THE now annual Family Fun Raceday at Downpatrick Racecourse took place on Monday of last week.
The usual large crowd was in attendance with the car parks filled to capacity.
Co Kilkenny trainer Eoin Doyle took the day’s honours when he recorded a double.
His first success of the day came in the Charles and Kathleen Caldwell Memorial Rated Hurdle, a race that saw only four of the seven declared runners face the starter.
Notkeepingyagoing and Ben Harvey set out to make all but crashed out with a circuit to race, and this left Rauzan, that also won at the previous meeting, to win by no less than 12 lengths over Disco Dancer with Charming Star well adrift in third.
Philip Enright was the successful rider, SP 2/1 7/4 fav. All took part in the Marwari Horse Society Handicap Hurdle, and here the Doyle runner Scottish Dancer with Hugh Horgan in the saddle, got the better of the longtime leader Mrs Biddle in the closing stages for victory with Meadow Soprano and Dylan Kidd, that looked a possible winner, a close third SP 17/2 14/1 33/1.
Loughbrickland trainer Neil McKnight recorded his first success in sometime when his charge, the grey Shinnhill with Alex Harvey in the saddle proved to be the very easy winner of the Cosyroof (C&G) Maiden Hurdle.
Backed from 33/1 in the morning, Shinnhill, is owned and bred by Mrs Denise Kernaghan.
The 7/2 winner was formally in the care of Paul Traynor and is currently the only horse Neil has in training.
He also had only one horse taking part in the recent point-to-point season, with Brian Hamilton and James Lambe now gone from the training ranks, Neil should now get more horses to train.
Southey, in the long established colours of the Belfast McAllister family, that got in as a reserve, ridden by Stephen Connor, finished second with Strictly Tango third.
The Plus 2 Print Tony Oakes (MBE) Maiden Hurdle saw a locally owned winner with the always well placed Ollie La Ba Ba, owned by Newry’s Sean Maguire staying on well to win in good style from River Tara, ridden by Paul Townend and the David Christie owned and trained Western Ability.
The winner is trained in Limerick by Eoin McCarthy and was ridden by his stable jockey Gary Noonan, who is a much underrated rider, SP 7/2 5/4 fav 66/1.
First race on the card was the ITBA Mares Maiden Hurdle and it provided a good three way finish with Hey Whatever, ridden by Templepatrick’s inform jockey Sam Ewing just getting home ahead of She Can Do It, trained at Newry by Liam Lennon, with Kilrush Lady a close third.
Gordon Elliott trains the winner in Co Meath, SP 11/4 13/2 33/1.
Co Meath trainer Cian Collins kept up his good recent run when his charge Steps In The Sand, ridden by Eoin Walsh, won the Quinn Estate Agents Handicap Hurdle.
Second home here was The Vegas Raider, ridden by Philip Donovan, who is good value for his 5lb claim.
Tipp For Mac that was always in contention finished third under Tom Kelly, SP 6/1 13/2 10/3 joint fav.
Final race on the card and the only non hurdle race was the bumper.
Prior to the race Paul McNeilly, now 50 and still riding the family horse, the now 11 year-old Cap Bernat, that he is annoyed he cannot get a run in a hurdle race, getting battered out.
Paul informed me that he had Covid during the week and as he fancied his mount he stood himself down giving Stephen Connor the leg up.
Racing to the finish, Cap Bernat was travelling like a winner and looked sure to win when holding a good advantage on the climb to the post only for Finny Maguire coming with a late surge on Blacksmiths Forge to snatch victory.
Baby Mere was well back in third.
The winner is trained in Meath by Gerry Keane, father of champion flat jockey Colin, the duo still on a high following their Royal Ascot success, SP 12/1 8/1 40/1.
Cuckoo Valley was the 8/11 fav.
Mikey Hamill, due to have his first ride back in two years on the Colin McBratney trained Caminito De Rey, owned by Ben Milligan from Ardglass, missed out as it was a non-runner.
Mikey had spent the last two years in Australia but due to a serious back injury was out of action for eight months.
Next Downpatrick meeting is Sunday, August 11.
The club wish to thank their race sponsors, also all the Family Fun Raceday sponsors; 26 in total.
Brendan McArdle was again popular as the parade ring announcer.