Dingle Friday

THE eagerly awaited Cheltenham Festival of pony racing kicked off on Friday evening before a record crowd.

As always, the atmosphere was electric with visitors from home and abroad enjoying the best of west Kerry craic and hospitality. Julian Pietropaolo and Kian McNally dominated proceedings with two winners apiece while Nicola Burns continued her winning association with Chloe’s Sam.

Caro Quintero, the reigning Dingle Derby hero, ran out a most impressive winner of the 12-furlong contest for owners Maurice Ahern and Patrick O’Connor. Julian sent him to the front well before the straight and he ran on strongly to see off She’s A Freebie by a snug three lengths.

The Ballynoe, Co Cork jockey, who is in the process of signing up with Joseph O’Brien, completed his double for the same connections in the Derby Trial race. Here We Go Again put up another brilliant front running performance to land back-to-back victories in this contest.

Julian judged the fractions to perfection as he had done in Taghmon and Balllysteen for a six-length victory over King Of The Hill.

Kian McNally opened his account for the weekend when Five Stone Of Lead got the better of Baby Caro in their first of three clashes over the weekend.

Overhauled

In a change of tactics, Five Stone Of Lead set the pace before being overhauled at the top of Heartbreak Hill with half a mile left to travel. The pair traded blows from here before Five Stone Of Lead led inside the distance for a two-length victory.

The Armagh jockey then combined with Kildare farrier Teddy Worrell to land the mile contest with the high class Little Heart. This multiple winner in the 15hh division had little difficulty in stepping up to open company for a very snug two-length win,

Champion lady jockey Nicola Burns enhanced her fine record at the festival when Chloe’s Sam repeated last year’s victory in the 10-furlong race for Kildare owner Shane Crabbe. Not Now Ned under Jimmy Dalton kept on gamely for second place.

Rosslare jockey Adam Grant made it three wins on the bounce in the mile and six-furlong race and was successful this time on Tommy K. Owned by Donegal’s Noel McLaughlin, Tommy K made every inch of the running under a well-judged and positive ride.

Last year’s Dingle Derby-winning jockey Dylan O’Connor was on the mark with Hasta La Vista in the highly competitive 15hh mile contest which attracted a maximum field. The Mags O’Connor-owned winner was in the front rank throughout and quickened away up the straight for a three-length success over Living The Dream and Firedrops.

Results, Friday, August 9th

14.2HH (1): 1, M. Moloney’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 2, M. Ahern/P. O’Connor’s BABY CARO (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, M. Ahern’s QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (Nicola Burns).

15HH (1M): 1, M. Ahern’s HASTA LA VISTA (Dylan O’Connor); 2, Dream Team Partnership’s LIVING THE DREAM (Kian McNally); 3, S. Bergin’s FIREDROPS (Patrick McGettigan).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, I. Worrell’s LITTLE HEART (Kian McNally); 2, K. Flannery’s THE DOSS HOUSE (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, K. Little’s THE SECRET (Jared Huggan).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Nicola Burns); 2, Dream Team Racing’s NOT NOW NED (Adam Browne Souza); 3, J. Donnelly’s IVY BANKS (Dylan O’Connor).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, M. Ahern/P, Connor’s CARO QUINTERO (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A FREEBIE (Nicola Burns); 3, H. O’Donnell’s THE TWO BOYS (Adam Browne Souza).

Open Horse Race (14F): 1, N. McLaughlin’s TOMMY K (Adam Grant); 2, M. Ahern/J. O’Connor’s RIGHT ON TIME (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, C/L O’Donnell’s ROBYN’S ROCKET (Adam Browne Souza).

Dingle Derby Trial Race (2M): 1, M. Ahern/P. O’ Connor’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, L. Cregg’s KING OF THE HILL (Reese Holohan); 3, Gwyn Yemm’s FREDERICK (Patrick McGettigan).

Dingle Saturday

DAY two in Ballintaggart saw our top three jockeys dominate proceedings with trebles for Kian and Nicola and a double for Julian.

The featured Dingle Distillery Golden Mile saw Honest Bernie regain the crown which he lost here last year. The former Tradesman’s Handicap winner in Scotland travelled ominously well all the way for Kian McNally.

Sent on off the final bend Teddy Worrell’s star performer ran on strongly to see off Jacob under Patrick McGettigan who put up a career best in second. It was a fine training performance from Team Worrell as Honest Bernie had picked up an injury last month and had been a doubtful runner for some time.

Little Heart became the first dual festival scorer and another winner for the Worrell yard when landing the 10-furlong 15hh contest.

This developed into a tenacious battle up the straight between Hasta La Vista and Little Heart, with the latter pulling out a bit more as he had done in Athea. Little Heart is viewed by connections as a Golden Mile contender for next year.

