Rain fails to dampen punters’ enthusiasm

Rain fails to dampen punters’ enthusiasm

15 August 2012

FORMER Grand National winning jockey Niall Madden recorded a big-priced double as the rains fell at Downpatrick on Sunday.

Successful at Aintree in 2006 on Numbersixvalverde, the Kildare jockey landed the first leg of his double when scoring a shock 20/1 success on the blinkered outsider Definite Ridge in the Boy Named Sue Raceday Maiden Hurdle for trainer Edward O’Grady.

Madden’s mount was ridden off the pace until taking closer order to lead at the final flight before powering up the hill to win by nine lengths from Ben Dalton on King Malik.

Namarama provided Madden with his second winner to record a 146/1 double when winning the handicap hurdle for Waterford trainer John Queally.

Madden took the longest route round the outside of the track and went clear after the last to win by 16 lengths at odds of 6/1.

Favourite backers had a scare in the opening race of the day’s card when even money chance Celtic Cailin had to survive a stewards’ enquiry before being declared the winner for jockey Andrew Leigh and Kildare trainer Jessica Harrington.

Harrington’s runner was well fancied following a good third behind Opera Music last time out at Wexford and hit the front entering the straight where Hepahepa Naeney was slightly impeded under Bryan Cooper.

Only a head separated the pair at the line and following a lengthy enquiry the placings remained unaltered although Leigh received a two-day suspension for careless riding.

Former course bumper winner Gold Ability reversed previous Downpatrick form with market leader Zerashan and showed he is going the right way when posting a fine effort to win the Winner Alright Hurdle for Castlebellingham trainer Michael O’Hare.

The 2/1 chance was settled off the pace by jockey Robbie Colgan before leading three out and going on to win by four and a half lengths from Davy Russell on the 5/4 favourite.

Carlow jockey Mick Darcy enjoyed a welcome visit to the winner’s enclosure when getting the best out of Sobrando Lodge in the handicap hurdle.

Mark McNiff’s Sligo raider came out of the pack after the last and battled gamely up the hill to fend off Keith O’Donoghue aboard Brabazon by half a length.

The blinkered Banielle landed a nice touch for connections in the Rosebank Handicap Hurdle with a nine lengths success for Derry trainer Noel Kelly.

A previous winner at Downpatrick last year, Derek Fox’s mount stayed up the hill in good style to land the spoils at 4/1 having been available at 10s early in the day.

Jockey Declan Lavery returned to his local track to ride another Downpatrick success when landing a touch in the bumper on trainer Mag Mullins’ 7/2 chance Return Spring (opened at 11/2).

Lavery settled his mount off the pace and hit the front at the two furlong pole before stretching clear of 4/5 favourite Dubh Go Leir and Patrick Mullins to win by 16 lengths, giving Lavery his 14th winner since the beginning of this year.