Festival of Racing proves successful at Downpatrick despite weather

19 June 2019

THE two-day Summerfest Festival of Racing took place at Downpatrick Racecourse over the weekend.

Sadly, the attendance was not as good as expected, but there was a lot of other attractions on in the area at the same time.

There was a nice local success in the opening race at the first stage when Walking in Memphis, the 9/4 favourite in the colours of Dromara’s Neville Reid, came late on the scene for a most impressive success in the Irish Stallion Farms fares maiden hurdle.

Ridden by Jonathan Moore, the winner, a third for Neville under rules, is trained in County Meath by farrier Gavin Cromwell.

The always well-placed Amor Verdadero finished 11 lengths back in second with Villa Moira, a first ride back following injury for Rachel Blackmore, back in third. Neville’s cousin, Brian Reid, was a member of the famous Dromara Destroyers, and this was his third win under rules with different horses.

The Eire Og GAC 50th anniversary handicap chase had a local success when ‘Im an Izz Wizz left all his recent runs betting him to win in good style under Katie O’Farrell, getting the better of 14 year-old Mr Bolt, ridden by Noel McParlan, who gets married this Friday at Hilltown. Third here was the well-named Allduckornodinner.

The winner is in the care of trainer Liam Lennon at Newry and runs in the new colours of his partner Joy Wilson. SP: 7/1, 7/1, 5/1.

‘I’m an Izz Wizz was bred by John Turner from his mare Lovely Nature, a winner of a hunters chase at this venue some years ago.

The Down Time Festival Bumper race saw Santana Plessis, ridden by Lisa O’Neil, the most experienced ridder in the race, who set out to make all the running.

However, Maxine O’Sullivan, from Cork, recently-crowned ladies’ champion point-to-point rider, had other ideas and putting in a strong challenge in the closing stages on Mrs Maureen Hunt’s Jakoby, sent her mount clear to win by seven lengths.

Driven home in third place was course debutant Arakan Quest in the colours of Downpatrick’s Mark Breen, a first ride under rules for Ballee’s Toni Quail. The winner is trained in Co Meath by Noel Meade. SP: 7/2, evens, 12/1

Nine of the original 12 entries took part in the Visit Newry Mourne and Down handicap hurdle and it produced the most dramatic finish of the day.

Over the final flight, Peacocks Secret had just take up the running, but then went off a straight line as rider Mikey Hamil lost an iron, but he soon got back in control and rode his mount out to beat Milomynit and Cappacon in a good finish.

For Mikey, it was his second success following his recent return home after a long spell in England. He has had a good few mounts following his return and will get more after this performance.

Shane Hanlon trains the winner in Co Carlow. SP: 11/2, 6/1, 10/1.

The Molson Coors handicap hurdle saw one for the bookmakers with outsider Basils Boy, ridden by Denis O’Regan, winning for Co Laois trainer, Liam Cusack.

Second here was was Global Racing looking to give Gavin Cromwell a double. Local hope, the Colin McBratney, Balgowlah, pushed third.

The Speckles Hen Bar and Restaurant beginners steeplechase saw a good, close finish with Bryan Cooper just getting the Padraig Roche-trained, JP McManus-owned Demi Pie home ahead of Isle of Destiny, ridden by Jack Kennedy in place of Davy Russell. Dasmyhoss was third, Cooper felt unwell after the race and stood down.

In the following Tote Supporting Downpatrick Racecourse handicap chase, with the ride on his intended mount Mindsmadeup going to Sean Flanagan to provide him with his third win of the year at the track when strolling home 17 lengths clear of School Lane, owned by Rathfriland’s Francie Doyle.

Running another great race to finish third was the 16 year-old See Double You, a rare runner at the track for County Armagh owner and trainer, Ronan McNally. SP: 3/1 fav, 7/1, 14/1.

The winner is trained in Co Meath by Matthew Smith.

I was very sorry to learn at this meeting that Michael Murray, so long the honorary announcer at the East Down and North Down point-to-points, had passed away and recently following a long battle with illness. He will be missed at these venues.

Waterford trainer Henry De Bromhead made his long journey pay off when he recorded a treble with two of his winners providing his jockey Hugh Morgan with a career-first double.

De Bromhead and Morgan’s first win of the day came in the second race, the Pat O’Hare bookmakers maiden hurdle with Game Present making all to win in smooth style from Laureate, trained by Colin McBratney and the mount of Adam Short.

A good third was the 50/1 shot Short Cross Storm, who was bred by Neville Reid and owned/ trained at Katebridge by Gerry Cosqrave.

The duo were then successful in the Molson Coors handicap hurdle, when Killiney Court also made every post a winning one to win from Zoffalee and Shimmer and Shine.

Rachael Blackmore, just back from injury, had the mount on De Bromhead’s other winner, Put the Kettle On, the combination proving to be ready winners of the Irish Stallion Farms mares handicap hurdle.

Second here was recent winner, the Gary McGill owned and trained Dollys Destination, ridden by Conor Orr. In A Pinch finished third. SP: 13/8 fav, 9/2, 5/1. This was Rachael’s first win since she returned from injury.

Co Meath trainer Gordon Elliott was also in form at the meeting, recording a double.

His first success of the day came in the opening Killultagh Estates maiden hurdle when Everybreathyoutake, ridden by Andrew Ring in place of the injured Davy Russell, led after the last flight to better Poker D’Ainay and Paul Townend that had looked the winner for much of the race. Monition, also from the Elliott yard, was third. Ring is now sponsored by the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen.

Elliott’s second winner came in the Downtime Festival rated novice hurdle when Denis O’Regan, replacing the ill Jack Kennedy, rode Song of Namibia to a smooth success over So Enjoy and the Bromhead/Blackmore runner, Aye of Elegance.

The Tote Supporting Downpatick Racecourse handicap hurdle race saw Our Brian, with Ricky Doyle in the saddle, win in good style, over Alan McCaldin’s Santa Anna, trained at Dromara by his wife, Caroline. Back in third came Taggs Island.

The winner is trained in Wicklow by Philip Rothwell, who was not present at the meeting. SP: 11/2, 6/1, 12/1.

This horse was well backed from early in the morning and Paddy Fitzsimons backed it in memory of his late brother, Brian.

At the recent May meeting, Kilkenny trainer Joseph O’Brain and his stable amateur Tom Hamilton combined to win the concluding bumper race and they did the double in the Irish Stallion Farms bumper race in good style with the 5/4 favourite Lady Breffni winning from Noel Meade’s Caer and Ruaille Buaille.

Arbor Vitae unseated Aaron Murphy on the first circuit. Good to have extra toilets provided at this meeting.

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