Dylan Browne McMonagle tightens grip on Flat Jockeys’ title with latest winners

Dylan Browne McMonagle strengthened his grip on the Flat Jockeys’ Championship with another superb week that saw him stretch his advantage over rival Colin Keane to eight winners.

The Letterkenny rider got his week off to a flying start at Roscommon last Monday, striking in style for Joseph O’Brien aboard the 8/11 favourite Glenroyal. 

In the colours of Ray Grehan, the three-year-old took control two furlongs out and powered clear to win by five and a half lengths. 

Earlier on the card, title challenger Keane had also been among the winners, taking a handicap on Spanish Temptress for Richard O’Brien and the Phoenix Rising Syndicate.

By the time they reached the Curragh on Thursday, the battle for supremacy was showing no signs of easing. 

Browne McMonagle was again in top form, steering O’Brien’s two-year-old Acclamatic to victory in the opening maiden. The 7/2 shot found plenty in the final furlong to fend off Willie Mullins’ The Shandyman and bring up the Donegal man’s 92nd winner of the season. 

Keane later hit back, taking the six-furlong handicap on Unique Journey, leaving just seven wins separating the pair heading into the weekend.

Luke McAteer was also in fine form across the week. He teamed up with David Marnane to land the seven-furlong fillies’ handicap at Dundalk last Tuesday with Aviatrice, and was back in the winners’ enclosure at the same venue on Friday, winning on Drafted for Charles Byrnes. 

McAteer capped his excellent spell at Leopardstown on Sunday, landing the nine-furlong maiden on Playin Cool for trainer Johnny Feane.

There was further Donegal success on the Leopardstown card as Letterkenny duo Paul Sweeney and Patrick McGettigan enjoyed a runaway win with Pillar Of Hope in the 10-furlong handicap - the seven-year-old storming clear by seven lengths for a memorable local triumph.

Read next: Golden girl: Mona McSharry wins 50m breaststroke gold at Swimming World Cup

The big moment of the weekend once again belonged to Browne McMonagle, who sealed the day with victory in the concluding seven-furlong handicap on Skippinandajumpin, trained by Joseph O’Brien and owned by his mother Anne Marie O’Brien. 

Coming from off the pace, Browne McMonagle produced a perfectly timed run to collar Vlhova close to him for his 93rd winner of the campaign - and one that extended his championship lead to eight over the ever-dangerous Keane.