THE 2018 horse and pony racing season drew to a close at Athea in Co Limerick last Sunday.

The most popular winner of the day was undoubtedly Carrig Ava who landed the 14hh race for local organisers Paddy O’Sullivan and Sean King, in the hands of nine-year-old Liscarroll rider Dylan O’Connor, who struck for home off the final bend to win from Obi One Knobi and Dylan Browne-McMonagle.

While Dylan O’Connor looks set to claim riding titles in the years to come, this year’s The Irish Field National Championship goes to Dylan Browne-McMonagle who made the long trip down from Letterkenny and was rewarded with a double on the day. Dylan landed the 14.2hh race for Abbeyfeale owner Rachel McMahon as The Green Monkey followed up on his Ballylongford victory with a smooth success.

Dylan teamed up with his uncle Adrian and the Browne Family Syndicate to take the 15hh race with Sky’s The Limit who came home three lengths ahead of Windy City and Sam Ewing.

David Cahill is another committed local committee member and he sadly lost his father Bill during the week so it was a poignant day for him as he shared a double with Jackie Mulvihill. Listowel-based Jackie employed similar tactics on both The Rubber Man, who won the mile race, and Roll Of Thunder, who took the 12-furlong race, as he kicked for home four furlongs out for two comprehensive victories.

FEATURE RACE

The feature race of the day, the Athea Derby, went to Bubba Watson who has gone from strength to strength this season. The step-up to two miles and a move out from 15hh class proved no obstacle to him as he made every post a winning one to win from The Boss who tracked him throughout without ever getting a blow in. The winner was partnered by Philip Byrnes. While Duagh owner Batsy Maher had to settle for the runner-up spot with The Boss, he gained compensation in the following 10-furlong race where Man Of Steel won under a fine front-running ride from Kilkea, Co Kildare rider Mikey McGuane.

The concluding maiden race went to Dingle owner David Granville as his always-prominent Dingle Harbour won in the hands of Sam Ewing from the veteran Mr Bush.

VICTORY

Daniel King emulated his brother Connor by taking the Southern champion jockey title and he marked it by adding another victory to his tally in the 13.2hh race as Sore Loser reeled in stable-mate Hello Thunder inside the two-furlong marker to win for Jack O’Sullivan.

Earlier, Luke Burke Ott had opened the day’s proceedings as he made all on Biscuit to win the 12.2hh race for Edwina Finn.

While Sunday was the end of the season for all, it was also the end of their horse and pony racing days for Joey Sheridan, Ross Sugrue, Conor Rabbitte and Paddy Hartnett who set out on the next stage of their career as they make their progression along the pathway to what they hope will be a successful career in the professional ranks.

RESULTS

  • 12.2HH Race (7F): 1, E. Finn’s BISCUIT (Luke Burke Ott); 2, Curly Syndicate’s ANOTHER TIGER (Daniel King); 3, J. J. O’Keeffe’s TEMPLEHILL TAMARA (Dylan Browne-McMonagle).
  • 13.2HH Race (10F): 1, J. O’Sullivan’s SORE LOOSER (Daniel King); 2, P. A. O’Sullivan’s HELLO THUNDER (Sam Ewing); 3, W. McGrath’s LITTLE MAXI (Dylan O’Connor).
  • 14HH Race (10F): 1, O’Sullivan/King’s CARRIG AVA (Dylan O’Connor); 2, V. Moriarty’s OBI ONE KNOBI (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, B. Sexton’s TELL THE STORY (Daniel King).
  • 14.2HH Race (10F): 1, McMahon/Moloney’s THE GREEN MONKEY (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, R. King’s ROSA PARKS (Daniel King); 3, Last Minute Syndicate’s THE LOW ROAD (Sam Ewing).
  • 15HH Race (10F): 1, Team Browne Syndicate’s SKYS THE LIMIT (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, El Hayes WINDY CITY (Sam Ewing); 3, Castle Racing’s XANTICO (Daniel King).
  • Open Horse Race (1M): 1, D. Cahill’s THE RUBBER MAN (Jackie Mulvihill); 2, K. Murphy’s OSAKA (Philip Byrnes); 3, P. Rabbitte’s OUR SOULS (Conor Rabbitte).
  • Athea Derby (2M): 1, Deelview Racing’s BUBBA WATSON (Philip Byrnes); 2, B. Maher’s THE BOSS (Michael McGuane); 3, K. Murphy’s ANOTHER LEGEND (Sam Ewing).
  • Open Horse Race (10F): 1, B. Maher’s MAN OF STEEL (Michael McGuane); 2, Three County Syndicate’s GOOD TIMES AHEAD (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, Castle Racing’s KOBAYSHI (Daniel King).
  • Open Horse Race (12F): 1, D. Cahill’s ROLL OF THUNDER (Jackie Mulvihill); 2, T/A Barry’s WILD WIND (Brian Barry); 3, Soft Touch Syndicate’s RED HANDED (Jake Coen).
  • Maiden Horse Race (1M): 1, D. Granville’s DINGLE HARBOUR (Sam Ewing); 2, B. Tierney’s MR BUSH (Daniel King); 3, D. Cahill’s HILL VIEW GIRL (Jackie Mulvihill).

    • THE IRISH FIELD NATIONAL RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP 2018

    Southern Midlands North-West Dingle Total

    Dylan Browne-McMonagle15 17 36 9 77

    Daniel King 44 1 3 48

    Daniel Gilligan 4 28 7 1 40

    Sam Ewing 4 17 9 1 31

    Philip Byrnes 8 9 5 22

    Joey Sheridan 17 1 1 19

    Conor Walsh 17 17

    Michael McGuane 11 1 1 2 15

    Mikey Sheehy 8 8

    Brandon McGlinchey-Wilkie 5 5

    Ollie Gilligan 1 3 4

    Ed Vaughan Burke 3 3

    Andy Burlke-Ott 3 3

    Brian Dunleavy 2 2

    Jackie Mulvihill 4 4

    Luke Burke Ott 3 3

    Paddy Hartnett 2 2

    Ben Mulligan 1 1 2

    Mairtin O’Cathain 2 2

    Zoe McMullan 2 2

    THE IRISH FIELD NATIONAL RIDER AWARD

    WINNERS 2018

  • THE IRISH FIELD NATIONAL CHAMPION JOCKEY 2018: Dylan Browne-McMonagle
  • THE IRISH FIELD NATIONAL CHAMPION LADY JOCKEY 2018: Zoe McMullan
  • THE IRISH FIELD HORSE CATEGORY AWARD 2018: Daniel Gilligan
  • THE IRISH FIELD 14.2 – 15HH CATEGORY AWARD 2018 : Daniel King
  • THE IRISH FIELD 12.2 – 14HH CATEGORY AWARD 2018: Conor Walsh