Elliott extends win record at Downpatrick in fine fashion

Elliott extends win record at Downpatrick in fine fashion

20 September 2023

DOWNPATRICK Racecourse held their penultimate meeting of the year on Friday afternoon when wet weather saw a lot of non-runners and also a much smaller attendance than usual.

The meeting proved to be a good one for Co Meath trainer Gordon Elliott as he recorded a brace, one of his winners proving to be a dead heat, bringing his total for the year at the track to 13 winners.

This is well clear of Willie Mullins, Gavin Cromwell and Henry De Bromhead.

Meanwhile, Jack Kennedy, with a double for Elliott, is now on five winners along with Keith Donoghue and Patrick Mullins, who despite not recording a win was once again mobbed by fans looking for photos after the last race in the jockey’s table.

Most popular winner of the day came in the Toals Bookmakers rated novice hurdle, when local owner Alan Dunlop, of Killinchy, saw his horse Ringdufferin make all under Kennedy to win in good style over Luminous Light, ridden by Adrian Heston, who is back home at present as he is not required by his retainer in England.

A close third here was Sea Music, a rare runner at the track for Grand National winning trainer Emmet Mullins; this one ridden by Danny Mullins.

For good measure the winner was bred by Alan and Bill Dunlop, SP 9/2 8/1 5/4 fav.

The Elliott / Kennedy double came in the Downpatrick Living High Street Handicap Chase.

In this race, their charge C’est Quelgiun, made a mistake after clearing the last fence in the lead and was then challenged all the way to the judge by Rachael Blackmore on Some Dove – very close at the post.

Despite this, a dead heat was quickly called and back in third came Hascoeur Clermont.

Some Dove; a 6/1 chance, is trained in Waterford by Henry De Bromhead with the joint winner 11-10 fav. This race had three non-runners.

The Randox Handicap Hurdle came close to having a local success but Gladiatorial, owned by former councillor William Brown from Spa, a former course winner, was narrowly beaten by recent course winner Gwan Tadhg trained in Tipperary by longtime course supporter Edward O’Grady. This one just getting up at the post to win under young Mark McDonagh.

Third finisher here was Fassbender, SP 5/2 fav, 9/2 11/2, owned by Jonathan O’Grady.

The winner was bred by the trainer’s late wife.

Longest priced winner of the day came in the Irish Stallion Farm EBF Beginners Chase when 22/1 shot Finnian’s Row, in the colours of Anne McCartan and Frances Smyth, made all the running under Conor Maxwell to beat the Elliott / Kennedy runner Jenny Flex and Ceanndana.

Dermot McLoughlin trains the winner in Co Meath.

There was a nice family success in the MB McGrady & Co Accountants Handicap Hurdle with Morricone, trained in Kilkenny by Mags Mullins and ridden by her son Danny, one of Ireland’s best jockeys, proving to be the smooth winner over Cullenwaine, 

ridden by Tyrone jockey Simon Torrens.

A good third here was Chancer Dancer from the Noel Kelly, Co Derry, stable.

This one ridden by Dara McGill; now looking forward to the new point-to-point season, SP 5/2 fav, 8/1 4/1.

The Toals Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle saw two locally owned horses fill the first two places.

Gone for Tea, in the colours of Mayobridge owner / breeder Peter Murphy, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, had attempted to make all the running 

but had to give best at the post to Fathom Two, owned and bred by Donal Boyle.

This horse, having been placed in bumpers in three recent outings at the track, formally trained to win a point-to-point by Sean McParlan.

The winner is now in the care of Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell and was a 23rd winner of the season for Keith Donoghue, who has excelled since leaving Gordon Elliott’s stable to go freelance, SP 7/2 9/2 4/1.

With four horses withdrawn from the final race on the card, the Caleb and Ezra Starkey Bumper race, only four took part and here we had another local success with Wrecking Ball Billy, second on his two previous outings, proving to be the smooth winner in the colours of Mrs Shauna Kelly, wife of the successful trainer Noel.

Ridden by stable amateur Oran McGill, the winner was chased home by the ten year-old lightly raced Cap Bernat, an 80/1 chance at one stage owned by Rubin and Dorothy McNeilly of Ballyclare.

This one was ridden by their son Paul, who only rides the family horses in recent years having at one stage ridden a lot of winners for Larne trainer Roy Wilson.

Western Fold finished third ahead of the disappointing Get In Line, SP 4/1 22/1.

Final meeting of the year at the track is on Friday, October 6, with lots of complimentary race admission for this meeting.

Best wishes to Ballyclare veteran owner / trainer Harry Smyth, who is not too well at present.

Birthday wishes goes to Crossgar trainer Colin McBratney and Ballynoe’s music lady Claire Fitzsimons, Frankie’s better half.