THE southern circuit returned to action on Sunday last with a highly competitive meeting at Glenagore, Athea, Co Limerick.

Dylan O’Connor took the riding honours of the afternoon with a sparkling four-timer. Kian McNally enjoyed a fine double on his Dingle hotpots Honest Bernie and Verstappen. Lilly Walsh and Julian Pietropaolo were also in double winning form.

The Irish Field National Champion, Dylan O’Connor kicked off with Hello Star who followed up her Ballybunion victory with another easy success in the 13.2hh contest. Multiple Dingle winner Cali Cartel bounced right back to form when winning the 15hh race for Killorglin owner Pat O’Sullivan. The winner quickened impressively up the straight and will reappear in Broadford.

Call Him Mr Raider made it a good day at the office for the O’Sullivans when making most of the running to win the non-winners’ race over 12 furlongs. The North Cork jockey moved to the top of the jockeys’ table when Katie Taylor sluiced home yet again in the 14hh race for the Clare-based Kerin family.

McNally on the mark

Kian McNally made the long journey from Co Armagh and he was on the mark when Verstappen enhanced his Dingle Derby credentials when landing the two-mile feature.

The Worrell/Crabbe top-notcher looked to have a bit to do off the final bend but forged to the front a furlong down and won decisively by three lengths.

Honest Bernie showed just why he is the champion when overcoming traffic problems to land the first division of the mile contest. Forced wide off the top bend, Honest Bernie trailed the field as they headed for the straight. Kian never panicked however and struck the front a furlong down and powered clear to win by five lengths.

Day to savour

Lilly Walsh enjoyed a day to savour with her first win in the 14.2hh division on Pacman. Owned by her mother Jenny in association with Pat Collins, Pacman always travelled best and ran out a cosy three-length winner.

South Of The Border had earlier initiated the first leg of the rider’s double with an impressive all the way victory in the opening 12.2hh race.

Julian Pietropaolo continued his rich vein of form with another brilliant double. Stay With Her Johnny gained compensation for a luckless Castleisland outing when staying on powerfully up the straight to win the second division of the mile for owner Aidan Melia.

The Tinder Swindler made it a Melia double when destroying the opposition to win the 12-furlong contest.

Patrick McGettigan fresh from sitting his Junior Cycle exams made a victorious first visit to the southern circuit. The Ballyare, Co Donegal jockey combined with well-known Co Laois owner Seamus Bergin to land the 10-furlong event on Firedrops. This Navan winner put up a teak tough performance to grab long time leader What’s Going On inside the last 50 yards.

Mitchelstown, Co Cork jockey Darragh O’Sullivan gained his third success of the season when Dream Alliance made practically all of the running to win the second division of the 14.2hh race.

The winner is owned by the Hayes family from Shanagolden, Co Limerick.

Next fixtures

A DOUBLE header on tomorrow Sunday with racing at Broadford, Co Limerick (1pm start) and at Carrickadawson (1.30pm).

Ballinagare, Co Roscommon will be the sole meeting on Sunday, July 16th.

12.2HH (6F): 1, P. Collins’s SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Lilly Walsh); 2, J. Mulvihill’s TINY DANCER (Nicola Burns); 3, M. O’Sullivan’s BISCUIT (Darragh O’Sullivan).

13.2HH (6F): 1, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Dylan O’Connor); 2, P. Collins’s DOWN MEXICO WAY (Oisin Goff); 3, P. Collins/R. Healy’s THE HILLS OF CONNEMARA (Lilly Walsh).

14HH (10F): 1, K. Kerin’s KATIE TAYLOR (Dylan O’Connor); 2, J. O’Sullivan’s SANDYCOVE (Adam Browne Souza); 3, Island Syndicate’s BLOWING BUBBLES (Kian McNally).

14.2HH Div 1 (12F): 1, P. Collins/J. Walsh’s PACMAN (Lilly Walsh); 2, J. Collins’s ST. JAMES (Jayden Tuite); 3, M. Brosnan’s SHELLY BABY (Dylan O’Connor).

14.2HH Div 2 (12F): 1, D. Hayes’s DREAM ALLIANCE (Darragh O’Sullivan); 2, K. Connell’s AN CAPALL DUBH (Adam Browne Souza); 3, T. Beegan’s GRACE O’MALLEY (Kian McNally).

15HH (12F): 1, P. O’Sullivan’s CALI CARTEL (Dylan O’Connor); 2, K. Flannery’s BABY BROWN (John Mulvihill); 3, Deelview Racing’s BUBBA WATSON (Julian Pietropaolo).

Open Horse Race Div 1 (1M): 1, I. Worrell’s HONEST BERNIE (Kian McNally); 2, J. Brady’s WHO TOLD YOU (Adam Grant); 3, Dream Team Racing’s NOT NOW NED (Darragh O’Sullivan).

Open Horse Race Div 2 (1M): 1, A. Melia’s STAY WITH HER JOHNNY (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, K. Flannery’s THE NEW HOUSE (John Mulvihill); 3, I. Worrell’s SMOOTH OPERATOR (Kian McNally).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, S. Bergin’s FIREDROPS (Patrick McGettigan); 2, I. Worrell/S. Crabbe’s WHAT’S GOING ON (Adam Grant); 3, Three In A Row Syndicate’s TOM’S CROSS (Julian Pietropaolo).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, A. Melia’s THE TINDER SWINDLER (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, Finnerty Family’s MR. JAMES (Adam Grant); 3, K. Flannery’s UP TO CAPPA (John Mulvihill).

Athea Derby (2M): 1, I. Worrell/S. Crabbe’s VERSTAPPEN (Kian McNally); 2, K. Flannery’s RIGHT ON TIME (John Mulvihill); 3, J. Hayes’s ANOTHER LEGEND (Jack Collins).

Non-Winners’ Race (12F): 1, P. O’Sullivan’s CALL HIM MR RAIDER (Dylan O’Connor); 2, R. Burns’s FATHER HEGARTY’S ROCK (Nicola Burns); 3, Three In A Row Syndicate’s CASH OR CARD (Julian Pietropaolo).