HOPEFULLY, for them, bookmakers in the area of Rathmullan weren’t too hard hit on Wednesday when three jockeys who honed their riding skills on the beach of the Co Donegal village partnered winners in Ireland.

Over jumps in the afternoon, it was Conor Orr who struck first when joining forces with Draperstown trainer Noel Kelly to land division one of the two-mile, six-furlong handicap hurdle at Downpatrick. Having scored at Navan last Thursday week, at the Curragh on Friday and Killarney on Monday, Orr’s brother Oisín was on the mark in the one-mile, three-furlong handicap for three-year-olds at Killarney on Wednesday evening on the Dermot Weld-trained Haparanda.

Oisín’s win at the Co Kerry track came half an hour after Dylan Browne McMonagle had claimed a similar race for four-year-olds and upwards on Harvey Specter who is trained in Co Kilkenny by Dick Donohoe for Co Donegal owner Paul Sweeney.

Rathmullan beach wasn’t the only connection between the trio of jockeys as all recorded their first wins in the horse and pony racing sphere on Aughavannon Kipper.

Conor Orr on Aughavannon Kipper in Stradbally

Now 21 years of age, that black gelding is owned by the Orrs’ step-mother, Rachel Carton, who tells us that the 11.2hh pony, who came out of Smithfield Fair as a yearling and was “as wild as a rabbit”, is one of the family who won’t be going anywhere. “He was bought as a companion for an orphaned foal and ended up staying with us.

Steering

“He has neither brakes nor steering a lot of the time but hasn’t a bad bone in his body,” said Rachel who is chairman of Letterkenny Riding Club.

Oisin Orr on pony Aughavannon Kipper at pony club games day at Markree Castle

“He was not only used for racing but in most activities with the East Donegal Branch (of the Irish Pony Club) where all our children were members.

“He is in great form and, although things are on hold at present, hopefully he will introduce a few more youngsters to riding.

Emma Carton on Aughavannon Kipper on the Kinnegar Beach

“Our daughter Emma, who works in Kilkenny with Jim O’Neill (father of international show jumper Ger), sat up on Kipper last weekend when on a rare visit home.”

Another Rathmullan native to partner a winner in the period under review was Luke McAteer, who returned to the number one spot at Leopardstown on Saturday, while Co Donegal-born Martin Harley recorded a double at Chepstow last Thursday week and single successes at Salisbury on Saturday and Ripon on Tuesday.

Downpatrick’s Paddy Mathers landed a double at Ayr on Tuesday while there were wins for Brian Hughes at Bangor on Sunday and Southwell on Tuesday and for Patsy Cosgrave at Kempton on Monday and Yarmouth on Wednesday. Danny McMenamin partnered his first winner of the jumping campaign at Market Rasen last Friday.