RACING returned to the unique Caheran racetrack in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, last Sunday for the first time since 2019.

This course was donated to the people of the area by the Liberator, Daniel O’Connell.

Eleven-year-old Wexford rider Oisin Goff will always remember his trip to Cahersiveen as he was rewarded with his first ever winner. There were doubles on the day for jockeys Kian McNally, Dylan O’Connor and Adam Grant.

Goff, who rides out for his dad Mick at their prolific Wexford point-to-point yard, gave Down Mexico Way a peach of a drive to win the 10-furlong 13.2hh contest. Sporting the Wexford silks previously used in pony racing by Harley Dunne, Oisin came with a perfectly timed challenge off the final bend to catch Sore Looser and Mysterious Lady for a memorable first victory.

Kian McNally made the seven-hour trip from his Armagh base well worthwhile by landing the two featured horse races on Verstappen and Honest Bernie respectively.

Verstappen gained a deserved winning bracket when putting up a stellar performance to win the featured two-mile Cahersiveen Derby. Agonisingly denied in Dingle, Ian Worrell and Shane Crabbe’s charge went to the front over on the far side for the final time and powered home for a three-length victory over Here We Go Again.

Teddy and Hanna Worrell are enjoying a season to savour and Honest Bernie proved himself yet again a true champion when obliterating the field in the mile contest.

The season’s leading miler came from fourth to first in a matter of strides before the straight and romped clear to win by six lengths from gallant stable companion Call The FBI in second spot.

Dylan O’Connor continued his purple patch with another double on Little Maine and Too Late Ted. Megan Byrnes’ prolific winner Little Maine led a furlong down in the 14hh race but had to be kept up to her work in the closing stages to see off Sandycove by a length and a half at the line.

Farrier Thomas Garland from Killorglin enjoyed his first winner as an owner when Too Late Ted denied Red Notice in a cracking finish to the local contest.

Rosslare Co Wexford jockey Adam Grant continues to clock up the miles and he initiated his double in the opening 12.2hh contest when South Of The Border followed up his Allihies victory for Athea, Co Limerick owner Pat Collins.

The Low Road likewise added to his Allihies victory in the 14.2hh race for Tarbert, Co Kerry owner Noel Brosnan as Adam bounced out in front and was never really threatened to see off the favourite, Pacman, by three lengths.

Owner/Trainer Maurice Ahern who was out of luck with Pacman but had better fortune with his new recruit The Highest Level in the 12-furlong contest. This former inmate of the Aiden Melia yard bounced away under Jack De Bromhead and made every inch of the running to beat The Tinder Swindler under Keithen Kennedy.

The 15hh race brought together no less than three Dingle winners and in a grandstand finish Baby Brown came back to his very best to deny Bubba Watson and Cali Cartel.

Paddy Hanlon was at his very best here, skipping a few lengths clear over on the far side and having just enough in reserve to deny his two big rivals for owners Mick and Kathy Flannery.

The concluding maiden saw the bookies get the better of the exchanges as Not Now Ned upset the odds-on favourite Alcapone by two lengths.

Darragh O’Sullivan who is a third year student at CBS in Mitchelstown went for home crossing the famous Melling Road and had plenty in reserve for a snug victory.

The winner is owned by Neil Hurley’s Dream Team Racing.

Results

12.2HH Race (6F): 1, P. Collins’s SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Adam Grant); 2, S. Kerr’s WHERE IT BEGAN (Kian McNally).

13.2 HH Race (10F): 1, P. Collins DOWN MEXICO WAY (Oisin Goff); 2, J. O’Sullivan’s SORE LOOSER (Dylan O’Connor); 3, J. Walsh/P. Collins’s MYSTERIOUS LADY (Adam Grant).

14HH Race (1M): 1, M. Byrne’s LITTLE MAINE (Dylan O’Connor); 2, Curly Syndicate’s SANDYCOVE (Adam Grant); 3, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Bobby Doyle Murphy).

14.2HH Race (10F): 1, N. Brosnan’s THE LOW ROAD (Adam Grant); 2, M. Ahern’s PACMAN (Jack De Bromhead); Curragh Racing’s CURRAGH TULIP (Darragh O’Sullivan).

15HH Race (10F): 1, M/K Flannery’s BABY BROWN (Paddy Hanlon); 2, Deelview Racing’s BUBBA WATSON (Keithen Kennedy); 3, P. O’Sullivan’s CALI CARTEL (Dylan O’Connor).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, Free State Syndicate’s THE HIGHEST LEVEL (Jack De Bromhead); 2, A. Melia’s THE TINDER SWINDLER (Keithen Kennedy); 3, H/L O’Donnell’s THE TWO BOYS (Adam Browne Sousa).

Cahersiveen Derby (2M): 1, I. Worrell/S. Crabbe’s VERSTAPPEN (Kian McNally); 2, A. Melia’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Keithen Kennedy); 3, S. Crabbe’s SHAKE ‘EM UP (Adam Grant).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, I. Worrell’s HONEST BERNIE (Kian McNally); 2, I. Worrell’s CALL THE FBI (Keithen Kennedy); 3, H/L O’Donnell’s THE MAFIA GANG (Adam Grant).

Maiden Race (10F): 1, Dream Team Racing’s NOT NOW NED (Darragh O’Sullivan); 2, Castle Racing’s ALCAPONE (Dylan O’Connor); 3, G. Murphy’s OSAKA (Darragh Murphy).

Local Horse Race (1M): 1, T. Garland’s TOO LATE TED (Dylan O’Connor); 2, Soft Touch Syndicate’s RED NOTICE (Adam Browne Sousa); 3, G. O’Connor’s LAKESIDE LADY (Paddy O’Hanlon).

Notes:

The Glenbeigh Festival kicks off today with a 3pm start on Rossbeigh Beach and continues tomorrow, Sunday with a 3.30 start.

Next Sunday, action takes place in Borris. Co Carlow.