Sheehan rides first Derby winner aboard locally owned That Fellow

DESPITE the inclement weather, a huge crowd turned out for day one of the Ballabuidhe Racing festival yesterday.

Pride of place went to local jockey Gavin Sheehan, who rode his first Derby winner on board That Fellow for the local Castle Racing Syndicate. It was also a day to remember for Danny Mullins, who rode a double. Danny is a member of the renowned Mullins family, one of the top training families in the country.

In the sulky action, the Quill brothers’ Stoneriggs Wizard, who had won Grand Prix heat and final here last year, duly obliged with usual partner, Tadhg Murphy, in his division. Runner-up, the newcomer Flashdance, did not have the smoothest of passages, but showed a blistering turn of foot at the business end and is likely to start favourite in the Grand Prix.