden race. The Daithi Gormley-owned horse proving far too strong up the straight for a very convincing victory over Copper Kid.

Kian McNally continued his stellar season with another double. Five Stone Of Lead is very much the queen of pony racing and she powered home to win the 14.2hh contest to remain unbeaten this term.

Skye continues to catch the eye and kept on for second spot for the Laois-based Bergin stable. Bipolar Blondie completed Kian’s double in the two-mile non-winners race for Shane Crabbe’s Kildare yard. Despite running keen, the winner drew right away up the straight for a six-length victory.

Just before racing began Antoinette Gallagher, the Chairperson of the National Body of Pony Racing, had welcomed Coolmore Stud’s fabulously generous financial contribution towards the current insurance fundraising efforts.

It was fitting then that Tipperary-based jockey Sam Coen who had actually contacted Coolmore seeking their support should complete a double on the day, a double he shared with the locally-based Holian family.

Dingle winner Ya Skitter looked impressive when quickening clear for Sam in the latter stages of the 12F-contest while the double was completed when Tell Us More was equally as impressive when landing the two-mile contest with Mansfield in second spot.

The winner is now bound for the Glenbeigh Invitational Race next Sunday, September 4th. Brody Ferry continues to enjoy the local pony races and had a lovely trip round on Twitch It.

Results

Sunday August 21st

14.2HH Race (1M): 1, S. Kerr’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 2, S. Bergin’s SKYE (Dylan O’Connor); 3, D. McAteer’s COLORADO SPRINGS (Sam McAteer).

15HH Race (12F): 1, M. Ahern’s ALL BETS ARE OFF (Dylan O’Connor); 2, K. Holian’s WEE BUCKS (Kian McNally); 3, S. Williams ANNIE POWER (Sam Williams).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, A. Kerrigan’s WAY UP NORTH (Dylan O’Connor); 2, A. Melia’s WHAT’S GOING ON (Keithen Kennedy); 3, Team Mac’s KINNEGAR BOY (Adam Grant).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, K. Holian’s YA SKITTER (Sam Coen); 2, A. Melia’s THE HIGHEST LEVEL (Keithen Kennedy); 3, Team Mac’s SEA BREEZE (Dylan O’Connor).

Open Horse Race (1M6F): 1, M. Ahern’s COOKIES AND CREAM (Dylan O’Connor); 2, S. Crabbe’s LET IT GO (Kian McNally); 3, S. Bergin’s COOL CORRIGAN (Jack Collins).

Big Isle Derby (2M): 1, K. Holian’s TELL US MORE (Sam Coen); 2, K. Browne Guigan’s MANSFIELD (Kian McNally).

Non Winners Race (2M): 1, S. Crabbe’s BIPOLAR BLONDIE (Kian McNally); 2, K. Holian’s BIG BUCKS (Sam Coen); 3, A. Sweeney’s WEST BOOTS (Patrick McGettigan).

Maiden Race (10F): 1, R. Gormley’s THE MUCKISH MAN (Dylan O’Connor); 2, A. Browne’s COPPER KID (Sam Coen); 3, S. Crabbe’s SHAKE ‘EM UP (Patrick McGettigan).

Local Pony Race (5F): 1, Twitch It (Brody Ferry).

Upcoming fixtures

Tomorrow, Sunday, August 28th: Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry at 1.30pm

Saturday, September 3rd: Glenbeigh on Rossbeigh Strand, Co. Kerry at 3pm

Sunday, September 4th: Glenbeigh on Rossbeigh Strand, Co. Kerry at 3.30pm

Sunday, September 11th: Borris, Co. Carlow