LACKEN Strand Races near Ballina in Co. Mayo were run in glorious sunshine last Sunday and Danny Gilligan certainly made hay as the 12-year-old Craughwell rider rode the winner of six out of the eight races on the card.

Gilligan opened his account for his mother Natalie when taking the 14hh race on Bubbalicious where he led from half-way for a comfortable win.

In the 14.2hh race Five Stone Of Lead looked a likely winner with two furlongs to run but Pacman showed a great fighting spirit to grind out victory for Mallow Co. Cork owner/trainer Maurice Ahern.

The rider’s victory in the 15hh race came in the stewards’ room. The rider had come with a nice run to deliver his challenge at the furlong pole but his run was checked by the first-past-the-post, Joey Sheridan-ridden Dylan’s Pride which resulted in the first two placings being reversed and victory awarded to Peaky Blinders for the Finnerty Syndicate.

Gilligan continued on his winning ways in the mile race on the Ian “Teddy” Worrell-owned and trained Call The Cops.

The Monasterevin-trained winner was slowly away but Danny never panicked and he worked his way through the field to lead a furlong out and win impressively.

Gilligan then took the day’s feature event, the Lacken Derby over two miles as Mr. Bowen tracked the Sam Ewing-ridden Try Your Best throughout before taking control two furlongs out to win for Kilbarron, Co. Tipperary owner Seamus Quinn.

The six-timer was completed in the finale as Mr. James made it a double for the Co. Roscommon-based Finnerty stable. Gilligan sat fourth early before kicking clear over the final half-mile.

The other two races on the card both went to Letterkenny, Co. Donegal jockeys. The opening 13.2hh race went to Little Spirit as Brandon Wilkie partnered the Amanda Sweeney-owned Little Spirit to a follow-up win to the opening Lough Derg meeting.

Brandon jumped off in front and was never headed, with Sam Ewing on Little Mainne chasing them home. Dylan Browne-McMonagle took the 10-furlong race on Half-Price for Monasterevin-based Aidan Melia. Dylan took a prominent position from flag-fall before hitting the front three furlongs out and stretching clear to win very impressively.

RESULTS

SUNDAY, JUNE 3RD.

13:2 HH Race (7F): 1, A. Sweeney’s LITTLE SPIRIT (Brandon Wilkie); 2, I. Kelly’s LITTLE MAINNE (Sam Ewing); 3, M. Carberry’s WHERE IT BEGAN (Rory Mulligan).

14 HH Race (7F): 1, N. Gilligan’s BUBBALICIOUS (Daniel Gilligan); 2, Browne Syndicate’s UNHINGED (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, J. Harris’s DONT MIND ME (Sam Ewing).

14:2 HH Race (10F): 1, M. Ahern’s PACMAN (Daniel Gilligan); 2, Browne Syndicate’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, A. Sweeney’s KAYLESSI (Brandon Wilkie).

15 HH Race (10F): 1, Finnerty’s Syndicate’s PEAKY BLINDERS (Daniel Gilligan); 2, Holian Syndicate’s DYLANS PRIDE (Joey Sheridan); 3, B. Harrison’s MR.BUD (Sam Ewing).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, I. Worrell’s CALL THE COPS (Daniel Gilligan); 2, U. Adair’s DERRY’S PRIDE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, D. McNamara’s UPPSALA (Jake Coen).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, A. Melia’s HALF PRICE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, T. Fennelly’s STORMFORCE (Daniel King); 3, B. Harrison’s LAST CHANCE PADDY (Sam Ewing).

Lacken Derby (2M): 1, S. Quinn’s MR.BOWEN (Daniel Gilligan) 2, B. Harrison’s TRY YOUR BEST (Sam Ewing); 3, B. O’Sullivan’s NON POSITIVE (Michael McGuane).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, Finnerty’s Syndicate’s MR.JAMES (Daniel Gilligan) 2, Browne Syndicate’s LET HIM GO (Dylan Browne-McMonagle) 3, Finnerty’s Syndicate’s MR.GREY (Sam Ewing)

Southern: The region will recommence their season tomorrow, Sunday, with the hosting of Castleisland Races in Co. Kerry. The first race is due off at 1pm. This is the 159th anniversary of the first Castleisland Races. The Committee wish to highlight that roadworks means the main Castleisland to Farranfore Road is closed 200 yards away from the racecourse on the Farranfore side so they will be redirecting race traffic in Farranfore towards Currow village and onto the Scartaglen-Castleisland Road. They would encourage all race traffic from the Cork direction to travel the Ballydesmond /Scartaglen route if possible.

North West: The region will race again in Porthall, Lifford Co. Donegal tomorrow, Sunday.

Midlands: The region race on Carrownisky Strand, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo on Sunday, June 17th.