Southern Region

Taghmon, Co. Wexford

THE southern region held a meeting in Taghmon, Co. Wexford last Sunday and it turned out to be a day to remember for Jack de Bromhead, Adam Grant and Alex O’Keeffe all who rode their first winners while local rider Conor Stone-Walsh put on a polished display of riding in front of his home supporters as he registered a treble to take the day’s leading rider award.

Twelve-year-old Kilrane, Co. Wexford rider Adam Grant took the opening 12.2hh race as he pushed Pat Collins’s South Of The Border clear over the final couple of furlongs to record his first success in the saddle, with the Darragh O’Sullivan-ridden Biscuit chasing him home.

Adam didn’t take long to double his tally as he went on to take the 14hh race as Hello Star made every post a winning one to prevail over Line Dancer in a thrilling finish.

Another Wexford rider, Alex O’Keeffe opened his account in the 13.2hh race where he teamed up with Seamus Carey to make all the running on Diamond Hill. Alex’s cousin, the well-known National Hunt jockey Sean O’Keeffe was on hand to make the presentation for this race.

On a day of firsts, 12-year-old Jack de Bromhead made his first visit to the winner’s enclosure as a jockey when he landed the 15hh race on Silent Star for Jim Collins.

Polished display

Jack gave the winner a very polished and patient ride as he came through from last position to lead inside the distance. The runner-up, That’s Our Grouse, is owned by the father of Mike O’Connor, conditional rider for Jack’s father Henry, so there was probably a bit of banter in the de Bromhead yard over the following days.

On a great day for riders from the south-east, Conor Stone-Walsh gave his local supporters plenty to cheer about as he registered a treble.

Ian “Teddy” Worrell produced an impressive newcomer in Honest Bernie the previous week in Navan and he re-enforced the good impression under a fine front-running ride from Conor to take the mile race, with Best Friend leading the chasing pack under Sam Coen whose brother Ben was recording his first classic success as he won the Irish St. Leger at the Curragh.

Conor then added the 12-furlong race for Shane Crabbe as Let It Go came through from off the pace to deny the Tommy Halford-ridden Silver Dale. Conor and Shane then teamed up to take the day’s feature race, The Monbeg Stables/Newline Oil Derby with Bipolar Blondie.

Conor travelled in midfield early before coming out on top following a terrific duel over the final four furlongs with the Keithen Kennedy-ridden Mr. Bowen.

Clonmel rider Sean Bowen recorded his second winner of the season as he took The maiden race on Not Now Ned who made all before holding off the late challenge of Kobayashi and deny Dylan O’Connor a treble.

Dylan had earlier landed the 14.2hh race with Sinola Cartel who won from the Paddy Hanlon ridden St. James. The winner is owned and trainer by Mallow-based Maurice Ahern who has another excellent 14.2hh pony in Baby Brown who completed Dylan’s double as he stepped into open horse class to land the 10-furlong race in convincing style from the Eryka Snioch-ridden Little Rebel.

Novice riders

There were also two very well-supported novice rider races on the card with Bobby Doyle Murphy taking the first divide on Goldie. Bobby is the son of Wexford trainer Liz Doyle and his brother Jack went close to taking the honours in the second split but had to give best to the Lily Walsh-ridden Tic Tac. Lily also comes from a strong racing background as she is the daughter of well-known point-to-point rider and handler Benny Walsh.

Results - September 12th

12.2hh Race (7F): 1, P. Collins’s SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Adam Grant); 2, M. O’Sullivan’s BISCUIT (Darragh O’Sullivan); 3, Banner Syndicate’s LITTLE KIKI (Donagh Murphy).

13.2hh Race (9F): S. Carey’s DIAMOND HILL (Alex O’Keeffe); 2, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO THUNDER (Adam Grant); 3, J. O’Sullivan’s SORE LOOSER (Conor Stone-Walsh).

14hh Race (9F): 1, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Adam Grant); 2, O’Sullivan/King’s LINE DANCER (Dylan O’Connor); 3, Curragh Racing’s CURRAGH TULIP (Darragh O’Sullivan).

14.2hh Race (1M): 1, M. Ahern’s SINOLA CARTEL (Dylan O’Connor); 2, J. Collins’s SAINT JAMES (Paddy Hanlon); 3, Tyner Syndicate’s SHE’S GOT IT (Sean Bowen).

15hh Race (10F): 1, J. Collins’s SILENT STAR (Jack de Bromhead); 2, P. O’Connor’s THAT’S OUR GROUSE (Dylan O’Connor); 3, Dream Team Racing’s CHASE THE DREAM (Killian Brophy).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1. I. Worrell’s HONEST BERNIE (Conor Stone-Walsh); 2, A. Melia’s BEST FRIEND (Sam Coen); 3, W. Swindle’s WILD BILL (Paul Kavanagh).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, M. Ahern’s BABY BROWN (Dylan O’Connor); 2, P. Smith’s LITTLE REBEL (Eryka Snioch); 3, Castle Racing’s BONNIE PARKER (Sean Bowen).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s LET IT GO (Conor Stone-Walsh); 2, L. Boswell’s SILVER DALE (Tommy Halford); 3, P. Collins’s N59 (Patrick Verling).

Monbeg Stables & Newline Oil Derby (2M): 1, S. Crabbe’s BIPOLAR BLONDIE (Conor Stone-Walsh); 2, A. Melia’s MR BOWEN (Keithen Kennedy); 3, M. O’Connor’s IDA’S DREAM (Dylan O’Connor).

Maiden Horse Race (10F): 1, C/I Bowen’s NOT NOW NED (Sean Bowen); 2, Castle Racing’s KOBAYASHI (Dylan O’Connor); 3, Tyner Syndicate’s TOSS A COIN (Conor Stone-Walsh).

Novice Riders Pony Race Div. 1: 1, GOLDIE (Bobby Doyle Murphy); 2, SKY (Aoife Griffith); 3, BOBBY (Blake-Kavanagh).

Novice Riders Pony Race Div. 2: 1, TIC TAC (Lily Walsh); 2, LILY ALLEN (Jack Doyle Murphy); 3, EAT MY DUST (Poppy Purcell).

Fixtures

North-west region: The region bring the curtain down on their season with a meeting in Carrickadawson, Co. Donegal, tomorrow, Sunday with the first due off a 1pm.

Southern region: next meeting is on Ballybunion Strand in Kerry on Sunday September 26th. They have their final meeting scheduled for Askeaton/Ballysteen, Co. Limerick on Sunday October 3rd with a 1pm start.