MARGIE McLOONE: McMenamin lands National trial 20 February 2026 Premium

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20 February 2026

Margie McLoone on 20 Feb 2026

MARGIE McLOONE: McMenamin lands National trial

A round up of the news and successes on the northern racing scene over the last week

Margie McLoone

20 February 2026

Grand Geste and Danny McMenamin (grey) on their way to winning the William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase \ Healy Racing

Loughmourne and Eoin Mahon won for trainer Stuart Crawford at Nenagh \ Healy Racing

Representatives of Bluegrass feed company and Down Royal racecourse recently visited Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra Stables to present the £2,000 prize cheque from Down Royal to the team who are noted for the turn-out of the yard’s horses.

Farmacaffley runners head to the start \ Healy Racing

FECK this bad weather is all I can say - well, I could say more but better not - as the fewer opportunities there are for local owners, trainers, riders and breeders to have winners, the fewer opportunities there are for me to write about them.

Some jockeys did well such as Danny McMenamin who notched up single victories at Kelso on Friday, Haydock on Saturday, Carlisle on Monday and at Market Rasen on Tuesday. Brian Hughes visited the winner’s enclosure at those same meetings in Haydock and Carlisle and also at Musselburgh on Sunday, while Derek Fox recorded a treble at Kelso on Friday.