It was another strong week for Louth and Meath connections across the Irish racing scene, with Colin Keane, Dylan Browne McMonagle, and Gavin Cromwell among those celebrating success both at home and abroad.
Colin Keane and Dylan Browne McMonagle got the week off to a flying start with winners at Roscommon on Monday. Keane partnered the Richard O’Brien-trained Spanish Temptress, owned by the Phoenix Rising Syndicate, to victory in the near eight-furlong handicap — her second win in a week following success at Killarney. The 6/1 chance led inside the final furlong to beat Paul Flynn’s Fast Tara by a length and a half. Browne McMonagle was also on the mark later on the card, steering Joseph O’Brien’s Glenroyal (8/11 favourite) to success.
Trainer Gavin Cromwell continued his rich form with a double at Punchestown on Tuesday, just 48 hours after his historic Velka Pardubicka triumph in the Czech Republic. He won the three-year-old hurdle with Secret Force (100/30), ridden by Conor Stone-Walsh, before adding a second victory when Reiki Revolution (1/2 favourite), partnered by Keith Donoghue, raced clear to win the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle by 11 lengths.
Ado McGuinness and Adam Caffrey struck at Dundalk on Tuesday, winning the mile handicap with Johnny’s Oasis (9/4 favourite) for owner Jim Fairhurst, while Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy were back in the winner’s enclosure at Punchestown on Wednesday with King Of Kingsfield, who took the Grade 3 BetVictor Novice Chase for Gigginstown House Stud.
At the same meeting, Tony Martin’s Aurea Fortuna (even money favourite) gave Derek O’Connor a comfortable four-length success in the near three-mile amateur riders’ chase.
The Curragh’s Thursday card saw Keane and Browne McMonagle share further success, with Browne McMonagle steering Joseph O’Brien’s Acclamatic to win the opening maiden, and Keane taking the six-furlong handicap on Danny Murphy’s Unique Journey (100/30 favourite). Ger Lyons and Robert Whearty combined to take the median sires series maiden with Silk Braid (7/1).
At Thurles, Heron’s Island was promoted to first in the stewards’ room for Dermot McLoughlin and jockey Liam McKenna, while Gavin Cromwell again struck in the concluding bumper with Press The Button, ridden by Declan Lavery.
At Dundalk on Friday, Cala Bonita continued her fine season for trainer Matthew Smith and owner Debbie Kelly, making all the running under Robbie Colgan to win the 10-furlong handicap — her third success of the year.
The weekend brought more drama, with Noel Meade’s Blake promoted to first in the Leopardstown handicap after interference from Navy Waters, while at Limerick, Eric McNamara landed the €100,000 BoyleSports JT McNamara Munster National for the second year running.
His 10-year-old French Dynamite, ridden by Paddy O’Brien, battled to victory over Weveallbeencaught. The Ian Donoghue-trained Midleton Rare, ridden by Sam Ewing, and Henry de Bromhead, who recorded a treble with Darragh O’Keeffe and Josh Williamson, rounded out an action-packed Irish weekend of racing.
International Success for Elliott Team
There was further joy abroad for Gordon Elliott, who dominated at Far Hills, USA on Saturday with five winners from six runners, including the American Grand National. Zanahiyr, ridden by Jack Kennedy for Bective Stud, produced a late surge to edge out Gavin Cromwell’s Ballysax Hank in a thrilling finish. Elliott and Kennedy shared four wins in total, while Danny Gilligan added another aboard Coutach in the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle Stakes.
