Vicarstown Sunday

THE Midlands Association began their 2024 campaign at a sun-drenched and picturesque Vicarstown track, Co Laois, on Sunday last. The bumper 10-race card was run off in record time which bodes well for the new season.

Armagh jockey Kian McNally continued his blistering start to the year and maintained his 100% record with a four-timer.

Incredibly, he is now on eight winners from eight rides after two meetings. Kian combined with the renowned Finnerty family from Co Roscommon to land the 13.2hh race with the brilliant Little Fiddlers. This daughter of Fiddler’s Bridge who landed the odds at Dingle last August, looks an exceptional pony.

The McNally double followed quickly in the 14.2hh contest over one mile when Five Stone Of Lead yet again romped to victory. This champion 14.2hh is likely to reappear at Loughbrickland next weekend.

Team Worrell supplied Kian with his other two winners, courtesy of Little Heart and Honest Bernie. Little Heart followed up his debut victory at Carndonagh with an eye-catching victory in the 15hh race over one mile. The winner quickened impressively up the hill to score by six lengths. He is likely to reappear at Ballysteen on tomorrow, Sunday.

Former Golden Mile hero Honest Bernie gave every indication that he is back to his brilliant best when sluicing home on his seasonal return in the one mile open contest. Winning connections indicated that he is likely to side-step a trip to Scotland this year in favour of a tilt at regaining his Dingle crown.

Pietropaolo impresses

Ballynoe, Co Cork jockey Julian Pietropaolo continued to impress as he completed a double on Dell Boy and The Tinder Swindler. The grey Dell Boy made an impressive pony racing debut when landing the 10-furlong contest for the All For Sale Syndicate.

The winner travelled throughout and was a very cosy five-length winner at the line. The winning syndicate could well have a serious prospect on their hands.

At the other end of the scale, The Tinder Swindler is a multiple scorer in all regions and he gained another winning bracket when running out a facile winner of the closing two-mile race. Julian is based with Joseph O’Brien and he was loud in his praise of Dylan Browne McMonagle for all his help in the post-race interviews.

Ice-cool ride

Champion lady jockey Nicola Burns followed up her Carndonagh victory on Little Chief in the 14hh race for Jimmy and Mary Brady. The winner was given an ice-cool ride to lead a furlong down and ran on strongly for a three-length victory.

Co Meath jockey Camillus Byrne looks a name for the future after he gave Lincoln a brilliant front running drive to win the 12-furlong contest with the hot favourite Go On Jimmy in second place.

Another name for the future is Welsh jockey Levi Williams who was seen to good effect when Little Lioness made every inch of the running to win the opening 12.2hh contest.

The winning jockey travelled over on the ferry and hopes to follow in the footsteps of Ed Vaughan who was so successful on the Irish circuit a few years back.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell can do little wrong at the moment and he was in jubilant mood following his son Cameron’s victory in the local pony race on Oscar. The winning jockey nominated Flooring Porter as his favourite horse in the yard.

Results

Sunday May 19th

12.2HH (6F): 1, T. Beegan’s LITTLE LIONESS (Levi Williams); 2, K. Kerin’s NORDY RAZMATAZZ (Sophie Kerin); 3, N. Holohan’s PRETTY BOY (Sean Holohan).

13.2HH (6F): 1, Finnerty’s Families LITTLE FIDDLERS (Kian McNally); 2, O. Finnegan’s ROSE OF CLARE (Paddy Finnegan); 3, F. Byrne’s LITTLE JACK (Timothy Byrne).

14hh (6F): 1, M. Brady’s LITTLE CHIEF (Nicola Burns); 2, S. Kerin’s KATIE TAYLOR (Dylan O’Connor); 3, K. Kerin’s MIDNIGHT DREAMER (Adam Browne Souza).

14.2HH (1M): 1, M. Moloney’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 2, S. Bergin’s SKY (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, J. Walsh/P. Collins PACMAN (Lily Walsh).

15HH (1M): 1, I. Worrell’s LITTLE HEART (Kian McNally); 2, R. White’s BUBBA WATSON (Lily Walsh); 3, S. Crabbe’s BLACK TAXI (Nicola Burns).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, I. Worrell’s HONEST BERNIE (Kian McNally); 2, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Nicola Burns); 3, K. Flannery’s THE NEW HOUSE (Julian Pietropaolo).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, All For Sale Syndicate’s DELL BOY (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, Finnerty Families MAVERICK (Nicola Burns); 3, K. Flannery’s HEARTBREAK HILL (Dylan O’Connor).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, F. Byrne’s LINCOLN (Camillus Byrne); 2, S. Crabbe’s GO ON JIMMY (Reese Holohan); 3, Finnerty Families MR JAMES (Nicola Burns).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, All For Sale Syndicate’s THE TINDER SWINDLER (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, Team Browne’s THE QUIET MAN (Patrick McGettigan); 3, Finnerty Families MAXIMUS (Nicola Burns).

Local Pony Race: 1, Oscar (Cameron Cromwell).

Ballysteen Races, Co Limerick, will take place tomorrow at 1pm sharp.

The North West Racing Board will return to action on Sunday, June 2nd at Loughbrickland, Co Down, and will stage another fixture at Letterkenny on Sunday, June 9th.