Mullingar Sunday

THE 2023 Irish Horse and Pony racing season went out with a bang in Mullingar on Sunday last.

This was the first time in decades that pony racing had taken place in the area and hopes are now high that a few extra fixtures will take place in the county next year.

It was a big day for local jockey Nicola Burns who ended her fantastic season in style before a large home crowd. Kian McNally was also on the three-winner mark and shared the leading jockey of the day title with Nicola. There were doubles apiece for Dylan O’Connor and Julian Pietropaolo respectively.

Nicola kicked off with victory on Little Chief in a strong 14.2hh contest for Jimmy and Mary Brady. The partnership thus gained compensation for an unlucky exit in Ballysteen the week previously.

Not surprisingly, Nicola dominated both legs of the ladies’ series over 10 furlongs and 12 furlongs. Shane Crabbe’s three-time Dingle winner Chloe’s Sam put up yet another stellar performance to win the 10-furlong event from old rival Our Souls under Aly Clarke.

Shane and Nicola then combined with Dingle Golden Mile winner She’s Got It to land the 12-furlong heat from the gallant Little Beauty. Both Chloe’s Sam and She’s Got It have made it a season to savour for Team Crabbe and surely look set to dominate again in 2024.

Kian McNally made the journey from Co Armagh and he opened his account when Honest Bernie came right back to form to land the second division of the mile.

Back on song

Last year’s brilliant Dingle hero was slightly below par at this year’s festival but was very much back on song this time to win by a couple of lengths from Stay With Her Johnny.

Kian doubled up when the exceptional Five Stone Of Lead followed up her Ballysteen victory over 12 furlongs. The Dingle Triple Crown heroine putting up a high-class performance to see off Volar Alto Amigo cosily. Owner Michael Moloney reported that Five Stone Of Lead will bid for a record fourth Dingle Triple Crown next August.

It was fitting that Kian’s treble was completed for the Finnerty family in the maiden race when Caramore gained a deserved winning bracket over Nancy Clancy. The trainer/jockey partnership has enjoyed a wonderful season with Little Fiddlers.

Dylan O’Connor initiated his double when Katie Taylor gained her ninth victory of the season in the combined 13.2hh/14hh race.

Full marks to Tiernan McGill who was again seen to good effect on Swilly Spirit in second spot. The Kerin family can now dream big in Clarecastle over the winter months ahead of another season with Katie Taylor.

Final victory

Dylan then combined with his mother Mags for his final victory of 2023 when Hasta La Vista put up another stylish performance to win the 15hh race over What’s Going On. The Dingle Derby winning jockey will return next year for his final season on the circuit.

Julian Pietropaolo will have fond memories of this season and his highly successful association with Aiden Melia. The partnership’s last day double was initiated by Hey Cowboy who caused a mild upset when landing the first split of the mile contest.

The brilliant Ballysteen Derby winner Here We Go Again completed their double when duly following up in the two-mile contest from Tommy K and Nicola Burns.

Donegal jockey Brody Ferry gained a heart-warming victory in the opening 12.2hh contest on Little Lioness. This one had run a cracker last weekend and was Brody’s first winner back since a mid-season injury.

Sean Holohan will follow in the footsteps of his brother Reese next year and he got the perfect result in his final local pony race when Pretty Boy proved too strong for Lucy and Dina.

12.2HH (7F): 1, C. Ferry’s LITTLE LIONESS (Brody Ferry); 2, P. Collins SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Lily Walsh).

13.2HH/14HH (1M): 1, K. Kerin’s KATIE TAYLOR (Dylan O’Connor); 2, P. McGill’s SWILLY SPIRIT (Tiernan McGill); 3, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Shay Wallace).

14.2HH (1M): 1, J. Brady’s LITTLE CHIEF (Nicola Burns); 2, T. Beegan’s GRACE O’MALLEY (Kian McNally); 3, J. Walsh/P. Collins PACMAN (Lily Walsh).

15HH (1M): 1, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LA VISTA (Dylan O’Connor); 2, I. Worrell/S. Crabbe’s WHAT’S GOING ON (Reese Holohan); 3, J. McGettigan’s FIADH’S FANCY (Patrick McGettigan).

Open Horse Race Div 1 (1M): 1, A. Melia’s HEY COWBOY (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, Finnerty Family’s MAVERICK (Kian McNally); 3, K. Flannery’s HEARTBREAK HILL (John Mulvihill).

Open Horse Race Div 2 (1M): 1, I. Worrell’s HONEST BERNIE (Kian McNally); 2, A. Melia’s STAY WITH HER JOHNNY (Reese Holohan); 3, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LUEGO (Dylan O’Connor).

Ladies Derby (10F): 1, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Nicola Burns); 2, J. J. Bailey’s OUR SOULS (Aly Clarke); 3, G. Faulkner’s CAUSEWAY CLIFFS (Zoe McMullen).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, M. Moloney’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 2, M. Ahern’s VOLAR ALTO AMIGO (Dylan O’Connor); 3, P. J. Donnelly’s FORN BANKS (Nicola Burns).

Ladies Derby (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S GOT IT (Nicola Burns); 2, P. Smith’s LITTLE BEAUTY (Amelia Malkowicz); 3, Finnerty Family’s MR JAMES (Katelyn Grant).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, A. Melia’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, Team Mac’s TOMMY K (Nicola Burns); 3, M. Ahern’s RIGHT ON TIME (Dylan O’Connor).

Maiden Race (1M): 1, Finnerty Family’s CARAMORE (Kian McNally); 2, P. Smith’s NANCY CLANCY (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, D. Enright’s COASTAL BOY (John Mulvihill).

Local Pony Race (5F): 1, PRETTY BOY (Sean Holohan); 2, LUCY (Timothy Byrne); 3, DINA (Calum Reid).