Great racing and fun for all the family at Downpatrick

Great racing and fun for all the family at Downpatrick

20 July 2016

A BUMPER crowd attended Downpatrick’s annual family fun day meeting last Wednesday when Gordon Elliott once again took the honours, training a treble on the card.

Prior to racing, visitors packed into the funfair area which was a hive of activity with plenty to do and see for all members of the family.

Highlights included free face painting for the children, as well as go-kart rides, funfair challenges, a stunt action rider and an art exhibition — all in all, something for everyone.

On the track Elliott recorded the first leg of his treble when Carrig Cathal got up to overhaul favourite Master Of Verse and Bryan Cooper in the Win A Meerkat Toy Hurdle in the hands of up and coming rider Jack Kennedy.

Kennedy waited until after the last to get busy on his mount and at the line had a length to spare over the runner-up.

Winning trainer Elliott was happy with the performance and fully expects his five-year-old inmate to keep on improving throughout the summer.

“We might aim him for a novice hurdle at Galway. I wanted him to come here to get a bit of experience and he should win a few races for us,” he said.

The day’s opening race on the seven-race card saw 16/1 outsider Our Brian get off the mark at the fourth attempt of hurdles when taking the maiden hurdle in the hands of JJ Slevin.

John Brennan’s Wexford raider came with a well timed run to overhaul Man of Conquest racing up the home straight to win by two and three parts of a length with the Conor O’Dwyer trained French Ambassador four lengths back in third.

With the trip and ground conditions suiting there was plenty of support for the consistent Genesta in the mares’ maiden hurdle and the 10/11 favourite didn’t disappoint supporters as Danny Mullins steered the six-year-old to a three and a quarter lengths success for his mother and trainer Mags.

Lucy Mc and Keith Donoghue took second place for Gordon Elliott with a further twelve lengths back to Aurora’s Dream in third under Mark Flanagan.

The application of cheekpieces seemed to work the oracle for the Shane Nolan trained L’Attesa who landed the handicap hurdle when coming with a strong run and racing clear after the last to hold off favourite Magnetic Force and Jonathan Moore.

The winner is owned by the Red, Green and White syndicate consisting of members from Dublin, Mayo and England.

Blessed King gave Meath handler Gordon Elliott the second of his three winners on the day when scoring a decisive victory in the Joe Rea Memorial Maiden Hurdle.

The 2/1 chance cleared the final flight a length and a half in front of the Liam Lennon trained Benarty Hill before racing clear up the home straight for a facile sixteen lengths success.

Benarty Hill and Eddie O’Connell were in turn well clear of the third placed Wee Small Hours and Conor Maxwell who were a further fourteen lengths in arrears.

Meath raider Scenic Star turned recent form on its head when winning the handicap hurdle for trainer Gavin Cromwell.

Breen Kane’s mount was a twelve lengths fourth behind Noel Meade’s Jack Slade in their most recent run at Bellewstown and looked to appreciate a step up in trip when reversing the form by a length over Meade’s 11/8 favourite in the hands of Jonathan Moore with 25/1 outsider Craig Star just over three lengths behind in third.

There were plenty in with chances as they cleared the final flight but Kane’s mount answered every call to give him his fourteen winner for Cromwell since joining his yard 18 months ago.

Punters made Mags Mullins’ Sweet Shirleen an odds-on chance for the bumper and for a while their faith looked spot on until Finny Maguire got a tune out of Burrows Lane, who looked the likely winner inside the final furlong.

However, Nina Carberry gave her faithful supporters another reason to cheer as she came from off the pace with a perfectly timed run inside the final 100 yards on Westinmare to complete a treble for Gordon Elliott in the process. 

Anything Elliott and Carberry combine with has to be feared and there was a degree of confidence in this winner which obliged at 5/1, half the odds it was available at in the morning.

Racegoers attending the Ladies Day meeting at Downpatrick for the traditional bank holiday meeting on August 29 can win a number of fantastic prizes which will be up for grabs on the day.

The winner of the ‘Most Appropriately Dressed Lady’ competition will receive a three-night stay in a five-star New York hotel while the ‘Best Dressed Gent’ will win five-night accommodation in Abu Dhabi and tickets for two days racing at the Yas Marina Formula One Grand Prix.

Next meeting: Sunday, August 7, Keeping It Country Race Day.