WITH the cancellation of Ballygluinan, the North-West region meeting in Ramelton, Co. Donegal was the only meeting run last weekend.
Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath rider Reece O’Connor was certainly happy it went ahead as he recorded his first ever winner. He guided Man Of Iron to victory for Andy Scott.
Reece, who is 15 years old and who rides out for Noel Meade, made most of the running until headed by the Daire Davis-ridden Elusive Ruby before the turn-in. However, O’Connor quickly regained the initiative to win by a length.
Joey Dunne is another Dunshaughlin rider who, like O’Connor, rides out for Noel Meade and he also paid a visit to the winner’s enclosure as he had earlier landed the two-mile maiden race on Big OJ for Ryan Gormley.
Dunne was content to sit behind the leaders early on and gradually crept into things from half-way and once he asked for his effort up the hill to the finish they stretched clear from the Cristina Simpson-ridden Lets Go Now who took second ahead of stablemate Let U Go, ridden by Luca Morgan.
It was a good day for the lady riders with Jill Robinson riding a double and Cristina Simpson also amongst the winners.
Jill Robinson teamed up with Gerry Collins to record a first and last race double. In the opening 12-furlong horse race, she partnered Forget Me Not who showed his appreciation of the test of stamina as he stretched clear over the final couple of furlongs to win from the Pat Taaffe-ridden Mr. James.
The two mile non-winners race saw a Collins 1-2 as Robinson brought All About Chris home in front of Don’t Tell Chris. The rider was happy to take her time early and they galloped clear over the final half-mile as their rivals toiled in the stamina-sapping ground.
Cristina Simpson teamed up with Adrian Browne to claim victory in the mile race where they stretched clear from half-way to win from the Reece O’Connor-ridden Kiddo.
Last year’s Dingle Derby winner Mr. Bowen got back on the winning track in the two-mile race. Pat Taaffe tracked the leaders early before leading four furlongs out and Taaffe had to keep him up to his work to come home about six lengths clear of the 2013 Dingle Derby winner, Jack Daniels.
Seabiscuit and Jamie Kelly won the 15hh race for the Holians. They stayed on strongest up the hill after turning in upsides Swilly Girl and Dodge The Bullet. The novice riders’ race went to Daniel Day who rode Dimetry to win from his brother Michael on The White Pony.
RESULTS
Sunday, June 11th
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, G. Collins’s FORGET ME NOT (Jill Robinson); 2, J. Torrens’s MR. JAMES (Pat Taaffe); 3, S. Kelly’s EVER SO CLEVER (Jamie Kelly).
Open Horse Race (2M): 1, J. Torrens’ MR. BOWEN (Pat Taaffe); 2, P. Mooney’s JACK DANIEL’S (Joey Dunne); 3, S. Laird’s WALK THE LINE (Sam Ewing)
Maiden Race (2M): 1, R. Gormley’s BIG OJ (Joey Dunne); 2, A. Browne’s LETS GO NOW (Cristina Simpson); 3. A. Browne’s LET U GO (Luca Morgan).
15HH/153cm Race (12F): 1, P. Holion’s SEABISCUIT (Jamie Kelly); 2, P. Mooney’s SWILLY GIRL (Reece O’Connor); 3, A. Browne’s DODGE THE BULLET (Sam Ewing).
Open Horse Race (1M): 1, A. Browne’s NEVER SAY NEVER (Cristina Simpson); 2, A. Scott’s KIDDO (Reece O’Connor); 3, L. Baird’s NUTCRACKER (Joey Dunne).
Novice Riders Race: 1, D. Day’s DIMETRY (Daniel Day); 2, M. Day’s THE WHITE PONY (Michael Day).
Open Horse race (10F): 1. A. Scott’s MAN OF IRON (Reece O’Connor); 2, J. Harris’s ELUSIVE RUBY (Daire Davis); 3, J. Holian’s BETTER TIMES AHEAD (Sam Ewing).
Non-Winners Race (2M): 1. G. Collins’ ALL ABOUT CHRIS (Jill Robinson); 2, G. Collins’ DON’T TELL CHRIS (Reece O’Connor); 3, P. Mulligan’s THE WARRIOR (Ben Mulligan).
MIDLANDS: The region meeting is tomorrow, Sunday when Ballybrittas Races take place in Killenard, Co. Laois with a 2pm start. Carrowniskey Beach, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo is the venue the following week on Sunday, June 25th with a 12pm start.
SOUTHERN: Ballingarry in Co. Limerick is the venue for the next southern region meeting on Sunday, June 25th with a 1pm start.
MEASURING: The second measuring of the midlands region will take place on Friday, June 23rd in Carey’s Equestrian Centre, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. Ponies to be measured must be notified to the Regional Secretary by June 19th.