Midlands Region Kentstown, Navan

THE Midlands Region brought the curtain down on their shortened season with a hugely successful meeting at Kentstown, Navan last Sunday. Yet again the wider racing community helped fund the day with the Fahey family sponsoring two races, and Michael Halford and his family sponsored all the trophies for the day.

With it being a blank day on the racing calendar, a number of jockeys came along to lend their support with Colin Keane, Dylan Browne-McMonagle, Ben Coen, Sam Ewing Andrew Slattery and Robert Whearty among those in attendance.

It was a memorable day for Wexford rider Conor Stone-Walsh who took the day’s leading rider award with four winners, and for 12-year-old Laois rider, Reese Holohan who rode his first winner in the open class, to add to his novice rider race win in Big Isle back in July.

Conor Stone-Walsh has continued to impress this season and the 15-year-old Wexford rider, who plans to sign on as an apprentice when he reaches his 16th birthday next March, added four more winners to his tally.

Stapleton Derby

Included in this were the two feature races of the day, the first of which was the 14.2hh Derby run in memory of Hughie Stapleton, a hugely popular figure on the Midlands circuit for many years.

Conor partnered Traveling Soldier who delivered on the promise shown over a number of placed efforts in recent runs. The 12-furlong trip was ideal as they kicked clear from the turn-in to collect for Declan and Kyle McGuigan.

The other feature was the Brendan Fahey memorial run in memory of the father of Seamus, Jarlath, Paul and Peter Fahey, who along with his wife Maureen contributed hugely to the development of pony racing.

It was very appropriate that the winner was owned and trained by Shane Crabbe, grandson of Brendan, as Bipolar Blondie came through with a well-timed run from off the pace to win snugly. Conor made in three winners on the day in the 15hh race as the always prominent Noel McLoughlin and Sean McGinley headed Team Mac winner drew clear over the final three furlongs to win from Caramor.

Conor completed his haul in the mile race as newcomer Honest Bernie took the spoils for Ian Worrell. Conor took over the running from halfway for an impressive win.

As well as taking the 12-furlong Derby, Shane Crabbe took two other contests on the card. Let it Go took the 10-furlong race under Keithen Kennedy, coming from off the pace in a true run race to lead before the furlong marker.

Little Chief took the 14hh race making most of the running and quickening inside the distance in the hands of Dylan O’Connor.

Holohan family

Reese Holohan (12) from Portlaoise who took the concluding 12.2hh race is one of four related Holohans (Reese, Shantelle, Vicky and Sean) who rode at this meeting. It was a landmark first winner in open class for Reese who sat in second position until hitting the front off the final bend for a six-length win.

Tony Beegan, who owned and trained the winner, completed a first and last race double as earlier Katie Taylor hit the front a furlong out to take the opening 13.2hh Race under Danny Gilligan.

Daniel went on to complete a double by taking the 12-furlong non-winners’ race on Cookies And Cream. Danny took his time early as he settled near the back before creeping closer from halfway.

Once he hit the front a little two furlongs out, the race was quickly beyond doubt as they sauntered clear with Danny afforded the luxury of looking for non-existent dangers in the final furlong.

Cork owner/trainer Maurice Ahern deserves great credit for nursing the winner back from long-term injury to win on his return in such comprehensive fashion.

Danny’s brother Ollie made it a good day for the family as he took the seven-furlong race on Shotgun for Des Donnelly. Ollie took his time early before coming through to take the lead two furlongs out for a convincing win.

Newcomers

Thanks to the endeavours of Antoinette Gallagher, two races were staged for newcomers to pony racing where they rode their ordinary hunters or riding ponies. These races got a great turnout with over 20 riders participating over the two races, with some of them as young as eight years old. Indeed eight-year-old Casey-Lou Carberry, daughter of Paul, won one of the contests, with victory in the other race going to Sam McAteer.

Antoinette reported that all the riders were bitten by the racing bug and they all now want to be jockeys!

Results Sunday, September 5th

13.2HH Race (7F): 1, T. Beegan’s KATIE TAYLOR (Daniel Gilligan); 2, M. Byrne’s LITTLE MAINE (Dylan O’Connor); 3, T. Beegan’s DRAMA QUEEN (Vicky Holohan).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, S. Crabbe’s LET IT GO (Keithen Kennedy); 2, M. Flannery’s HEARTBREAK HILL (Paddy Hanlon); 3, Team Mac’s KINNEGAR BOY (Conor Stone-Walsh).

14HH Race (7F): 1, S. Crabbe’s LITTLE CHIEF (Dylan O’Connor); 2, S. Kerr’s UNHINGED (Kian McNally); 3, J. Brady’s LUCY (Paddy Hanlon).

Open Horse Race (7F): 1, D. Donnelly’s SHOTGUN (Ollie Gilligan); 2, Team Mac’s MRS MAC (Conor Stone-Walsh) 3, G. Faulkner’s SISTER KEEL (Sean Bowen).

Hughie Stapleton Memorial 14.2HH Derby (12F): 1, D & K Racing’s TRAVELLING SOLDIER (Conor Stone-Walsh); 2, S. Kerr’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 3, M. Ahern’s SINOLA CARTEL (Dylan O’Connor).

Brendan Fahey Memorial Derby (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s BIPOLAR BLONDIE (Conor Stone-Walsh); 2, C. 0’Donnell’s THE TWO BOYS (Sam Coen); 3, M. Ahern’s BABY BROWN (Dylan O’Connor).

15HH Race (10F): 1, Team Mac’s REMIX (Conor Stone-Walsh); 2, Finnerty Family’s CARAMOR (Ollie Gilligan); 3, L. Cregg’s BLACK JACK (Kyle McHugh).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, A. Melia’s MR. BOWEN (Keithen Kennedy); 2, S. Gildea’s MAKE A PLAN (Conor Stone-Walsh); 3, G. Faulkner COASTAL PATH (Daniel Gilligan).

Non-Winners Race (12F): M Ahern’s COOKIES AND CREAM (Daniel Gilligan); 2, J. Harris’s THE CATCHER (Conor Stone-Walsh); 3, D. Lyons’s IRISH PADDY (Alexandra Egan).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, I. Worrell’s HONEST BERNIE (Conor Stone-Walsh); 2, P. J. Donnelly’s KEEPER HILL (Sean Bowen); 3, J.J. Bailey’s OUR SOULS (Keithen Kennedy).

12.2HH Race (1M): 1, T. Beegan’s GREY FOX (Reese Holohan); 2, JJ O’Keeffe’s TEMPLE HILL TAMARA (Dylan O’Connor); 3, T. Beegan’s LITTLE MICKEY (Shantelle Holohan).

Upcoming meetings

THE Southern Region race tomorrow, Sunday in Taghmon, Co Wexford with a 1pm start.

The North-West Region hold their final meeting of the season in Carrickadawson, Co Donegal on Sunday September 19th with the first race scheduled for 1pm.