Image © Healy Racing
Noel McParlan has become the first of the season’s regional rider champions as a Toomebridge double on Saturday afternoon, left him with an unassailable advantage ahead of Taylorstown next weekend.
Noel McParlan has become the first of the season’s regional rider champions as a Toomebridge double on Saturday afternoon, left him with an unassailable advantage ahead of Taylorstown next weekend.
The Co. Down rider claimed the days opener, division one of the Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden with a good ride aboard the Ger Quinn handled Manhattan Valley as the pair took advantage of getting first run over Kap Vert to prevail by one and a half lengths.
That was an 18th winner in the region for McParlan and he extended his advantage over Barry O’Neill to 11 winners when he doubled up in the opening division of the Tattersalls NH five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Getaway Vic.
Like Manhattan Valley, this Philip McBurney-owned gelding was trained by Quinn, and it has been an association with the region’s two leading handlers this season – Quinn and Caroline McCaldin – which has allowed him to dominate the standings and claim his fourth such title.
The champion in 2013, 2015 and 2017, his latest title victory has ended a four-year winning run of O’Neill.
Action in the northern region draws to a close next Saturday with a rescheduled fixture for the Newry’s at Taylorstown, and ahead of that McParlan will be joined by another regional champion this weekend as the Western title will be decided in Loughrea on Sunday.
Ahead of it, Alan O’Sullivan, Derek O’Connor and Pa King head the standings, one win clear of another trio of Susie Doyle, Brian Lawless and Barry O’Neill.
