THE North West Racing Board staged their third fixture of the season at the Big Isle, Letterkenny, on Sunday last. The afternoon rain failed to dampen the spirits and racing in this region continues to go from strength to strength.

Kian McNally made an overnight return from Hawick, Scotland, and continued his blistering form with yet another treble. Nicola Burns continued to impress and was in double form on Little Chief and Chloe’s Sam.

The renowned Finnerty family from Roscommon have a special pony on their hands with Little Fiddlers and this one romped home in the opening 13.2hh contest. Kian bounced out in front here to follow up its Vicarstown victory. The winning daughter of Fiddlers Bridge will aim to defend her Dingle crown next August.

The Armagh jockey quickly doubled up with the brilliant Five Stone Of Lead in the 14.2hh race over ten furlongs. The winning pony is like a good wine that gets better with age and sauntered home here at the expense of the Ballysteen winner Baby Caro.

Kian’s treble came in the 15hh contest when the highly promising Living The Dream landed the odds to see off Fire Drops and Little Man. The winner is likely to reappear in Vicarstown tomorrow afternoon.

Burns success

Nicola Burns will be looking forward to Dingle with Little Chief and the partnership made it three from three in the 14hh race. Jimmy Brady’s winner put up a stellar performance here for a very snug victory.

Chloe’s Sam completed the Mullingar jockey’s double in the one-mile three-furlong contest to further enhance his Dingle Ladies Derby prospects. Shane Crabbe’s winner is also Vicarstown bound this Sunday.

Adam Grant from Kilmore, Co Wexford, also made a quick return from Scotland and he landed the two-mile contest with Tommy K for Noel McLaughlin. Last year’s Broadford Derby winner looked right back to form here and stayed on strongly up the straight to beat Here We Go Again.

Jockey Jimmy Dalton got his breakthrough winner for the season when the big local dream Daithi’s Dream put up a fine performance to land the mile race over Volar Altamigo. The winner is owned by the locally-based Gormley family and returned to a rapturous reception.

THE Irish contingent once again launched a strong challenge for the two- day Hawick June meeting staged in the Scottish Borders.

Kian McNally once again led the way with a sparkling treble on Verstappen, Too Fast Too Last and All The Gear No Idea.

Verstappen was ultra-impressive on Saturday for Team Worrell from Kildare and looks a leading candidate for the Lee Strand Dingle Derby. Too Fast Too Last came out the wrong side of a controversial photo finish to the Tradesman’s Handicap on Friday but had no such problems on Saturday when bolting up. All The Gear No Idea completed a remarkable two days for Kian when sluicing home on Friday.

Reese Holohan is one of our rising stars and the Mountrath, Co Laois jockey reached new heights when completing a Hawick double. Rodney put up an eye-catching performance to score on successive days.

Kathy Flannery has a wonderful record at Hawick and she was on the mark yet again when Hard To Get Him stormed right away inside the distance under a fine ride from Wexford jockey Adam Grant.

13.2HH (10F): 1, Finnerty Families LITTLE FIDDLERS (Kian McNally); 2, P. Collins/M. Ahern’s DOWN MEXICO WAY (Julian Pietropaolo).

14HH (10F): 1, J. Brady’s LITTLE CHIEF (Nicola Burns); 2, Holian Syndicate’s TELL HER NOTHING (Patrick McGettigan); 3, S. Kerin’s KATIE TAYLOR (Dylan O’Connor).

14.2HH (10F): 1, M. Moloney’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 2, M. Ahern/P. O’Connor’s BABY CARO (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, M. Ahern’s QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (Dylan O’Connor).

15HH (10F): 1, Dream Team Partnerships LIVING THE DREAM (Kian McNally); 2, L. Bergin’s FIRE DROPS (Patrick McGettigan); 3, Gildea Syndicate’s LITTLE MAN (Adam Grant).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, R & D Racing’s DAITHI’S DREAM (Jimmy Dalton); 2, M. O’Connor’s VOLAR ALTAMIGO (Dylan O’Connor); 3, Team Browne’s CHECK IT OUT (Sam Coen).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Nicola Burns); 2, N. McLaughlin’s LEONA’S DREAM (Dylan O’Connor); 3, Team Browne’s SHAKE ME (Sam Coen).

Big Isle Derby (2M): 1, N. McLaughlin’s TOMMY K (Adam Grant); 2, All For Sale Syndicate’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, M. Ahern’s GUADALAJARA (Dylan O’Connor).

THE Midland region will stage their second meeting of the year tomorrow at Vicarstown, Co Laois, with a 1pm start. A new meeting will be staged in Oldcastle, Co Meath, on Sunday, June 23rd, at 1pm.