Drumconrath, Sunday

THE Midlands circuit returned to Ardee for the first time in a number of years on Sunday with a well-supported 11-race card. Mullingar jockey Nicola Burns was the toast of the day with four winners and indeed she finished runner-up on her other two mounts.

The champion lady jockey maintained her winning association with Little Chief who landed the 14hh contest for the Brady family. Nicola displayed patience in abundance here, coming home late and fast to grab the long-time leader Katie Taylor in the shadows of the post. Little Chief remains unbeaten this season and will renew rivalry with the runner-up on the Saturday of the Dingle Festival.

Nicola made it two wins for herself and the Brady family when Who Told You put up an impressive performance to land the second division of the mile race. This smart miler always seems to come good on the run up to Dingle, and will now head back to Kerry with every chance of gaining a winning bracket.

The Mullingar star was quickly back in the winner’s enclosure after Maverick proved far too strong for his rivals in the 10-furlong race. Maverick certainly deserved this victory having been runner-up in both Athea and Taghmon over the last two weekends. The winner continues a fine season for the winning Finnerty family from Roscommon.

Nicola completed her four-timer in the two-mile event when the brilliant Chloe’s Sam landed the spoils for Shane Crabbe’s powerful Kildare yard.

This high-class chestnut who won the 10-furlong feature in Taghmon was again given an ultra-confident drive to lead inside the distance for a snug victory. The winning jockey will now surely dream of a possible unique Laura Barry Ladies Derby and Lee Strand Dingle Derby double in two weeks’ time.

McNally double

Kian McNally had a quiet day by his standards but he was still in double winning form on Little Fiddlers and Living The Dream. He helped the Finnerty family to a double with Little Fiddlers made every inch of the running for a six-length victory in the 13.2hh race. Little Fiddlers remains unbeaten and is sure to be sent off at cramped odds in Dingle.

The McNally double came courtesy of Living The Dream who continued on an upward trajectory after landing the second division of the 15hh contest. Living The Dream who was so impressive in Wexford will now have a choice of engagements in both 15hh and open company over the three days of Dingle.

Dylan O’Connor, who was narrowly denied with Katie Taylor, gained compensation in the first division of the 15hh race when Hasta La Vista proved too strong for An Capall Dubh. The Mags O’Connor-owned winner was returning from a break and will now head to defend her Dingle crown.

Julian Pietropaolo continued his tremendous strike rate this season when Here We Go Again bounced out and made every inch of the running to win a strong 12-furlong race. This Ballysteen and Taghmon winner will once again head for the Derby Trial before lining up in the Lee Strand Dingle Derby.

Caught the attention

Wexford’s Lily Walsh has caught the attention of many shrewd observers this year and she was on the mark with Pacman who landed the 14.2hh race over 10 furlongs. Jenny Walsh/Pat Collins’ veteran campaigner has enjoyed many battles in Dingle over the years and will now head back to Kerry where big runs are practically guaranteed over the three days.

Ballyare, Co Donegal jockey Patrick McGettigan will shortly sign on to the Johnny Murtagh yard and he gave Jacob a supremely confident drive to win the first division of the mile in brilliant style. Liam Bergin’s Oldcastle and Ballysteen winner looks a top-drawer mile prospect for the trip to the Kingdom.

The Cromwell stable can do no wrong under any code at the moment. They will again be well pleased with the result of the local pony race where Cameron Cromwell followed up his Vicarstown victory on Moonlight. This one made all the running to beat Tigger and Luke Murray.

Results, Sunday, July 21st

13.2HH (1M): 1, Finnerty Families LITTLE FIDDLERS (Kian McNally); 2, C. Kirwan’s LADY POWER (Adam Brown Sousa).

14HH (10F): 1, J. Brady’s LITTLE CHIEF (Nicola Burns); 2, S. Kerin’s KATIE TAYLOR (Dylan O’Connor); 3, K. Connell’s FLOORING PORTER (Camillus Byrne).

14.2HH (10F): 1, J. Walsh/P. Collins PACMAN (Lily Walsh); 2, N. Holohan’s ALL BET ARE OFF (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, S. Bergin’s SKY (Patrick McGettigan).

15HH Div 1 (10F): 1, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LA VISTA (Dylan O’Connor); 2, K. Connell’s AN CAPALL DUBH (Camillus Byrne); 3, R. White’s BUBBA WATSON (Lily Walsh).

15HH Div 2 (10F): 1, Dream Team Partnership’s LIVING THE DREAM (Kian McNally); 2, J. Orr’s SHAKE EM UP HARRY (Jamie Orr); 3, Holian Syndicate’s DARE TO DREAM (Sam Coen).

Open Horse Race Div 1 (1M): 1, L. Bergin’s JACOB (Patrick McGettigan); 2, Finnerty Families CARAMORE (Nicola Burns); 3, P. Smith’s ALL EARS (Nina Doherty).

Open Horse Race Div 2 (1M): M. Brady’s WHO TOLD YOU (Nicola Burns); 2, J. Smith’s THE RED FOX (Adam Brown Sousa); 3, I. Worrell’s LITTLE HEART (Kian McNally).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, Finnerty Families MAVERICK (Nicola Burns); 2, N. McGhee’s HASTA LUEGO (Leah McGhee); 3, M. Moloney’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, All For Sale Syndicate’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A FREEBIE (Nicola Burns); 3, Dream Team Partnership’s SHE’S GOT IT (Kian McNally).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Nicola Burns); 2, N. McLaughlin’s TOMMY K (Adam Grant); 3, L. Sweeney’s KING OF THE HILL (Patrick McGettigan).

Local Pony Race (6F): 1, MOONLIGHT (Cameron Cromwell); 2, TIGGER (Luke Murray).

Fixture Notes

THE Midlands Region are back in action this afternoon with the Errismore races in Ballyconnelly, Co Galway, at 1pm. Please note the change from Sunday to Saturday due to the Galway/Armagh All-Ireland final.

Racing returns to the beach on Sunday, August 4th, where the Midlands will stage the Omey races at 1pm.

The North West Racing Board will stage their traditional pre-Dingle Bank Holiday meeting in Ballintra at 12.30pm on Monday, August 5th. The highlight of the Horse and Pony Racing season will once again take place in Dingle on August 9th, 10th and 11th next.