THE rescheduled Ballybunion Beach meeting brought the curtain down on this season’s shortened season and 12-year-old Charleville rider Dylan O’Connor celebrated his confirmation as The Irish Field National Champion by adding a double to bring his seasonal tally to 36 winners.
Dylan opened his account in the 15hh race where he gave Cali Cartel a patient ground-saving ride before quickening clear over the final three furlongs for an impressive win for the Killorglin, Co. Kerry-based O’Sullivan family.
He went on the land the finale for another Kerry stable, as the Dooks-based, Soft Touch Syndicate-owned Mayday stayed on strongly to see off Wild Wind and Sean Bowen.
Sean did have an earlier visit to the winner’s enclosure however as he took the 12-furlong race when Alcapone quickened away in the final furlong to win for Castle Racing. This was Sean’s swansong in horse and pony racing as the Clonmel rider hopes to move onto the track shortly.
Gilligan double
Dunmanway-based Castle Racing had earlier landed the 10-furlong race with Kobayashi who made most of the running to win in the hands of Danny Gilligan. Craughwell, Co. Galway-based Danny expects to follow his brothers Liam and Jack to the racecourse in January went on to complete a double as he landed the day’s feature, the Ballybunion Derby, on the Maurice Ahern-owned/trained Today Is Monday.
After a disappointing run on the heavy ground at Ballysteen, the winner showed a clear preference for a sounder surface as Danny sat off the pace early before coming through to lead with a little over two furlongs to travel and from thereon they were always holding off Tiger Force and Sean Bowen.
Racing opened with a 13.2hh race and this went to Conor Stone-Walsh on Hello Thunder.
Conor is another rider who is moving on from horse and pony racing and he had a magnificent season that saw him vie very closely with Dylan O’Connor for The Irish Field National Championship with the Wexford rider finishing the season on the 23-winner mark.
Paddy Hanlon will be very satisfied with his first season in horse and pony racing and he will be hoping to be a leading contender for riding honours next season.
Paddy produced the Jim Collins owned St. James late and fast to deny the Tyner family-owned and Patrick Verling-ridden Crystal Lady in the 14.2hh race. Paddy got a fall later in the day but thankfully he escaped with a bruising.
Results
Saturday October 8th
13.2hh Race (10F): 1, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO THUNDER (Conor Stone-Walsh); 2, M. O’Connor’s RUBY ANSIE (Dylan O’Connor).
14.2hh Race (12F): 1, J. Collins ST JAMES (Paddy Hanlon); 2, Tyner Syndicate’s CRYSTAL LADY (Patrick Verling); 3, N. Brosnan’s THE LOW ROAD (Adam Grant).
15hh Race (12F): 1, P. O’Sullivan’s CALI CARTEL (Dylan O’Connor); 2, Soft Touch Syndicate’s RED HANDED (Conor Stone-Walsh); 3, Tyner Syndicate’s BOUNCE (Sean Bowen).
Open Horse Race (10F): 1, Castle Racing’s KOBAYASHI (Danny Gilligan); 2, C/I Bowen’s NOT NOW NED (Sean Bowen); 3, M. Ahern’s BABY BROWN (Dylan O’Connor).
Ballybunion Derby (2M): 1, M. Ahern’s TODAY IS MONDAY (Danny Gilligan); 2, Castle Racing’s TIGER FORCE (Sean Bowen); 3, T. McLoughlin’s KINEGAR BOY (Conor Stone-Walsh).
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, Castle Racing’s ALCAPONE (Sean Bowen); 2, J. Rayel’s TIGER MAC (Conor Stone-Walsh); 3, M. Ahern’s ALL BET ARE OFF (Dylan O’Connor).
Maiden Horse Race (12F):1, Soft Touch Syndicate’s MAYDAY (Dylan O’Connor); 2, C/I Bowen’s WILD WIND (Sean Bowen); 3, C. McSweeney’s DANS YOUR MAN (Conor Stone-Walsh).