Empty stands at Downpatrick Racecourse once again

Empty stands at Downpatrick Racecourse once again

2 September 2020

IT was far from a normal Ladies Day Bank Holiday meeting at Downpatrick Racecourse on Monday afternoon.

But it was still a day to remember for conditional jockey Michael O’Connor and amateur Pat Taaffe — a jockey with a famous name — as they became the latest jockeys to record their initial wins in the saddle at this venue.

First off the mark in the second race of the day, the Ulster Carpets Handicap Hurdle, was Tipperary based O’Connor.

In what was the best finish of the day, he got his mount, Crimson Chief, trained by John Morrison in Waterford, home by a neck over Ricky Doyle on Paula’s Prayer with Gone Racing a good third. SP: 9/1, 16/1, 2/1 favourite. This was a first success at the venue for Morrison.

Taaffe, son of Co Kildare-based trainer Tom Taffe, was seen to good effect in the concluding race of the day, the AJC Group Flat Race.

He kept his mount going well in the closing stages to beat the fast finishing Bel Belator, ridden by joint owner Aileen O’Sullivan, whose boyfriend and joint owner Neil Gault rode San Lorenzo, owned by his uncle Billy Bryson in the race. Third was the Gordon Elliott trained IA Connect, ridden by Jamie Codd.

With this being the last race on the card we now have the unusual case of two meetings at the track with Elliott not saddling a winner. SP 9/4, 125-1, 6/4 favourite.

The first race of the day, the Charles Caldwell Memorial Maiden Hurdle, saw Co Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell saddle three of the 12 runners. The pick of them, Western Run with stable jockey Jonathan Moore in the saddle, duly won at 10/11 favourite, when coming home clear of Escort Namix and the long time clear leader Marmolata, ridden by Brian Hayes.

In the Randox Health Maiden, Hurdle My Wings, ridden by Dylan Johnston, who has been doing well for rides in recent weeks, set out to make all but with three flights to go he ped out with victory going to Knot on Time, trained in Co Wexford by Paul Nolan and ridden by 5lb claimer Sean O’Keefe.

Running a great race to finish second was Wigglesworth, the ex-Mark O’Hare pointer trained at Katesbridge by Gerry Cosgrove, with Eoin Walsh in the saddle. Call in Time, owned and trained by Barry Connell, was third. SP: 16/5, 40/1, 18/1.

The fourth hurdle race on the card was the Dr E F Logan Memorial Handicap Hurdle and here Eoin Walsh, just beaten on Wigglesworth, went one better when he rode the Liam Cusack trained Basil’s Boy to a close success over King’s Song, ridden by Conor McNamara, brother of Derby winning jockey Emmett McNamara. Third here was James Kenny on Ya Boy Ya, which provided him with his first winner under rules in last year’s concluding bumper race. SP: 7/2, 66/1, 11/4 favourite.

The first of the two chases on the card was the Adare Manor Opportunity Beginners Chase and here we had the longest priced winner of the day with the 14/1 shot Dollar Value, trained by Tom McCourt, who has a good record at the track, passing the judge ahead of Somptueux and Mister Eddman.

The successful jockey here was Conor McNamara who has been on a good run in recent weeks. This in fact was the richest race of the day.

Normally this meeting had a best dressed lady competition but the racecourse had a virtual one and also named the second chase, the Virtual Best Dressed Lady Competition Handicap Chase.

With it being Ladies Day it was good that the winner of the race was trained by a lady — Mullingar-based Dot Love saddling Bridge Native, ridden by Donegal jockey Conor Orr. The 7/2 joint favourite beat Rocky Court, ridden by Danny Hand, with the other joint favourite Chief of Police, ridden by Oakley Brown, in third.

There is another local meeting this Friday at Down Royal so three meetings in a week, although, sadly, no owners able to get on the track to see their horses run. Notable that an owner travelled up from Dublin to watch his horse in action in the sixth race of the day, as did two others connected with a runner at the meeting from the Banbridge area.

It was sad to learn that Jack Magee from Ardglass passed away recently. Jack was a regular at all Downpatrick meetings but sadly due to Covid-19 was not able to attend this year.

Best wishes to former Downpatrick steward Frank Turley who is in hospital at present and a special thank you to his wife for her help and kindness to our photographer Harry Marcus on Monday afternoon.