Doubles all round as punters sizzle

Doubles all round as punters sizzle

18 July 2012 - by Raphael Mason

SUMMER finally arrived for Downpatrick’s holiday meeting on Friday with a bumper crowd on hand to watch Paul Carberry and Martin Ferris ride doubles apiece.

Racecourse manager Richard Lyttle and his team pulled out all the stops to get the turnstiles clicking and their efforts were well rewarded with a massive crowd enjoying the racing and the many side-show events put on to entertain family members of all ages.

The first leg of Carberry’s double came in the second race on the card, the Winner Alright Hurdle, when Cause of Causes recovered from a mistake at the last to land the spoils for Meath trainer Gordon Elliott and make up for a disappointing effort last time out in Perth.

Carberry notched his double in the Downpatrick Maiden Hurdle for his retained stable of Meath handler Noel Meade when Wall Street Wally, second in a decent bumper on its most recent start at Kilbeggan, showed a liking for the ground to overhaul Some Fiddle and King Malik who had jumped the final flight upsides one another.

“He’s a good ground horse who struggled a bit in the soft patches here today, but got away with it. We’ll look for a handicap hurdle for him now,” Meade said afterwards in the unsaddling enclosure.

Racing got under way with a full quota of fifteen runners facing the starter in the Downpatrick Family Fun Day Maiden Hurdle. Ballynoe jockey Declan Lavery carried the hopes of some local backers and looked as if he might grab victory on Gold Ability approaching the final flight. However, champion jockey Davy Russell had other ideas and produced Dessie Hughes’ runner Zerashan at the right moment before racing up the hill in good style to win by two and three parts of a length.

Bryan Cooper was well back in third place on Tom Taaffe’s disappointing 6/5 favourite Defence of Duress.

Successful trainer Hughes was on hand to greet his winner in the parade ring and nominated a handicap at Killarney as the next likely target for his Gigginstown Stud owned runner.

Louth trainer Geoffrey Cuthbert recorded his first ever success on the track when Pink Goddess provided Cork jockey Martin Ferris with the first leg of his double when making every post a winning one in the handicap hurdle.

The Castlebellingham handler has a small string of only seven horses and planned to celebrate in style having taken out his training licence three years ago.

Half a length separated first and second in the Family First Maiden Hurdle with Tom Taaffe recording his first winner since February when Paul Townend aboard 2/1 favourite Heaney defied a strong challenge up the home straight to outbattle 20/1 outsider Bryan Cooper and Mrs Trair in the race to the line.

The Kildare trainer was present to see his charge win and was quick to praise the efforts of Townend.

“He gave the horse a cool ride. Barry (Geraghty) rode him last time and said he needed time during his race. The track did not suit him but the ground did and Paul did a good job in the saddle. I’d imagine he’ll be sent over fences sooner rather than later.”

Tipperary jockey Ferris recorded only the second double of his career, his first having come at Downpatrick back in May 2006, when Aviatore landed the spoils in fine style in the Joe Rea Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

Coincidentally Aviatore was one of his winners six years ago (when trained by Gerry Cully) and the eleven-year-old appeared as enthusiastic as ever racing clear up the hill for a five and a half lengths success from Bryan Cooper on Dessie Hughes’ Baby’s Hot.

Queen of the Hill looked a big player in the bumper for Kerry trainer Tom Cooper following a good effort at Limerick and so it proved as the market leader sent the big holiday crowd home on a happy note when powering up the straight to win the bumper by six lengths.

Mikey O’Connor kept the 9/4 favourite well placed throughout the race and never looked in any danger at the business end. Brian Hamilton’s locally trained runner Bobbina ran with great promise to take second place under Declan Lavery and looks like one for the notebook in future.

• Next meeting: Sunday, August 12.