THE traditional pipe-opener to Galway race week went ahead in Ballyconneely on Saturday with the staging of the Errismore races.

They were moved forward from Sunday to avoid a clash with the Galway/Armagh match in Croke Park.

On a sun-drenched afternoon, there was a large influx of tourists who enjoyed the eight-race card.

Kian McNally and Nicola Burns shared six winners as they continued their outstanding seasons.

Kian kicked off the day with the unbeaten Little Fiddlers who had little more than a gentle breeze in the Connemara sunshine to win the one mile 13.2hh race. Owned by the Finnerty family from Co Roscommon, this homebred pony will reappear in Omey tomorrow before heading to defend her Dingle crown.

Kian was quickly back in the winner’s enclosure after the 14.2hh contest when Five Stone Of Lead sauntered clear up the straight to win with the minimum of fuss. The winner is also Omey bound while a big test will lay ahead in Dingle and a clash with Baby Caro.

The Armagh jockey was eagerly looking forward to seeing Armagh play on Sunday and completed the treble when She’s Got It bounced back to winning ways over 10 furlongs in tremendous style.

Kian sent the Dream Team Partnership mare to the front with a circuit to race and bounded clear off the final bend for a five-length victory. She’s Got It will have a choice of engagements over the three days in Dingle and is still a possibility for the Lee Strand Dingle Derby.

Burns treble

Champion lady jockey Nicola Burns initiated her treble when Chloe’s Sam gained yet another winning bracket in the 12-furlong event. The two-mile winner at Ardee and multiple scorer this season, was given an ultra-patient ride on this occasion.

Settled in mid-division to halfway, the imposing chesnut was in cruise control off the home turn and powered away for a facile victory. Runner-up Dorey’s Forge caught the eye when keeping on well for second place.

Chloe’s Sam who was successful on all three days at Dingle last season is a likely contender for the Ladies Derby and Dingle Derby at this year’s renewal.

Nicola doubled up with Kildare owner Shane Crabbe when She’s A Freebie made it third time lucky in the two-mile race at the expense of Maximus and Kian McNally.

The winner had been runner-up on her two previous efforts at Taghmon and Ardee. She’s A Freebie bounced out here and made every inch of the running for a 15-length victory.

The winning owner nominated the two-mile derby trial in Dingle as her festival target. The Mullingar jockey made it three on the day and a second for the Finnerty family when Caramore gained due reward for consistency when landing the concluding maiden in a tight finish from Go On Jimmy.

The runner-up looked destined for victory off the final bend but Caramore answered every call and got up to lead in the shadows of the post. Both horses will reappear on the beach tomorrow afternoon.

O’Connor on the mark

Dylan O’Connor was on the mark for the second successive week with Hasta La Vista in the 15h contest over one mile. The Ardee winner again made most of the running and kept on strongly to beat Frankie under Nina Doherty by four lengths.Nina certainly deserves a winning turn having been touched off on several occasions recently. Hasta La Vista will now be a strong contender for 15hh honours at the festival.

The local fan club were out in support for Silver Hill, owned by the McNamara family, in the mile race but he was narrowly denied in a driving finish.

Jockey Camillus Byrne has been one of the finds of the season and he gave Bubbles a peach of a drive to get back up close home for a half-length victory.

The Co Meath jockey will renew the partnership in Omey and will have several good chances in Dingle.

Results, Saturday, July 27th

13.2HH (1M): 1, Finnerty Families LITTLE FIDDLERS (Kian McNally); 2, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Dylan O’Connor); 3, Curly Syndicate’s SORE LOSER (Adam Lynch).

14.2HH (1M): 1, M. Moloney’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 2, D. Ferry’s WRONG DIRECTION (Brody Ferry); 3, T. Beegan’s GOING THE DISTANCE (Leah Mahon).

15HH (1M): 1, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LA VISTA (Dylan O’Connor); 2, F. Byrne’s FRANKIE (Nina Doherty); 3, D. Burns CHANCY MONEY (Nicola Burns).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, F. Byrne’s BUBBLES (Camillus Byrne); 2, McNamara Families SILVER HILL (Nicola Burns); 3, G. Minch’s CHASING RAINBOWS (Dylan O’Connor).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, Dream Team Partnership’s SHE’S GOT IT (Kian McNally); 2, Finnerty Families MAVERICK (Nicola Burns); 3, M. O’Connor’s VOLAR ALTAMIGO (Dylan O’Connor).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Nicola Burns); 2, P. Smith’s DOREY’S FORGE (Nina Doherty); 3, Finnerty Families MR JAMES (Kian McNally).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A FREEBIE (Nicola Burns); 2, Finnerty Families MAXIMUS (Kian McNally); 3, McNamara Families TURNBERRY (Reese Holohan).

Maiden Horse Race (10F): 1, Finnerty Families CARAMORE (Nicola Burns); 2, S. Crabbe’s GO ON JIMMY (Reese Holohan); 3, P. Smith’s MISSIPPI (Camillus Byrne).

RACING on the beach returns on Omey Island tomorrow with a 12 noon sharp start. The North West Racing Board will stage the hugely popular Bank Holiday Monday meeting in Ballintra, Co Donegal, at 2pm. All roads lead to Dingle on August 9th, 10th and 11th for the Dingle Festival.