Elliott and Gilligan Shine on Thrilling McHale Raceday at Ballinrobe

Ballinrobe Racecourse hosted its biggest fixture of the year on Monday evening last with the eagerly anticipated McHale Raceday, and while damp conditions prevailed, the thrilling racing action more than made up for the weather.

The highlight of the evening was the Listed €100,000 McHale Mayo National, which saw trainer Gordon Elliott secure a remarkable third consecutive victory in the feature contest. Western Fold delivered a powerful performance to land the spoils under Galway jockey Danny Gilligan, following Elliott’s previous successes with Dufflecoat in 2024 and Tullybeg in 2023.

Danny Gilligan, who enjoyed a double on the card, was full of praise for the six-year-old gelding after the race: “A lovely performance, a nice step up from Tipperary,” Gilligan remarked. “His jumping has come on leaps and bounds and hopefully there is another bit of improvement in him this season. I cannot thank Gordon and his owners enough.”

The win completed a fine evening for both trainer and jockey, with Winning Smut also finding success earlier in the evening, again for the Elliott-Gilligan partnership.

There was strong local interest in the McHale Tiger Roll Beginners’ Steeplechase, where Western Cove scored a popular win for Westport owner Cathal Hughes. Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, the 5/6 favourite ran out a comfortable winner, adding a homegrown highlight to the prestigious card.

Jockey Donagh Meyler also enjoyed a fruitful evening, guiding home a brace of winners. He partnered Jesse Evans, trained by Noel Meade, and Flash De Touzaine, trained by Liz Doyle, to success in their respective contests.

Another notable result came in the McHale Mayo Hurdle, where 18/1 outsider Digby caused a stir. Trained by Dermot McLoughlin and ridden by Paddy O’Brien, the Alan Smith-owned runner led from the second last and galloped gamely to the line to win by a length and a half.

Ballinrobe Racecourse were also delighted to welcome back Rásaí Beo on TG4, who broadcast live from the evening’s action. Now in their fourth consecutive year covering the meeting, TG4 once again delivered outstanding coverage of McHale Raceday, bringing the unique excitement and atmosphere of Ballinrobe to viewers across the country.

Racecourse Manager John Flannelly expressed his satisfaction with how the day unfolded: “We were absolutely delighted with how McHale Raceday went. Despite the weather, we had top-class racing action and a good crowd in attendance. A day like this would not be possible without the continued support of our sponsor McHale, and we are incredibly grateful to them. I’d also like to thank Rásaí Beo, TG4, for their excellent coverage once again—it really adds so much to the occasion”.

Despite the grey skies over Ballinrobe, the quality of racing on show ensured that the 2025 McHale Raceday will be remembered as another memorable chapter in the track’s racing history. Next up at the south Mayo track is The Lodge at Ashford Castle Ladies Day on Monday 23rd June.