ROSSBEIGH Beach, in Kerry, escaped the rainfall experienced in the rest of the country last Sunday as the second day of the Glenbeigh Races took place in ideal, pleasant and dry conditions. For the second year in succession the big-prize went north as Letterkenny based Adrian Browne added the Glenbeigh Invitational to his Dingle Derby win.
This time, under different conditions to Dingle, it was Let Him Go who came out on top while the Dingle hero, Lets Go had to settle for minor honours back in fourth. As demonstrated 12 months previously, Let Him Go clearly relishes the faster surface of the beach and while Dylan Browne McMonagle on Lets Go made eye-catching progress from the back over the final four furlongs, he never had the pace to worry the principals.
Rossa Ryan gave the winner a text-book ride, sitting in third position early on before coming through to lead before the bottom turn never traveling a yard further than he had to throughout the race. The Three County Syndicate owned Dingle Derby winner of 2014, Coola Boola ran a great race for Danny Sheehy to claim second losing nothing in defeat while On The Edge stayed on strongly for third demonstrating that he can claim one of these major-prizes next season for Isobel Burke. Racing opened with the 14.2hh race, and this saw probably the most impressive winner of the weekend as One of The Boys accelerated away from the field over the final two furlongs to win from the Rory King ridden Eye of The Storm, giving Sheehy his third win of the weekend.
The 15hh race saw a popular local-winner as No Notice followed up his local race win of Saturday by winning in the hands of Tipperary rider Ben Coen for Dooks based Daryl McGillicuddy. Fifteen-year-old Coen gave the winner a fine ride to register his third winner of the season.
Many people would consider that the most unlucky loser of the day was Good Times Ahead in the 10 furlong race as he lost considerable ground at the bottom-bend when carried wide before recovering to take second place. However, that is to take nothing away from the winner, the Castle Racing Syndicate owned Pablo Escobar who was following up his earlier Glenbeigh wins of 2012 and 2013.
He galloped all the way to the line in the hands of Liam Gilligan, and his connections would argue he had enough in reserve to have won irrespective of the misfortunes of the runner-up.
Top of The Morning has been a real Glenbeigh specialist over the years and he made a bold bid to add to his previous wins here in the mile race under Joe Conlon before having to settle for the runner-up spot behind Reign of Fire who won for the Deelview Racing / Rory King combination.
The Three Sisters owned by Dingle based Joe O’Brien ran a cracking race to take third place in Saturday’s featured Glenbeigh Derby over 12 furlongs. Those who took this form at face-value would have been pleased with themselves as he took Sunday’s less-competitive finale, which was also run over twelve furlongs in comprehensive fashion in the hands of Conor McNamara.
This week’s trips to Kerry proved profitable for the McNamara family as Conor’s brother Emmet was successful in Killarney the previous Wednesday for the powerful Aidan O’Brien Ballydoyle stable.
Race meetings
The Midlands Region race next in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare on Friday September 4th and Saturday September 5th. This will be followed by Fohenagh, near Ballinasloe, Co Galway on Sunday September 13th.
The Southern Region have a blank week-end before heading back to Kerry for Ballyferriter Races on Sunday September 6th.
The “Shergar Cup” of Pony Racing takes place on Saturday September 26th in Ashbourne, Co Dublin. This will be the third running of the contest between the Pony Race Riders of Ireland and the UK.
RESULTS
14.2hh (10F): 1, Five County Syndicate’s ONE OF THE BOYS (Danny Sheehy); 2, S. O’Donovan’s EYE OF THE STORM (Rory King); 3, R. Sugrue’s THE WHISTLER (Ross Sugrue).
15hh (10F): 1, D. McGillycuddy’s NO NOTICE (Ben Coen); 2, A. Browne’s THE WAGON WHEEL (Rossa Ryan); 3, Three County Syndicate’s KILCASKIN (Joe Conlon).
Open Horse (10F): 1, Castle Racing’s PABLO ESCOBAR (Liam Gilligan); 2, Three County Syndicate’s GOOD TIMES AHEAD (Danny Sheehy); 3, S. Sheehan’s KING BOO BOO (Conor McNamara).
Open Horse (1M): 1, Deelview Syndicate’s REIGN OF FIRE (Rory King); 2, D. Foley’s TOP OF THE MORNING (Joe Conlon); 3, F. Hand’s CATCH HIM (Tom Kelly).
Glenbeigh Invitational (2M): 1, A. Browne’s LET HIM GO (Rossa Ryan); 2, Three County Syndicate’s COOLA BOOLA (Danny Sheehy); 3, I. Burke’s ON THE EDGE (Mark Crehan).
Open Horse (12F): 1, J. O’Brien’s THE THREE SISTERS (Conor McNamara); 2, D.L. Geary’s THE BOUNTY HUNTER (Rossa Ryan); 3, Castle Racing’s REUBEN CARTER (Luke Bleahen).