Another success

The Finnerty family from Roscommon are synonymous with the Dingle races and they enjoyed another festival success with the brilliant Little Fiddlers. This homebred daughter of Fiddlers Bridge who was herself a Dingle winner, was always in command and ran out a facile scorer. This hugely popular winner is now unbeaten in eight starts for Kian McNally.

Nicola Burns initiated her treble with the unbeaten Little Chief in the 14hh race over 10 furlongs. Owned by long standing Dingle patrons Jimmy and Mary Brady, Little Chief had to pull out all the stops to make it 10 from 10 this season.

Arch rival Katie Taylor tried to make all the running for Dylan O’Connor before Little Chief answered every call for Nicola Burns for a length victory. Both ponies are likely to clash again in Geesala tomorrow afternoon.

Chloe’s Sam followed up last year’s victory in the Laura Barry Ladies Derby when putting up a taking performance to beat Smooth Operator under Holly Halford. Shane Crabbe’s winner is now the leading horse on the circuit and has won in all four regions this year.

Supporters

Derek McNamara and his family are long standing supporters of the Dingle races and they were rewarded when Silver Hill put up a fine performance to land the Arkil Push The Button Mile.

Under a confident Nicola Burns, the Ballyconneely-trained winner stayed on strongly up the hill from Daithi’s Dream and Jimmy Dalton, who kept on well for second spot. Silver Hill is now Geesala-bound.

Julian Pietropaolo made it four winners for the weekend courtesy of Baby Caro and Here We Go Again. The east Cork jockey gave Baby Caro an ice-cool drive to overturn the Friday night form with Five Stone Of Lead. If plan A didn’t work then plan B certainly did as Maurice Ahern and Patrick O’Connor’s charge put up a tremendous performance this time round.

The clashes between these two 14.2hh titans has enriched the festival with Baby Caro now very much the new kid on the block.

Here We Go Again stepped down in trip for the mile and a half contest in a bid to follow up his two-mile success from Friday evening. In truth favourite backers never had a moment’s worry as Julian eased him clear up the straight for an impressive win.

Results, Saturday, August 10th

13.2HH (1M): 1, Finnerty Families LITTLE FIDDLERS (Kian McNally); 2, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Reese Holohan); 3, P. Collins/M. Ahern’s DOWN MEXICO WAY (Julian Pietropaolo).

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, M. Ahern/P. O’Connor’s BAB’Y CARO (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, M. Moloney’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 3, J. Walsh/P. Collins PACMAN (Lily Walsh).

15HH (10F): 1, I. Worrell’s LITTLE HEART (Kian McNally); 2, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LA VISTA (Dylan O’Connor); 3, R. & D. Racing’s DREAM DANCER (Jimmy Dalton).

Push The Button Mile Race: 1, McNamara Families SILVER HILL (Nicola Burns); 2, R. & D. Racing’s DAITHI’S DREAM (Jimmy Dalton); 3, Dream Team Partnership’s LIVING THE DREAM (Kian McNally).

Dingle Distillery Golden Mile Race: 1, I. Worrell’s HONEST BERNIE (Kian McNally); 2, L. Bergin’s JACOB (Patrick McGettigan); 3, Team Browne’s CHECK IT OUT (Sam Coen).

Laura Barry Ladies Derby Race (10F): 1, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Nicola Burns); 2, L. Halford’s SMOOTH OPERATOR (Holly Halford); 3, M. Ahern/J. O’Connor’s RIGHT ON TIME (Katelyn Leddin).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, M. Ahern/P. O’Connor’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, Dream Team Partnership’s SHE’S GOT IT (Kian McNally); 3, Team Browne’s SHAKE ME (Sam Coen).

Dingle Sunday

LEE Stand Dingle Derby day is a unique occasion and it certainly lived up to its billing with huge crowds descending on the Kerry town.

With no flat racing in Ireland, many of our former stars were back in Ballintaggart for a trip down memory lane. The committee did a wonderful job live streaming the three days of action and it was much appreciated by those overseas who could not make it home on this occasion.

On a sun-drenched afternoon, Kian McNally became the latest jockey on the Dingle Derby roll of honour when Verstappen went one better than last year to land the spoils for Teddy Worrell.

Ridden far more prominently this year, the smooth travelling Verstappen was sent to the front on the descent from Heartbreak Hill. The reigning champion Caro Quintero fought back from a very slow start to throw down the gauntlet up the straight. However, he could never quite get on terms with his great rival and Verstappen kept on gamely to enter the annals of Dingle history.

