AFTER a number of years break, pony racing returned to the Curragh racecourse last Sunday where two races, a 12.2hh and a 13.2hh race were held.

Amongst those that made this event happen, great credit must go to the Management of the Curragh Racecourse, the Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE), the IHRB, in particular Denis Egan, Paul Murtagh and Cliodhna Guy, the IHRB Officials on duty on the day and Antoinette Gallagher whose dream this was and who worked tirelessly to make it happen.

The first race off was the 13.2hh race and by half-way this had developed into a duel with the front-running Diamond Hill and Alex O’Keeffe being shadowed by Katie Taylor and Danny Gilligan.

Danny was coolness personified as he waited until the final 100 years before delivering his challenge which saw him come home a neck in front of Diamond Hill who pushed them hard all the way to the line.

The 12.2hh race saw Kian “Tubs” McNally make the running on Where It Began and when the field closed up on him inside the two-furlong marker, it looked as if he was going to be swamped.

However, Kian had kept enough in reserve and after giving his mount a chance to get a breather, they quickened again to win by about three lengths.

The 11-year-old from Armagh went on to treat his supporters to a “Frankie” style flying dismount in the winner’s enclosure.

Results

Sunday, October 9th

13.2HH Race (5F): 1, T. Beegan’s KATIE TAYLOR (Daniel Gilligan); 2, S. Carey’s DIAMOND HILL (Alex O’Keeffe); 3, M. O’Connor’s SHEANMORE MATA (Calum Hogan).

12.2HH Race (5F): 1, S. Kerr’s WHERE IT BEGAN (Kian McNally); 2, P. Collins’s South Of The Border (Adam Grant); 3, J.J. O’Keeffe’s TEMPLEHILL TAMARA (Dylan O’Connor)

THE Irish Field National Rider Awards will be presented at the Midlands Region Awards Night at Gullane’s Hotel, Ballinasloe, Co Galway on Saturday, October 23rd.

The 2021 Roll of Honour is as follows