Bookies win at Downpatrick

Bookies win at Downpatrick

19 June 2024

THE bookies had the best of things at the first stage of the two-day meeting at Downpatrick, in good weather on Saturday.

With so many horses declared for the Randox (QR) Handicap Hurdle, the race was divided providing patrons with a total of eight races.

In the first division Fidelma Elvin made every post a winning one on the in-form Philip Rothwell trained Cullenwaine to win in good style over the Dara McGill ridden Pettigo with Dear Rita third. SP 10/3 9/1, 14/1.

The second division of this race saw Kalsmani a regular runner at the track come good at last, when going well clear after the last to w in from Ghumama, owned by Hannah McCrory and ridden by her husband Mark.

A greatly improved performance from the long time backmarker.

Springboard owned and trained by Michael McDonagh finished third under Adam Ryan.

The winner is owned by Scara pig farmer William Anderson, who sadly after years of trying to have a winner at his local track missed out on the success as he was in Scotland on holiday.

Successful Newry trainer Liam Lennon always said this horse would win a race and post-race told me to mark his word that this is a horse to watch.

For winning rider Josh Williamson it was his first ride for the trainer. SP 16/1, 80/1, 12/1.

The Download the new Tote app, Handicap Chase saw 14 year-old Robin De Roost make most of the running to win in good style over Game and Glory, owned by Lisburn’s John Leckey with Benny Silver third.

Trained in Co Meath by Tom Gibney the winner was a second under-rules for the popular Aileen O’Sullivan, who despite turning professional sometime ago still works in a bank.

SP 40/1, 11/2, 3/1 fav.

Another long priced winner at the venue.

Despite being off the track for 708 days the former Ronan McNally owned and trained Petrol Head now in the care of Katy Brown in Kildare was backed down from 12/1 the previous evening to an Sap of 7/2.

Ridden by Shane O’Callaghan, who actually recorded his initial winner at Downpatrick, this proved to be the very easy winner of the Northern Ireland on course Bookmakers Association Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Second past the judge was Only One Plan with Mater Matuta, third.

The Irish Stallion Farm’s Maiden Hurdle saw Femme Magnifique ridden by Kieran Callaghan and trained by Willie Mullins make all to win in smooth style over Sharp Object and Disco Dancer. SP 11/4, 2/1 fav 13/2.

Front running tactics also paid off in the Pro/Am Bumper race with recently turned professional Alex Harvey making all on the John McConnell trained Jackson Lamb, to win from the Billy Bryson owned and trained Augusta George, ridden by Aileen O’Sullivan’s boyfriend Neil Grant with the well fancied Starcrossed Lover only third. SP 5/2, 33/1, 11/10 fav.

A local success looked on the cards in the Caughoo Opportunity Beginners Chase when Brian Hamilton’s Stockdale and Alex Harvey in the saddle went clear after the final fence, only to ‘tie up’ allowing Paddy Hanlon, ridding at the track for the first time to sweep past on Tullyveery Lad for victory with Townhill Penny back in third.

The winner was a first at the track for Kilkenny trainer Ray Cody. SP 4/1, 11/4 fav, 17/2.

The Tennents NI Handicap Chase went to Michael McDonagh owned and trained by Philip Donovan ridden Chainofconsequence in fortunate fashion as Ocodango Boy had landed clear over the final fence only to fall.

Close for second with Ocean Legacy just beating Centurian Steel by a short-head.