Local owners among Downpatrick prizes

Local owners among Downpatrick prizes

17 July 2019

MONDAY’S family fun race day at Downpatrick drew its usual large attendance in perfect conditions.

The seven-race card of six hurdle races and a bumper provided two locally owned winners.

The first of them came in the fourth race of the day, the Irish Jockeys Association Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Inishbel, in the well known colours of popular retired Moira bookmaker Pat McCartan, with Bryan Cooper in the saddle, won in a good finish over the Colin McBratney-trained Laureate, ridden by Adam Short. Third here was So Enjoy. The former point-to-pointer is trained in Co Wexford by Colin Bowe. SP: 5/2 fav 3/1 11-4.

The second local winner came in the fifth race, the Digita Agency Supporting St Patrick’s Coastal Ride (due September 7) Handicap Hurdle.

Course winner Canadian Steel, who had finished third at Sligo the previous day, put up a fantastic show under Conor Orr, to hold off the late challenge of another course winner in King of Aran, ridden by Danny Mullins, with the McBratney-trained Caerleon Kate third under Bryan Cooper having a rare ride for the Crossgar trainer.

The winner is owned by Shauna Kelly and is trained by her husband, Noel, who has made such a good job of this horse since he purchased it from Drumaness’ David Aiken last year.

The feature race of the day was the Plus 2 Print, remembering Tony Oakes MBE Hurdle, but out of the original five declared runners only three took part and two of these were trained by Gordon Elliott.

Avenir D’Une Vie, with Rachael Blackmore in the saddle, made all to beat the Denis O’Regan-ridden Lethal Steps with Hammerstein third. Henry De Bromhead, who has a good record at the track, trains the winner in Waterford so the long trip paid off, but sad to see the lack of support for the good prize money.

Front running tactics also paid off in the Tony Patterson Sportsgrounds (C&G) Maiden Hurdle with Donal McInerney making every post a winning one on Construct to get the verdict over Steel Cap and Guttural. The winner is trained by John McConnell in Co Meath. SP: 11/4 joint favourite, 8/1 11-4.

The easiest winner of the day came in the North Down Marques Handicap Hurdle with the 5/4 favourite Peaches and Cream, with Jonathan Moore in the saddle, storming home 14 lengths clear of the Neil McKnight owned and trained Greenandwhitearmy and the long time clear leader, Alan McCaldin’s Santa Anna.

The winner is trained in Co Meath by the inform Gavin Cromwell who was at the Killarney meeting. This race had the largest line out of the day with 14 runners.

Adam Short came in for a nice spare ride when replacing Danny Hand on Happy Lad in the Downpatrick Racecourse Maiden Hurdle.

The winner is owned and trained in Co Meath by Hugh Finegan, who doesn’t have a great deal of success. The top weight came home five lengths clear of Hello Pilgrim, trained by Colin Bowe and the mount of Rachael Blackmore. Third was Killintiese. SP: 5/1 5/1 4/1.

The best finish of the day came in the concluding race, the two N&Ms Bumper Race, with only a short head separating the first two past the judge Andrew McKeever.

Seven took part and racing into the final furlong nothing was travelling better than local jockey Deckie Lavery in Mystery Stowaway but his mount kept hanging and Jamie Codd came with a fantastic challenge up along the stands rail on Saint or Sinner to just snatch victory at the post.

Half a length back in third position came Aine O’Connor on Coosan Clover.

The winner is trained by the champion trainer at the course over the past four years, Gordon Elliott.

Acting stewards were Alison Millar (deputy chairperson), Thomas Breen, Laurence McFerran and Frankie Fitzsimons.

It was a busy day for my press room friend Justin O’Hanlon as he was also commenting at the course for the first time in place of regular Jerry Hannan, who was at Killarney.

The local racing world was shocked to learn on Sunday that Paddy Allen had passed away at the age of 35.

Paddy, of Gortinamoney Farm, Moira, had run the much used schooling gallops and schooling grounds since the sudden passing of his father Jim a couple of years ago and had only recently opened a new state-of-the-art schooling gallop. He will be much missed by all those that knew him.

It was also sad to learn that Lucy Horner, who rode for George Stewart a few years ago in point-to-points when based in the army at Lisburn, passed away at the age of 42 in England. She was a former champion lady jockey.

Carol Ross, wife of the late trainer and amateur jockey Cecil, who did so much for point-to-points, also passed away at 

the weekend following a long illness. To all the above’s family and friends, sympathy is extended.