THE first meeting of the Midlands Region season was held in Kilbarron, Co Tipperary last Sunday. Racing opened with a 12.2hh race which saw victory going to 13-year-old Navan rider Rory Mulligan who partnered Where It Began to win for Mark Carberry. Rory judged the pace to perfection, hitting the front in the final 100 yards to record his second career win, with Danny O’Sullivan taking second on Biscuit, following their recent point-to-point pony race win in Dromahane.

Craughwell, Co Galway rider Danny Gilligan took the day’s riding honours. He opened his account in the 13.2hh race where Little Mainne won for Monasterevin owner Buddy Harrison. This looked as if it was going to come down to a tight battle with Little Spirit until Brandon Wilkie got unshipped off the final bend, leaving Danny well clear of the remainder with the Ben Mulligan-ridden The Blacksmith taking the runner-up spot.

IMPRESSIVE

It was another Monasterevin owner/trainer who provided Danny with win number two in the 15hh race as Baby Browne followed up on his North-West win of the previous week with another impressive success, leading from three furlongs out to win from the Finnerty owned and trained pair of Undercover and Peaky Blinders.

Danny and Aidan combined again to win the second division of the mile race as Whacky Three Fingers showed the benefit of a run the previous week to win from the Finnerty’s admirable veteran Omega.

Buddy Harrison provided the fourth winner of Danny’s tally when Try My Best made all to win the 10-furlong race with Aidan Melia having to settle for second this time with the Dylan Browne-McMonagle ridden Half Price.The MonasterevIn collection of winners had another addition as Buddy Harrison secured his own treble when Michael McGuane partnered Last Chance Paddy to victory in the second division of the 12-furlong race.

POSITION

The 15-year-old Kilkea, Co Kildare rider, who rides out for his local Jessica Harrington stable, sat in fourth position through the early part of the race before hitting the front two furlongs from home to win from the Jack Kearney-ridden Master Grey, who made most of the running.

Dylan Browne-McMonagle continued his fine start to the season as he added a treble to his seasonal tally. Unhinged looks as if she will be a dominant force in the 14hh class this season and she followed up her North-West win with a pillar-to-post win from Will No Legs.

Five Stone of Lead jumped out as if going to make the running but after a short while Dylan let her settle in third spot off a generous pace before coming through inside the final 100 yards to win by a length in the 14.2hh race. Dylan completed his treble in the first division of the 12-furlong race as Let it Go came through from midfield to win with plenty in hand.

The two-mile race went to the Philip Byrnes-ridden Mr Bowen who reeled in longtime leader Murphy’s Stroke inside the final two furlongs for a four-length win. Daniel King teamed up with Aidan Gallagher to land the second division of the mile race. They got up in the last strides to deny a front-running effort from the Conor Walsh-ridden Call Him What You Like.

RESULTS

12.2HH Race (6F): 1, M. Carberry’s WHERE IT BEGAN (Rory Mulligan); 2, D. O’Sullivan’s BISCUIT (Danny O’Sullivan); 3, A. Gallagher’s LITTLE LIONESS (Calum Hogan).

13.2HH Race (1M): 1, B. Harrison’s LITTLE MAINNE (Daniel Gilligan); 2, T. Beegan’s THE BLACKSMITH (Ben Mulligan); 3, T. Beegan’s MOON RIVER (Dylan Browne McMonagle).

14HH Race (1M):1, Team Browne’s UNHINGED (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, S. Crabbe’s WILLY NO LEGS (Daniel Gilligan), 3, J. Smyth’s BUSH FIRE (Carl Millar).

14.2HH Race (10F): 1, Browne Syndicate’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Dylan Bowne McMonagle); 2, M. Cherak’s SUSIE Q (Daniel Gilligan); 3, S. Bergin’s WARATAH (Jake Coen).

15HH Race (1M): 1, A. Melia’s BABY BROWNE (Daniel Gilligan); 2, Finnerty Family’s UNDERCOVER (Daniel King); 3, Finnerty Family’s PEAKY BLINDERS (Sam Ewing).

Open Horse Race (1M) Div. 1: 1, A. Gallagher’s PACK YOUR BAGS (Daniel King); 2, I. Worrell’s CALL HIM WHAT YOU LIKE (Conor Walsh); 3, A. Dargan’s SANDRA’S LITTLE HELPER (E. Bradley).

Open Horse Race (1M) Div. 2: 1, A. Melia’s WHACKY THREE FINGERS (Daniel Gilligan); 2, Finnerty Family’s OMEGA (Sam Ewing); 3, J.J. Bailey’s OUR SOULS (Jake Coen).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, B. Harrison’s TRY YOUR BEST (Daniel Gilligan); 2, A. Melia’s HALF PRICE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, P.J. Donnelly’s KEEPER HILL (Phillip Byrnes).

Open Horse Race (12F) Div. 1: 1, Team Browne’s LET IT GO (Dylan Bowne McMonagle); 2, Finnerty Family’s NON POSITIVE (Daniel Gilligan); 3, D. Mullen’s MOVENIS BOY (Daniel King).

Open Horse Race (12F) Div. 2: 1, B. Harrison’s LAST CHANCE PADDY (Michael McGuane); 2, I. Kearney’s MASTER GREY (Jack Kearney); 3, Finnerty Family’s CARAMOR (Sam Ewing).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, M. Flannery’s MR BOWEN (Phillip Byrnes); 2, G. Murphy’s MURPHY’S STROKE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, D. Donnelly’s OUT OF THE CLOUDS (Ben Mulligan).

UPCOMING FIXTURES

IN a change to the Southern Region Schedule, Ballybunion beach races restart their season on Saturday, June 8th. Castleisland will race on Sunday, June 16th with Castlegregory beach on Sunday June 23rd and Athea on Sunday, June 30th.

The next meeting in the North West Region will be on May 26th although the venue has not yet been confirmed.