THE North West’s flagship meeting of the season took place in sun drenched conditions at the Big Isle in Letterkenny last weekend.

Adam Grant and Kian McNally shared eight winners between them with the Wexford jockey claiming the top jockey award on placings.

Adam Grant landed the featured Joseph O’Brien-sponsored Derby on Saturday when What’s Going On just held off Ya Skitter in a gripping finish. The winner is owned by the all-conquering Teddy Worrell and Shane Crabbe partnership.

The Rosslare jockey really turned on the style at the second stage when adding a further three winners to his tally. Chloe’s Sam made it three on the bounce when running out an impressive winner of the Paddy Merrigan Coldbeer Sports Derby. This Dingle winner is bang on target for a return to the festival in August.

Shane Crabbe who owns and trains Chloe’s Sam was back in the winner’s enclosure when Bipolar Blondie easily regained the winning thread in the 12-furlong contest. Adam’s fourth winner of the weekend came for local owner Shane Gildea when Make A Plan proved far too strong for Big Bucks in the one mile, six-furlong event.

Sparkling treble

Kian McNally completed another sparkling treble at the opening stage highlighted by the victory of Five Stone Of Lead in the 14hh contest.

This family-owned pony looks better than ever this season and will again bid for the triple crown at the Dingle Festival. For good measure Five Stone Of Lead turned out again 24 hours later and again sluiced home at the expense of Wee Bucks.

Kian’s other two winners came from the high-flying Aiden Melia yard in Kildare. A return to front-running tactics paid rich dividends for Here We Go Again who landed the mile, six furlongs race over the hot favourite Bipolar Blondie. The Tinder Swindler was always on the sharp end in the mile, three-furlong contest and ran out a snug winner over Two For The Road.

Dylan O’Connor made the long trek from North Cork on Saturday morning having been on lead up duties at Tramore the previous night.

Rewarded

The Liscarroll jockey was well rewarded with a treble on Katie Taylor, Daithi’s Dream and Travelling Soldier respectively.

Shane Kerin’s Katie Taylor is top drawer in the 14hh division this season and toyed with the opposition in the 14hh contest.

Dylan landed a hugely popular victory for six-year-old Daithi MacGabhann when Daithi’s Dream quickened away inside the distance to win the 10-furlong maiden race.

The road back to Cork would certainly have seemed a little shorter on Sunday evening after Travelling Soldier caused a mild upset when winning the 15hh race for The Irish Field National Champion.

The winner returned to a rapturous reception from the McGhee family who purchased the winner earlier in the year.

Tipperary jockey Sam Coen continued to impress and he came away from the Big Isle with three winners. All three of these were well supported Letterkenny-trained horses. Kinnegar Bay and Kinnegar Boy provided Noel McLoughlin and his Team Mac Syndicate with a weekend to savour.

Ya Skitter who was a shade unlucky on the opening day had no such difficulties in Sunday’s 10-furlong race when proving far too strong for Another Plan.

THE Southern season will begin in Castleisland, Co. Kerry, tomorrow Sunday with a 12.30pm start.

Ballybunion will stage a grass fixture on Sunday, June 18th with a12.30pm start. Text entries to 087 9759500.

14HH Race (6F): 1, S. Kerin’s KATIE TAYLOR (Dylan O’Connor); 2, A. Sweeney’s ERIN’S OWN (Kian McNally); 3, P. McGill’s SWILLY SPIRIT (Tiernan McGill).

14.2HH Race (12F): 1, S. Kerr’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 2, J. Brady’s LITTLE CHIEF (Dylan O’Connor); 3, Holian Syndicate’s WEE BUCKS (Sam Coen).

Joseph O’Brien Derby 15HH (12F): 1, I. Worrell/S. Crabbe’s WHAT’S GOING ON (Adam Grant); 2, Holian Syndicate’s YA SKITTER (Sam Coen).

Open Horse Race (6F): 1, Team Mac’s KINNEGAR BAY (Sam Coen); 2, Two Priest Syndicate’s WHO TOLD YOU (Dylan O’Connor); 3, P. J. Donnelly’s ABBEY KING (Nicola Burns).

Non Winners’ Horse Race (10F): 1, R. Gormley’s DAITHI’S DREAM (Dylan O’Connor); 2, T. Healy’s A HEAR LAD (Kian Fahey); 3, K. Orr’s HIGH NOON (Kian McNally).

Open Horse Race (11F): 1, A. Melia’s THE TINDER SWINDLER (Kian McNally); 2, A & M Syndicate’s TWO FOR THE ROAD (Dylan O’Connor); 3, J. T. C. Syndicate’s HEY COWBOY (Adam Grant).

Open Horse Race (14F): 1, A. Melia’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Kian McNally); 2, S. Crabbe’s BIPOLAR BLONDIE (Adam Grant).

14.2HH Race (12F): 1, S. Kerr’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 2, Holian Syndicate’s WEE BUCKS (Patrick McGettigan); 3, J. Brady’s LITTLE CHIEF (Dylan O’Connor).

15HH Race (1M): 1, L. McGhee’s TRAVELLING SOLDIER (Dylan O’Connor); 2, J. McGettigan’s FIADH’S FANCY (Patrick McGettigan); 3, Team Browne’s COPPER KID (Sam Coen).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, Team Mac’s KINNEGAR BOY (Sam Coen); 2, Two Priest Syndicate’s WHO TOLD YOU (Dylan O’Connor).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, Holian Syndicate’s YA SKITTER (Sam Coen); 2, S. Gildea’s ANOTHER PLAN (Adam Grant).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s BIPOLAR BLONDIE (Adam Grant); 2, J. Walsh’s RIVERSTOWN LAD (Jack Collins).

Open Horse Race (14F): 1, S. Gildea’s MAKE A PLAN (Adam Grant); 2, Holian Syndicate’s BIG BUCKS (Sam Coen).

Merrigan Coldbeer Sports Derby (2M): 1, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Adam Grant); 2, G. Faulkner’s OUR MAN FLINT (Adam Brown Souza); 3, Not For Sure Syndicate’s THE QUIET MAN (Sam Coen).