Island at Ballydarragh, Sunday 17th February

It was a red letter day for nineteen-year-old Harley Dunne at the rescheduled Island point to point as not only did he record his first ever points winner but he soon doubled up to secure a double on the card. What was particularly unusual is that Dunne, who has ridden nine winners as a conditional jockey only relinquished his conditional licence on 7^th February and then had his first ride as an amateur less than a week later on the 13^th February. Dunne is currently is second place in the novice riders table following this amazing start.

Mr Satco opened the day’s proceedings and the day to remember for Dunne by taking the five-year-old geldings maiden with a fine front running performance. The son of Mr Combustible is trained locally by Sean Doyle for the Monbeg Syndicate, he made winning this contest look exceptionally easy coming home six lengths clear of Gold Patrol with a further two lengths back to the favourite Tumbledown Shack, who never really got into contention. The winning handler commented post race, “That was a first ride, first winner for Harley, I think we will try to get him the novice title”. Mr Satco is likely to head to one of the upcoming sales.

Dunne then joined forces with another local trainer, Colin Bowe to take the confined maiden with Clondaw Hero. Dunne had the son of Milan prominent throughout and made his challenge at the second last where he went to the front, quickly opening up an eight length gap over the favourite, Monbeg and Bowes other runner Kilgefin Star six lengths back in third. Bowe, who was on hand to welcome his winner back in commented, “It must have been the new lad what did the trick!!, If he’s not sold he will now go for a winners race”.

It is fairly unusual to see Derek O’Connor in Ballydarragh, but as it was the only fixture to beat the adverse weather of recent months. He made the trip worthwhile when taking the open race aboard Most Chaste for handler Charles Latta. Most Chaste, a daughter of Alderbrook was recording her third win of the campaign the first at Open level, and a comfortable success she made it when coming home seven lengths clear of the well fancied pair of Nedzer’s Return and Twin Joy who dead heated for the second spot. Andrew Latta, son of winning handler commented, “She will now go for the mares hunters Chase at Cork on April 1^st, the key to her is good ground”. When asked why he was not riding himself, Latta Jnr commented, “I had a bad fall at Punchestown and am awaiting a MRI scan for a possible cracked vertebrae”.

The six-year-old mares maiden was the only contest to necessitate a divide when 23 of the 24 entries declared to run. The first division went to Our Girl Rosey who was sent to the front by Tom Bennett from flag fall. The favourite Whowhatwhenwhere was making a significant move at the third last when coming to grief leaving the way clear for Our Girl Rosey to score by a length and a half to Talkin Tina. The winning owner / handler, Peter Cribbin was not at the track to see her win.

The second division of the same race went to the newcomer, Furry Hill who was running in the colours of Thomas Flood and is trained by his nephew Francis. The daughter of Shantou was always prominent under Jason McKeown, she went on from the second last to score by a length to the more experienced Toberlownagh Lady. Flood stated, “She is a nice mare who has plenty of toe, I think I will look for a mares bumper now for her”.

Colin Motherway joined forces with Paul Scallan to take the six-year-old geldings maiden race with the once raced Lookslikerainted. The son of Milan made his debut in Ballinaboola where he showed plenty of promise to finish sixth but progressed nicely here to score by a length and a half to the consistent Waddingtown Hero. Mill Tyne, who eventually finished third, set a blistering pace and a one point was a fence clear of the field, but faded in the closing stages to be passed by Waddingtown hero and Lokslikerainted, who stayed on best. The winning owner / handler Paul Scallan commented, “I am delighted with this win, i am not sure if i will try to sell him or go for a winners race. I have to give all the credit to Jimmy O’Rourke as he has done all the schooling on this lad”

The concluding seven-year-old and upwards geldings maiden race saw the most exciting finish of the day when The Admiral Benbow narrowly got the better of Redpender in a battle from the last fence under a strong ride from Benny Walsh. The winning son of Pierre was completing the course for the first time having pulled up on his debut in Affane and then falling in Ballydarragh at the last meeting. He will now go to the track for a career over fences.

Mr Satco

Clondaw Hero

Our Girl Rosey

Furry Hill

Lookslikerainted

The Admiral Benbow

Pedigree information courtesy of Weatherbys