Gamble landed in The Mayo News Maiden Hurdle

The winner of The Mayo News Maiden Hurdle at the Ballinrobe Races was Thecraicisninety, from left: John Staunton, Chairperson, Racecourse Committee; Pat Cawley, Advertising Manager, The Mayo News; Frank Berry, representing winning owner, JP McManus; Mike Finnerty, Sports Editor, The Mayo News with his daughter Ella Finnerty and her friend Maya Kaleta; Ciara Galvin, Journalist, The Mayo News; Michael Duffy, Editor, The Mayo News; Anton McNulty, Journalist, The Mayo News; Kevin Loftus, Head of IT and Design, The Mayo News and Michael Joyce, Race Committee. Pic: Trish Forde

Large crowds attend two-day meeting at Ballinrobe

Michael Duffy

ATTENTION will be turning to the Galway Races this week but everyone got in the mood for the big festival by attending the popular two-day meeting at Ballinrobe last week.
Large crowds were in attendance on Monday for a competitive flat meeting and National Hunt fans were out in force on Tuesday for a quality seven race card.
The Mayo News was delighted to continue our association with Mayo’s only racecourse thanks to the sponsorship of the second race on the card, The Mayo News Maiden Hurdle.
Both Zaofu from the Eoin Doyle yard and Patrick Kelly’s Licklighter had plenty of support in the ring but in the end it was the gamble of the day, Thecraicisninety, who landed the spoils.
The Padraig Roche trained seven year old was as big as 11/1 in the shops in the morning, but a big gamble on course saw his odds plummet to 7/2, and he travelled smoothly throughout the race to oblige with the minimum of fuss under Mark Walsh.
The most valuable race on the card, the McGrath Limestone Worlds Ltd Handicap Hurdle went to the in-form Peter Fahey yard, under a great front-running ride from Jack Kennedy.
There was also a great buzz around the parade ring when champion trainer Willie Mullins appeared. The record breaking trainer had not been in attendance at Ballinrobe for a number of years, so punters duly cottoned on to the fact that the runners from the Closutton yard must have been fancied.
Mason’s Daughter obliged with consummate ease in the opener, while Pleasure Dome brought up a double for Mullins after been very well backed to land the Investec Rated Novice Hurdle under Paul Townend.
It seemed for all the world that a perfect day for Mullins would be crowned in the On Course Bookmakers bumper, as punters ploughed into the much touted Westport Lady, who was making her racecourse debut in the Mayo colours of Westport businessman, Cathal Hughes.
This exciting mare was backed from 2/1 into 1/2 on before the off, but there was to be no happy ending for punters as Westport Lady was collared up the straight by the fast finishing Pike County, who went on to win by five lengths.
Racecourse Manager John Flannelly declared himself delighted with another very successful two-day meeting and he also stated that Tuesday created a little bit of history as free Wifi had been provided on the course for the very first time at an Irish racecourse.
“We were delighted to launch this new innovation here at Ballinrobe on Tuesday and hopefully free Wifi can now be rolled out at courses across the country. We had great crowds for our two-day meeting and we look forward to two more meetings next month, on Monday, August 13, and Tuesday, August 28, before our final meeting of the year on Friday, September 21,” said John.