Historic Wins and Exciting Races: Laytown 2025 Recap The Laytown Races have come and gone for another year, and once more the famous Co Meath beach meeting delivered an evening of terrific action on the strand in front of thousands of enthusiastic racegoers. With its once-a-year buzz and the uniqueness of the event itself — the only official beach meeting under the Rules of racing in Britain or Ireland — Laytown almost always delivers some interesting narratives and here are some of the stories that made headlines at Laytown 2025. Take our State of Racing Survey for a chance to win a €50 Amazon gift card Dream start for Magee and Keane Trainer Patrick Magee from Co Cavan was having his first ever Laytown runner when Lismacbryan lined up in the opening tote.ie Claiming Race. He managed to secure the services of six-time champion jockey Colin Keane and that quite possibly was the swaying factor. Keane was away alertly and led the field from trap-to-line with a superbly executed ride. Keane's willing partner pulled clear to score by five lengths at the line and the winning trainer acknowledged that her familiarity with the strand was a major plus. "We do a lot of work on the beach [here] actually, so she knew where she was going!" said Magee. Lohengrin checks one off Delany's bucket list Eamon Delany and his son Alan are based locally near Laytown, and Eamon is part of the organising committee for the races. Six decades had gone by since the Delany name appeared as a winner at the Laytown meeting and bridging that gap was a major target for this father and son operation. It was apt, then, that Lohengrin bagged the Pride Of Place Maiden in the hands of Jordan Gainford, another winner from the front. The ex-William Haggas-trained inmate was previously 0-21 but this was the day things came together and it certainly took pride of place for connections. "It was one I wanted to get on the CV," said Delany. "The last winner for the family here was in 1965, trained by my grandfather. "Dad (trainer Eamon Delany) is at home and he is not in the best of health, and this is better than any medication. You can't get this medication." Life's a beach for champion-elect McMonagle Pretty much everything is going to plan for Dylan McMonagle right now. The Donegal native, still just 22, is leading the way in the Irish jockeys' championship with less than two months of the season remaining as he duels with six-time winner Colin Keane. McMonagle, a former star of the pony racing scene, has long been touted for the very top in the pro ranks and his association with Joseph O'Brien is propelling him towards the summit. He partnered Amanirenas to win the Gilna's Cottage Inn Handicap for trainer Michael Grassick, getting up gamely to hold off Cu Chulainn in second spot. McMonagle had scored previously at Laytown on board Thaleeq in 2021 but his latest success was most welcome as he tries to keep his nose in front of Keane. McGuinness at the double again Ado McGuinness is based in nearby Co Dublin and has a strong record at the Laytown meeting and so it proved once more as he notched a double on the card with Distillate leading home nine rivals in the O'Neills.com Handicap and Exquisite Acclaim taking the honours in the Tote Never Beaten By SP (Qualified Riders) Handicap. Clonmacash finished second in the third race ensuring it was another memorable evening on the beach for McGuinness, who has now landed a Laytown double on five separate occasions. He is looking forward to the winter months with Exquisite Acclaim on the Polytrack. "We will campaign him in Dundalk. He will get a break and then kick on with him, he won't go on soft ground," said the trainer.
