Dartfield Sunday

THE enthusiastic Midlands Committee kick-started the summer season at a sun drenched Dartfield, just outside Loughrea last Sunday.

Record entries, a massive attendance and over 60 jockeys registered ensured that pony racing itself was the big winner on the day.

Kian ‘Tubs’ McNally was leading jockey with three winners and notably his first two career rides in the horse division were both successful.

Five Stone Of Lead was absolutely breath-taking when landing the mile 14.2hh contest for his mother Sheena to see off Sinona Cartel. “Tubs” then combined with Kildare’s Teddy Worrell to land the first division of the mile on the grey Call The FBI and the 10-furlong with Honest Bernie.

The rejuvenated Call The FBI led off the final bend and ran on strongly to beat young Daithi Gormley’s The Muckrish Man into second. Last season’s top miler Honest Bernie took the step up to 10 furlongs in style and will now have Dingle’s Golden Mile firmly on his radar.

The Irish Field National Champion Dylan O’Connor, who opened the season with a Ballyheigue four-timer over Christmas. added another brace here courtesy of Take A Pull and Way Up North.

The former made a smart winning debut in the second division of the mile when making most of the running for a length victory.

On a day when his former jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle was enjoying listed race success at Naas, Way Up North bolted up to land the non-winners, much to the delight of those who took the short odds.

South Of The Border caused a mild surprise when making all to win the opening 12.2hh under jockey Adam Grant for owner Pat Collins.

Specialist

Tony Beegan is a real specialist in the pony division and his Curragh winner Katie Taylor was too strong for Little Maine in the 14hh for jockey Reese Holohan.

Diamond Hill confirmed his big impression from last year when making every post a winning one in the 13.2hh for owner Seamus Carey and jockey Alex O’Keeffe. Lilly Walsh gave Mysterious Lady an eye-catching ride for second spot.

The biggest upset of the day came in the 15hh contest when Honey Badger got up in the very final stride to deny Silent Star under 12-year-old Meath jockey Camilus Byrne. Jack de Bromhead lost nothing in defeat and both jockeys look destined for an exciting season.

A wonderful innovation on the day was the Oisin Patrick Kelly Memorial series of races for beginner jockeys. Oisin would have been justifiably proud of the turnout with over 30 jockeys signed up.

Patrick McGettigan from Ballyare just outside Letterkenny gave Batman a very polished drive to win the first division. Railway Toffee and Sophie Kerin finished fast for second with the enthusiastic Bobby Bowe flashing home for third on Prince Of Ashwood.

The second division went to 11-year-old Dawn Lad Finn from Castletownroche, Co Cork who looked really stylish on Popaluchka.

The pair led off the final bend and held off the challenges of both Pretty Boy under Sean Holohan and Daniel Boom ridden by Niamh Murphy.

The final couple of races did not go ahead due to lack of ambulance cover after jockey Paul Kavanagh took a fall. Thankfully there was no harm done and Paul is expected to be back shortly.

The North West Region will stage their opening meeting on tomorrow, Sunday in Ramelton with a 2pm start.

Midlands Horse and Pony Racing Results

Dartfield, Loughrea, Co Galway, Sunday, May 15th

12.2HH Race (6F): 1, P. Collins SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Adam Grant); 2, J.J. O’Keeffe’s TEMPLEHILL TAMARA (Dylan O’Connor); 3. T. Beegan’s LITTLE LIONESS (Reese Holohan).

13.2HH Race (7F): 1, S. Carey’s DIAMOND HILL (Alex O’Keeffe); 2, P. Collins MYSTERIOUS LADY (Lilly Walsh); 3, P. Blake/D. Enright’s YOUNG PIE (Reese Hololan).

14HH Race (1M): 1, T. Beegan’s KATIE TAYLOR (Reese Holohan); 2, M. Byrne’s LITTLE MAINE (Dylan O’Connor); 3, D. Hayes’ EL DORADO (Adam Grant).

14.2HH Race (1M): 1, S. Kerr McNally’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian “Tubs” McNally); 2, M. Ahern’s SINONA CARTEL (Dylan O’Connor); 3, T. Cleary’s HARPERS PET (Tommy Halford).

15HH Race (1M): 1, F. Byrne’s FUNNY BADGER (Camilus Byrne); 2, M. Fassett’s SILENT STAR (Jack de Bromhead); 3. P. O’Sullivan’s CALI CARTEL (Dylan O’Connor).

Open Horse Race (1M) Div 1: 1. Worrell’s CALL THE FBI (Kian “Tubs” McNally); 2, R. Gormley’s THE MUCKRISH MAN (Calum Hogan); 3, S. Crabbe’s WHO TOLD YOU (Ethan O’Sullivan).

Open Horse Race (1M) Div 2: 1, G. Sinclair’s TAKE A PULL (Dylan O’Connor); 2, A. Melia’s BEST FRIENDS (Keithen Kennedy); 3, S. Gildea’s ANOTHER PLAN (Calum Hogan)

Maiden Horse Race (1M): 1, C. Kerrigan’s WAY UP NORTH (Dylan O’Connor); 2, R. Lynch’s MATILDA (Eryka Snioch); 3, Team Mac’s MRS MAC (Keithen Kennedy).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, I. Worrell’s HONEST BERNIE (Kian “Tubs” McNally); 2, S. Gildea’s MAKE A PLAN (Sam Coen); 3, Team Mac’s KINNEGAR BOY (Wayne Hassett).

Oisin Patrick Kelly Memorial Race Div 1: 1, BATMAN (Patrick McGettigan); 2, RAILWAY TOFFEE (Sophie Kerin); 3, PRINCE OF ASHWOOD (Bobby Bowe).

Oisin Patrick Kelly Memorial Race Div 2: 1, POPALUCHKA (Dawn Lad Finn); 2, PRETTY BOY (Sean Holohan); 3, DANIEL BOOM (Niamh Murphy).