THE 2018 horse and pony racing season kicked off in 2017 as the traditional Ballyheigue Christmas/New Year meeting took place on December 27th.

Last season Mikey Sheehy took The Irish Field National Champion Rider Award as he saw off a determined challenge from Dylan Browne-McMonagle who was unlucky to miss a significant chunk of the season with injury.

It is expected that these two will be to the head of affairs again this season and they both got off to a flyer, sharing five winners between them.

Although Mikey partnered three winners only two will count towards his championship score as riders can only count their score from two of the three categories: 12.2/14hh, 14.2/15hh and open horse class.

Racing opened with the 12.2hh race and the remarkable veteran Tail To Tail who is rising 22 years old, won in the hands of Luke Burke Ott seeing off Biscuit who was ridden by Luke’s brother Andy.

The following 13.2hh race went to the Mikey Sheehy-ridden Carrig Ava who had a bloodless victory from two newcomers.

Sheehy took the next race on the card also, as he teamed up with the Tyner Syndicate to claim the 14.2hh race from Oopsy Daisy who was ridden by Jake Coen, brother of Ben who is making a name for himself as an apprentice following his recent graduation from pony racing.

Sheehy completed his treble in the finale as Top Of The Morning confirmed his liking for the beach as he took the maiden race (for horses who did not win more than two races in the previous season). He was sent him clear from half-way and this was his third victory in Ballyheigue for Rathcormac, Co. Cork owner Dick Foley.

REWARD

Dylan Browne-McMonagle got the reward for his long journey from Letterkenny as he teamed up with the Newmarket, Co. Cork, Three County Syndicate to land a double making it a treble for the Jerry (Junior) and Ben Daly-trained team who had earlier won with Tail To Tail.

Farmer Boyce had a curtailed season last year as he picked up an injury but nursed back to fitness he came through inside the final 100 yards to win from Red Handed. Good Times Ahead has been the Three County star for many years and he took the 10-furlong race to complete Dylan’s double with a powerful front-running performance.

Shannon Breeze hadn’t won since this meeting last season but he bounced back to form to take the 12-furlong race in the hands of Tipperary rider Joey Sheridan.

Sheridan, who rides out for Aidan O’Brien in Ballydoyle, led from after the first bend where favourite Pacman ran out. Onwards And Upwards made a winning debut for the Middleton, Co. Cork-based Dunleavy stable as he got a positive ride from Brian Dunleavy to make all and win the two-mile for his mother Tina with the Ross Sugrue ridden Silver Dollar chasing him home.

RESULTS

Tuesday, December 27th

12.2HH Race (6F) - 1, Three County Syndicate’s TAIL TO TAIL (Luke Burke Ott); 2, E. Finn’s BISCUIT (Andy Burke Ott); 3, C. Verling’s HERE COMES THE PAIN (Patrick Verling).

13.2HH (1M) - 1, O’Sullivan/King’s CARRIG AVA (Mikey Sheehy); 2, A. Ott’s JIMMY TWO TIMES (Andy Burke Ott); 3, T McMahon’s GREY DAWN (Ben Kennedy).

14.2HH (1M) - 1, Tyner Syndicate’s CRYSTAL LADY (Mikey Sheehy); 2, R. King’s OOPSY DAISY (Jake Coen); 3, Tyner Syndicate’s LEVEL HEADED (Dylan Browne McMonagle).

15HH (1M) - 1, Three County Syndicate’s FARMER BOYCE (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, Soft Touch Syndicate’s RED HANDED (Joey Sheridan); 3, El Hayes’s WINDY CITY (Daniel King).

Open Horse Race (10F) - 1, Three County Syndicate’s GOOD TIMES AHEAD (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, C. Faulkner’s IRISH ROVER (Sam Ewing); 3, C. Byrnes’s CLOUDY DAY (Philip Byrnes).

Open Horse Race (12F) - 1, R. Keane’s SHANNON BREEZE (Joey Sheridan); 2, Soft Touch Syndicate’s TIPP KELLY (Daniel King); 3, R. King’s BIG TIME HENRY (Jake Coen).

Open Horse Race (2M) - 1, T. Dunleavy’s ONWARDS AND UPWARDS (Brian Dunleavy); 2, Riverside Racing’s SILVER DOLLAR (Ross Sugrue); 3, C. Mannion’s NOT GUILTY (Ciara Mannion).

Maiden Horse Race (1M) - 1, D. Foley’s TOP OF THE MORNING (Mikey Sheehy); 2, L. Lynch’s ASHLINGS DREAM (Ross Sugrue); 3, Soft Touch Syndicate’s CLOSE ENCOUNTER (Joey Sheridan).