As always, the Dingle Derby winner returned to a tumultuous reception with Kian McNally raised aloft in the winner’s enclosure. It crowned a weekend to savour for the owner and jockey who also won the Golden Mile with Honest Bernie.

Better luck

Maurice Ahern and Patrick O’Connor had much better luck earlier when Baby Caro and Julian Pietropaolo put up a rousing performance to win the 14.2hh 12-furlong pony derby.

Baby Caro travelled like a dream throughout with Five Stone Of Lead never really looking comfortable on this occasion. The winner kept up the gallop all the way to the line with Wee Bucks just getting up for second under Patrick McGettigan.

The victory will surely have given Julian enormous satisfaction as he comes to the end of a brilliant pony racing career. Baby Caro is now champion 14.2hh pony of the season with Five Stone Of Lead going out on her shield and giving it her all.

This was a first leg of a double for the east Cork maestro who duly followed up with Follow Me in the 15hh contest. This was a hugely popular victory for Team Browne who have made Dingle their own down the years.

Follow Me scraped the paint all the way and kept on strongly to deny Hasta La Vista in a driving finish. It was certainly a special half hour for Team Browne as Dylan Browne McMonagle had moments earlier landed his second Group 1 victory on Al Riffa in Germany.

Follow Me’s success clinched the Dingle jockey’s title for Julian Pietropaolo on the greater placings than Kian McNally who also had six winners.

Dylan O’Connor combined with Kathy Flannery to land the 10-furlong race with The Doss House. This horse had won over a mile on the corresponding card last year. He appreciated the step up in trip and forged clear up the hill to beat Maverick.

Welcome visitor

Jockey Jared Huggan was a welcome visitor from Hawick in the Scottish Borders and he gave Think Smart a peach of a drive to win the mile contest. The partnership were always in the front rank and kept on well to hold Jacob under Patrick McGettigan. Jared rides out for Ewan Whilliams and looks a really bright prospect for the future.

Mountrath, Co Laois jockey Reese Holohan will be one of our senior jockeys for next season and he gave Go On Jimmy a canny ride to land the concluding consolation race for Shane Crabbe. This developed into a duel up the straight with long-time leader Heartbreak Hill under Adam Grant. Go On Jimmy just getting there in the shadows of the post.

The closest finish of the afternoon came in the 12.2hh pony derby when South Of The Border under Keano Goff just held on from Hello Boy and the double seeking Reese Holohan.

The photo-finish camera had to be consulted before South Of The Border gained the day for the 12-year-old Wexford jockey on his first Dingle ride. It was a deserved success for South Of The Border who had been runner-up in this race for the last three years.

Results, Sunday August 12th

12.2HH (1M): 1, P. Collins SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Keano Goff); 2, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO BOY (Reese Holohan); 3, L. Lynch’s TINY DANCER (Billy Roberts).

14.2HH (12F): 1, M. Ahern/P. O’Connor’s BABY CARO (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, Holian Syndicate’s WEE BUCKS (Patrick McGettigan); 3, M. Moloney’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally).

15HH (12F): 1, Team Browne’s FOLLOW ME (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LA VISTA (Dylan O’Connor); 3, S. Bergin’s FIREDROPS (Patrick McGettigan).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, K. Little’s THINK SMART (Jared Huggan); 2, L. Bergin’s JACOB (Patrick McGettigan); 3, K. Flannery’s THE NEW HOUSE (Julian Pietropaolo).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, K. Flannery’s THE DOSS HOUSE (Dylan O’ Connor); 2, Finnerty Families MAVERICK (Nicola Burns); 3, Team Browne’s CHECK IT OUT (Sam Coen).

Lee Strand Dingle Derby (2M): 1, I. Worrell’s VERSTAPPEN (Kian McNally); 2, M. Ahern/P. O’Connor’s CARO QUINTERO (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, S. Crabbe’s BRANDY & GINGER ALE (Dylan O’Connor).

Consolation Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s GO ON JIMMY (Reese Holohan); 2, K. Flannery’s HEARTBREAK HILL (Adam Grant); 3, M. Ahern/J. O’Connor’s RIGHT ON TIME (Julian Pietropaolo).

CONGRATULATIONS to Julian Pietropaolo who was crowned Dingle Champion Jockey, Kian McNally who was runner-up and Nicola Burns who was Champion Lady Jockey.

Full marks to the Dingle race committee which is headed up by Colm Sayers. Three days of racing which ran like clockwork and live streamed as well.

RACING returns to the beach today and tomorrow in Doolough Strand in Geesala, Co Mayo.The rescheduled meeting on Omey Island takes place on Saturday, August 24th at noon.Cahersiveen races Co Kerry will go ahead Sunday August 25th at 1pm.