THE 2022 horse and pony racing season kicked off last Monday with the traditional Ballyheigue Beach meeting in Kerry.

The reigning The Irish Field National Champion Rider, Dylan O’Connor, began where he had left off last year as he recorded a four-timer.

He started with the 14.2hh race where he teamed up with the Tyner family as She’s Got It got back in front in the shadow of the post after being headed inside the final furlong by the Patrick Verling-ridden stablemate Crystal Lady.

Former Dingle Derby winner Ida’s Dream made every post a winning one as she took the featured Ballyheigue Derby and That’s Our Grouse again showed his liking for the beach as he took the 15hh race.

Upsala, who has recently joined the Newmarket, Co Cork stable, completed Dylan’s four-timer in the 10-furlong race as he made most of the running to see off the challenge of Conor Whitely’s mount Pack Your Bags to win for joint owners Annie McNamara and commentator Jerry Daly’s syndicate.

27th birthday

The opening 12.2hh race went to the Darragh O’Sullivan-ridden Biscuit who won from South Of The Border with the incredible Tail To Tail finishing third just short of his 27th birthday.

Adam Grant, who partnered South Of The Border, gained compensation in the following 13.2hh race as Hello Thunder took the honours in impressive style.

Paddy Hanlon teamed up with Mick Flannery to take the 12-furlong race as Heartbreak Hill came out on top after a dour battle with Never Say Die while Sam Coen, who had a number of placed efforts, made his trip to the winner’s enclosure after the maiden race as Mayday bounced out in front and made all for Dooks-based Kevin McGillycuddy and the Soft Touch Syndicate.

Results

12.2HH Race (6F): 1, M. O’Sullivan’s BISCUIT (Darragh O’Sullivan); 2, P. Collins’s SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Adam Grant); 3, Three Counties Syndicate’s TAIL TO TAIL (Dylan O’Connor|).

13.2HH Race (1M): 1, P. A. O’Sullivan’s HELLO THUNDER (Adam Grant); 2, O’Sullivan’s SORE LOOSER (Sam Coen); 3, P. A. O’Sullivan’s HELLO BOY (Adam Browne Souza).

14.2HH Race (1M): Tyner Syndicate’s SHE’S GOT IT (Dylan O’Connor); 2, Tyner Syndicate’s CRYSTAL LADY (Patrick Verling); 3, The Banner Syndicate’s DONNA’S DREAM (Sam Coen).

Ballyheigue Derby (2M): 1, M. O’Connor’s IDA’S DREAM (Dylan O’Connor); 2, M. Flannery’s SPARKLE IN HIS EYES (Paddy Hanlon).

15HH Race (1M): 1, M. O’Connor’s THAT’S OUR GROUSE (Dylan O’Connor); 2, Soft Touch Syndicate’s RED HANDED (Sam Coen); 3, Tyner Syndicate’s BOUNCE (Patrick Verling).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, A. McNamara/Daly’s UPPSALA (Dylan O’Connor); 2, A. Gallagher’s PACK YOUR BAGS (Conor Whiteley); 3, G. O’Connor’s SEANCS DEIRNEACH (Ava Sugrue).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, M. Flannery’s HEARTBREAK HILL (Paddy Hanlon); 2, A. Gallagher’s NEVER SAY DIE (Sam Coen); 3, R. Sugrue’s BIG RAY (Ava Sugrue).

Maiden Horse Race (1M): 1, Soft Touch Syndicate’s MAYDAY (Sam Coen); 2, Dream Team Racing’s NOT NOW NED (Evan Daly); 3, Tyner Syndicate’s TOSS A COIN (Patrick Verling).