It’s a family affair

It’s a family affair

12 August 2015

PUNTERS following local hope Itshardtono got off to a great start at Downpatrick on Sunday with the Cabra runner getting the best of a Willie Mullins 1/3 hot-pot to win the opening race on the card.

Mullins’ runner Listen Dear was backed as if defeat was out of the question and the former bumper winner at the track looked the likely winner of the five runner maiden hurdle until Noel McParlan produced his father’s Itshardtono with a challenge after the final flight.

The local runner hung left up the stands rail in the race to the line and battled gamely to deny Paul Townend and Listen Dear by a length and a quarter.

“He’s for the sales at Fairyhouse on Tuesday if someone is prepared to pay enough,” said winning trainer Sean McParlan in the winner’s enclosure.

The Townend/Mullins combination didn’t have to wait long to gain some compensation when favourite Children’s List proved the best of the six runners in the Toal’s Bookmakers Football Rated Hurdle.

Content to sit second for most of the trip, the winner gained a third success of the year when outstaying Coldstonesober and JM Moore by two and a half lengths and looks set for a quick reappearance on the track if ground conditions suit.

Outsider Ciankyle gave Dublin trainer Peter Cluskey his first winner in over two years when landing the extended handicap hurdle in the hands of Mark Bolger.

The four-year-old gelding was challenged at the last by 8/1 shot Carlyann, who got everything wrong at the final flight .

Jockey Johnny Burke lost his irons, but managed to keep the partnership intact before going down by three lengths at the line with Authorative a further nine lengths away back in third for jockey Jodie McGarvey and trainer Anthony McCann. 

Luke Dempsey and Gordon Elliott joined forces for success in the mares’ handicap hurdle with 9/1 shot Rosie Revenue who showed plenty of guts to get the better of Tiger Bay Lady and Johnny Burke by half a length.

The betting market suggested there were only two contenders for victory in the maiden hurdle over two miles and seven furlongs and so it proved with Willie Mullins and Paul Townend securing a double at the meeting when Westerner Lady had enough reserves in the tank to fend off the challenge of Ultimate Horseman and Jack Kennedy by half a length.

The pair pulled a long way clear of Luke Dempsey back in third on The Drone, with Ultimate Horseman filling the runners-up berth for the fifth successive time.

The final two races on the card saw the winners come from well off the pace to secure victory. 

Mr Mulliner came from last to first for Sligo trainer Mark McNiff in the Sound of Silver Handicap Hurdle with Derek Fox producing his mount to lead after the second last flight before racing up the hill in good style to have five lengths in hand of The Informer and Paul Townend.

The 11/2 winner was successful at Sligo last month and may line out at Downpatrick’s ladies day meeting at the end of the month.

Favourite backers went home with a smile on their face and a few quid in their pockets when 13/8 chance Present Flower produced the goods at the business end of the race to secure an eye-catching twelve lengths’ success under Patrick Casey in the concluding bumper.

Bowenscourt took the runners-up spot in the hands of Patrick Mullins for trainer Margaret Mullins.

Next meeting: Ladies Day, August 31.