Nina sends punters home in good form

Nina sends punters home in good form

13 May 2015

THE forecasted rain may have deterred a few racegoers from attending Downpatrick’s evening meeting on Friday but Nina Carberry sent many of those who did brave the elements home with a smile and a well fancied winner in the final race on the card.

Carberry partnered the well-named Ultimate Horseman to victory in the bumper after heading Sean McParlan’s local hope Itshardtono at the two furlong pole before driving the 5/4 favourite up the hill in good style to complete a treble for trainer Gordon Elliott.

The Meath trainer kicked off his evening in great style when the well backed Ibsen took the opening race on the card in good style on his first start for the trainer.

The six-year-old son of Dubawi lost his way a bit last year but nonetheless punters latched on to some solid support during the day to make Kevin Sexton’s mount a well fancied 11/8 favourite.

The market clearly got it right as Sexton landed in front at the final flight before racing clear of Bryan Cooper on Unic De Bersy to win by four lengths.

Sexton was well pleased after dismounting in the winner’s enclosure. “He was fancied today and jumped really well. It was nice to see the rain arrive and I had plenty of horse under me at the end,” he said.

The application of blinkers appeared to galvanise Noel Meade’s Josephine Marcus who took the mares’ handicap hurdle under Ger Fox.

Prominent early on, the daughter of Flemensfirth made her bid for victory before the final flight when she overhauled 14/1 chance Catimini with Kevin Sexton aboard.

Sligo runner Feel The Air (5/2 favourite) gave chase under Derek Fox but was two lengths in arrears at the post.

Gillian Callaghan saddled Redclue for his first start for her and the six-year-old gelding landed a few nice bets in the Strictly at Downpatrick Races handicap hurdle, having been supported from 7s in the early part of the day before winning at half those odds under Danny Mullins.

“We only have him six or seven weeks,” the successful trainer said in the winner’s enclosure. “He’s schooled well over hurdles and could be better on better ground.”

Eddie O’Grady’s runner, Getting Late, gave Mark Walsh another success in the JP McManus silks when taking up the running between the final two flights and racing clear up the hill to beat the well fancied 6/5 favourite Shake It Up by just over 5 lengths.

The first of the two chase races on the card saw Gordon Elliott secure the second of his three winners on the night when jockey Bryan Cooper and 5/1 chance Le Grand Chene came through a gap between the rails and Halls Bridge under Ger Fox to snatch victory by a head right on the line.

The penultimate race on the card  saw Johnny King and Finea land a bit of a touch for some punters when winning the Frank Fitzsimons Maiden Hunters’ Chase for trainer Keith Watson.

Jim Dreaper’s Kayf Supreme (8/13) was made a warm order under jockey Jamie Codd but  the Alan Potts-owned runner began to fade on the run to the second last before trailing in a well beaten fifth.

The winner had to fend off a late challenge from Steven Clements who got a powerful run from El Grande in front of the stands but their effort failed by three parts of a length as Finea took the spoils.

Watson’s runner opened at 25/1 in the morning, but landed victory for his supported at 12/1 and is now set for a quick return to the track at Tipperary tomorrow.

Next meeting: June 5 (evening).