LAST Sunday’s midlands region meeting at Ballyconneely saw 15-year-old Sean Cleary-Farrell partner his first ever winner from only his second ride as he took the 14.2hh race on Harper’s Pet for Jolene Lynch.
Sean who rides out for Jim Bolger and for his grandfather, Tom, struck for home at half-way to win from the Julie McDonald-ridden It’s Father Ted.
The plan is to go to Dingle where they can certainly put up a strong challenge to Five Stone Of Lead over the three 14.2hh races programmed.
Sam Ewing took the day’s riding honours with four winners, starting with Peaky Blinders who got home a neck in front of the Robert Whearty ridden Shotgun. Last Chance Paddy took the two-mile race for Buddy Harrison as Sam brought him through from the back of the field with a smooth run to again consign Robert Whearty to this bridesmaid role. Stormforce took the non-winners’ race in comprehensive fashion for Tom Fennelly, while Omega took the mile race for the Finnerty stable as Sam tracked leader Little Pop Rocket until delivering a challenge inside the final furlong to win by half a length.
Brandon Wilkie made the trip south rather than riding at his local Big Isle meeting in Letterkenny and he was rewarded with a double.
It has proven to be a lucky track for Brandon as he recorded a treble there last year. Little Spirit took the 13.2hh race for Amanda Sweeney, coming home through to win by a length having looked in a hopeless position early in the race as they trailed the leaders by 15 lengths. Brandon then teamed up with Mary McAndrew to take the concluding 12-furlong race on newcomer West Boots, as they made most of the running before seeing off the challenge of the Jake Coen-ridden Our Souls by half a length.
Racing opened with a 12.2hh race where Rory Mulligan partnered Where It Began to victory, a win that will set them up nicely for a tilt at the curtain raiser to next week’s Dingle Derby.
Results
Sunday, July 28th
12.2HH Race (6F): 1, B. Mulligan’s WHERE IT BEGAN (Rory Mulligan); 2, T. Beegan’s LITTLE MAXIE (Keithen Kennedy); 3, T. Beegan’s LITTLE LIONESS (Sam Ewing).
13.2HH Race (6F): 1, A. Sweeney’s LITTLE SPIRIT (Brandon Wilkie); 2, B. Harrison’s LITTLE MAINNE (Sam Ewing); 3, T. Beegan’s THE BLACKSMITH (Zac Kent).
14.2HH Race (1M): 1, J. Lynch’s HARPERS PET (Sean Cleary); 2, DS Racing’s ITS FATHER TED (Julie McDonald); 3, C. Costello’s TITANIUM (James Costello).
15HH Race (10F): 1, Finnerty Family’s PEAKY BLINDERS (Sam Ewing); 2, D. Donnelly’s SHOTGUN (Robert Whearty); 3, M. McAndrews MISS BOSSY BOOTS (Brandon Wilkie).
Open Horse Race (2M): 1, B. Harrison’s LAST CHANCE PADDY (Sam Ewing); 2, R. Gormley’s DAITHI’S PRIDE( Robert Whearty); 3, D. Donnelly’s OUT OF THE CLOUDS (Brandon Wilkie).
Non Winners Race (10F): 1, T. Fennelly’s STORMFORCE (Sam Ewing); 2, J. Smith’s THE GENT (K Millan); 3, Errismore Racing’s Uppsala (Brandon Wilkie).
Open Horse Race (1M): 1, Finnerty Family’s OMEGA (Sam Ewing); 2, Blake County’s LITTLE POP ROCKET (Kevin Healy); 3, A. Gallagher’s PACK YOUR BAGS (Brandon Wilkie).
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, M. McAndrew’s WEST BOOTS (Brandon Wilkie); 2, J. J. Bailey’s OUR SOULS (Jake Coen); 3, S. Lohan’s SILVER (Julie McDonald).