Dylan Browne McMonagle turns focus back to domestic quest after Prix de L'Arc debut

Dylan Browne McMonagle will return to his quest for domestic success after his debut in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday.

The Letterkenny jockey was 12th aboard White Birch in the prestigious race at Longchamp.

White Birch, trained by John Murphy, was sent off at 53/1, and placed 12th in a race won by Daryz, a French horse with Mikael Barzalona on board by a head from Minnie Hack, the 5/2 favourite with Christophe Soumillan in the saddle.

Browne McMonagle - who is leading the way in the race to be crowned champion flat jockey in Ireland - was fourth on Wemightakedlongway in the Prix de l'Opera Longines on Sunday.

Browne McMonagle won the opening race at on Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe weekend when taking Tennessee Stud to victory in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay for Joseph O’Brien.

The 11/10 favourite won by a neck from another O’Brien mount, the 71/10 Emit, under the direction of Stephane Pastier.

“He travelled round well and quickened better than I expected to on the conditions and left me clear with a target on my back but he was tough until the line,” Browne McMonagle said. 

“He's a top-class horse over that trip. The ground is proper soft and a bit slower in places. It's breezy as well so the conditions are tough."

Before heading to France, Browne McMonagle landed a treble for Joseph O’Brien in Bellewstown on Thursday to extend his lead in the flat jockey’s championship to eight wins over Colin Keane, a six-time champion.

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Browne McMonagle won on 2/1 favourite Synners Kid in the mile handicap before winning in the fillies handicap on 6/5 favourite Shavasi.

In the one mile four-and-a-half-furlong Kilsaran Race, Browne McMonagle switched to stablemate Snapretend - sent off at 7/4 odds - who ran out a convincing five-length winner.