Ruby sparkles in double deal

Ruby sparkles in double deal

30 August 2017

LADIES’ Day — Downpatrick’s version of Royal Ascot — took place on Monday, but the weather was not on its best behaviour with small fields the order of the day.

The meeting saw a return of racing over fences and local trainer Brian Hamilton had a welcome change of fortune when Jimmy Two Times, ridden by Andrew Lynch, won the AJC Group beginners’ chase over two miles six furlongs.

Always well placed, the 8/15 favourite went clear in the closing stages to beat Reuben James (6/1) with Little Haarth, in the colours of his breeder Peter Newell, in third.

The winner is owned by well known local bookmaker Sean P Graham and having won over hurdles in the past — including at Downpatrick — the horse was recording an initial success over fences.

Also over fences was the Rekorderlig Cider handicap chase that saw nine face the starter. 

Easy winner here was the 6/4 favourite William Du Berlais in the well known colours of top owner J P McManus.

Sent from Limerick by Enda Bolger, the winner was giving retained McManus jockey Mark Walsh his first win since returning from injury. Long time front runner and last year’s winner, Mitebeall For Luck, second with recent course winner and runner-up, Better Back Bob, in the colours of Banbridge owner Philip Boyd, third. Another winner her for favourite backers at 6/4.

Racing got underway with the Profile Systems maiden hurdle and the former French-trained Didero Vallis, now trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, came home well in the famous Susanna Ricci colours to beat Great Trango, ridden by Sean Flanagan with First Class Ticket back in third. 

Walsh then went on to record a double in the third race of the day, the Dr E F Logan OBE memorial handicap hurdle.

Sean Flanagan set the pace on recent course winner Tranquil Magic, but Walsh, riding at the light weight of 10 stone three pounds, put in a stirring finish as the race came to a close. The pair went on to a smooth victory with Myles Ahead back in third. 

The winner is trained by the in form Peter Fahey in County Kildare and at 7/4 was another winning favourite.

The Ulster Carpets handicap hurdle saw what was perhaps the best bet of the day when Atterno, ridden by Daby Russell, came home at 7/2.

Owned by Jackie Bolger, wife of flat trainer Jim, the winner is trained in County Meath by Dessie McDonagh, who also had a winner at the most recent meeting at the course and he is finding it a happy hunting ground.

Having made a lot of the running, Personal Shopper, a regular at the track, kept on well for her owner/rider Aileen O’Sullivan and this horse looks likely to win a race soon for his owner who received it as a gift from Harry Smyth, who ran Zagnzig in the race, ridden by Aileen’s boyfriend Neil Gault.

Like jockey Mark Walsh, Jack Kennedy has just resumed riding following injury and he too got off the mark when the luckless Polymath (5/1) came good when making all the running to win the Hannon Travel.IE and Emirates Airline maiden hurdle by seven and a half lengths over Davy Russell on Masterson.

Both horses being trained by Gordon Elliott, who was recording his 10th winner of then year at the track — four ahead of Joseph O’Brien and Mark McNiff. Local runner Caerleon Kate (11/4 favourite) got as as the first flight. 

Final race of the day was the atthraces.com bumper and here Curragh trainer Dermot Weld, who has not had many runners at the track in recent times, due to the fact that flat races no longer take place at the venue, and as he does not have many hurdlers or bumper horses.

Starting at 6/4 joint favourite, his charge Days Without End, ridden by Finny Maguire, son of former top jockey Adrian Maguire, proved to be a ready winner over Boris Grishenko, ridden by Jamie Codd with Filly Mullins and Patrick Mullins in third.

Acting stewards: Brian and Frankie Fitzsimons, Dr Fitz Gillespie, Raymund Martin and Peter Matthews.

Next meeting on Friday, Septemebr 22. Before that, at Down Royal, there is a National Hunt meeting this Friday with six hurdle races and a bumper.