North West Region, Carndonagh

THE North West Region began their new season with a highly successful meeting at Carndonagh on Sunday. It was a big day for Ballyare, Co. Donegal jockey Patrick McGettigan who completed a double on Wee Bucks and Fiadh’s Fancy.

Another Donegal jockey Brody Ferry rode his first career winner on Little Lioness. Julian Pietropaolo followed up his Borris House double with another brace.

Patrick McGettigan who was on the mark in Borris House with King Of The Hill caused a mild surprise in the 14.2hh race when Wee Bucks got up close home to beat All Bets Are Off. The winner is owned and trained by the locally-based Holian Syndicate.

The McGettigan double came in the following 15hh contest when Fiadh’s Fancy powered clear up the straight for a most impressive victory. This win was all the sweeter as the winner is owned by the jockey’s mother Joanne.

It was a day to savour too for Brody Ferry who came home alone on Little Lioness to win the 12.2hh race. Brody is now eagerly looking forward to the Dingle festival where Little Lioness was a winner a year ago.

Julian Petropaolo moved to the head of the jockeys’ table with a sparkling double. The Tinder Swindler destroyed the opposition when winning the mile and a half race.

Enhanced

Here We Go Again further enhanced his Dingle Derby credentials when winning the two-mile race under a perfectly-judged Pietropaolo drive. Both The Tinder Swindler and Here We Go Again are owned by Kildare’s Aiden Melia.

Birthday boy Sam Coen got the perfect birthday present when Ya Skitter justified strong market support to win the 10-furlong contest. The winner was completing a double for the Holian Syndicate.

Dylan O’Connor made the near 12-hour round trip from his North Cork base well worthwhile when Erin’s Own made most of the running to win the one mile 14hh race. It was the rider’s 100th win on the pony racing circuit. The winner is owned by Amanda Sweeney.

Rosslare, Co. Wexford jockey Adam Grant got off the mark for the new season when Another Plan ran on strongly up the straight to win the Mile Open from the staying on Kinnegar Man.

Tipperary jockey Adam Browne Souza rode his second winner of the season when Borris House eyecatcher Causeway Cliffs ran out a snug winner of the Maiden race.

One notable absentee on the day was jockey Kian ‘Tubs’ McNally who was on duty at the Scottish meeting in Langholm. Champion miler Honest Bernie and Dingle Derby hope Verstappen both ran out very impressive winners for the student of St Patrick’s Grammar School in Armagh. Honest Bernie is owned by Teddy and Hanna Worrell while Verstappen is owned in partnership by Teddy Worrell and Shane Crabbe.

Midlands: The next meeting in the Midland Region will take place in Navan on Sunday, May 14th.

Entries will be taken on tomorrow Sunday between 5pm and 7pm. Text only 089 4414752. The card will include a ladies’ race and two pony races and lots of family activities. Proceeds are going to Navan Alzheimer’s Day Care.

Results

Sunday, April 30th

12.2HH Race (6F): 1, D. Ferry’s LITTLE LIONESS (Brody Ferry).

14HH Race (1M): 1, A. Sweeney’s ERINS OWN (Dylan O’Connor); 2, T. McGill’s SWILLY SPIRIT (Tiernan McGill).

14.2HH Race (1M): 1, Holian Syndicate’s WEE BUCKS (Patrick McGettigan); 2, N. Holohan’s ALL BETS ARE OFF (Reese Holohan); 3, A. Melia’s PACMAN (Julian Pietropaolo).

15HH Race (1M): 1, J. McGettigan’s FIADH’S FANCY (Patrick McGettigan); 2, L. McGhee’s TRAVELING SOLDIER (Leah McGhee); 3, A. Scott’s DANNY BOY (Adam Grant).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, D. Gildea’s ANOTHER PLAN (Adam Grant); 2, Team Mac’s KINNEGAR MAN (Sam Coen); 3, P. J. Donnelly’s FOREIGN BANKS (Nicola Burns).

Maiden Horse Race (1M): 1, S. Quinn’s CAUSEWAY CLIFFS (Adam Browne Souza); 2, T. Healy’s THE JOKER (Adam Grant); 3, P. Smith’s NANCY CLANCY (Alley Clarke).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, Holian Syndicate’s YA SKITTER (Sam Coen); 2, P. Mooney’s BAILEYS (Conor Whiteley); 3, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Adam Grant).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, A. Melia’s THE TINDER SWINDLER (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, D. Gildea’s MAKE A PLAN (Adam Grant); 3, G. Faulkner’s HIGH COURT FOX (Adam Browne Souza).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, A. Melia’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, I. Worrell’s BRANDY AND GINGER ALE (Reese Holohan); 3, L. Cregg’s KING OF THE HILL (Patrick McGettigan).