Punters have plenty to smile about at Ladies’ Day meeting

2 September 2015

COLOURFUL style and trending fashion were in big supply at Downpatrick on Monday for the track’s annual Bank Holiday Ladies’ Day meeting.

The punters had a great day with the well fancied favourite Boris De Blae sending many home happy after obliging in the finale.

Hot favourite Killiney Court improved on a recent second in a maiden hurdle at Tramore to run out an easy winner of the opening race on the card.

The 8/11 shot overhauled Paul Carberry and Iffjack at the second last flight and stuck to his task gamely racing clear up the hill to win the maiden hurdle by eight and a half lengths for Wexford trainer Colm Murphy.

“He’s for Kilbeggan on Friday if the ground stays the same and that run will have him spot on for it,” reported Murphy in the winner’s enclosure.

Record breaking flat trainer Aidan O’Brien saddled three runners at the meeting with Kilclispeen taking the honours in the two mile seven furlongs maiden hurdle under Barry Geraghty.

The JP McManus-owned runner had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Barrack Street and Jonathan Moore after the last, but Geraghty and his mount eventually asserted passing the stands to win by three parts of a length with Clare runner Victoryrowe well back in third under Stephen Gray.

Downpatrick jeweller Willie Murphy has been a long-standing supporter of his local racetrack and was on hand to make the presentation to winning connections of the Willie Murphy Jewellers Downpatrick Handicap Hurdle, the third race of the day.

Victory went the way of Sligo raider Mr Mulliner, who made it three wins from his last three starts since joining trainer Mark McNiff’s yard. The six-year-old had Derek Fox in the plate when winning at the previous Downpatrick meeting and Fox was once again given the job of steering the 100/30 chance towards the winning post.

However, he looked to have left it late as Chamonix and Barry Geraghty gave their all up the home straight before succumbing to Mr Mulliner and Fox in the final fifty yards by a length with a similar distance back to Paul Townend on 15/8 favourite The Informer.

Outsider Don Vinccenzo sprang a surprise when winning the handicap hurdle for Wexford trainer Colin Bowe and jockey Sean Flanagan.

The 14/1 chance jumped the final flight in third place and soon got down to work up the hill, coming with a late rally in first time cheekpieces to get up and defeat Derek Fox on Feel The Air by and length and a quarter.

“He wants a bit of nice ground and will probably jumps fences soon,” said Bowe in the winner’s enclosure.

There were a few whispers on track for the Jessica Harrington trained Phantom Prince on his debut over the larger obstacles but those who took odds of 4/5 had to wait late to collect their money as Robbie Power’s mount took a while to get into gear before overhauling Dawn Flyer and Stephen Gray up the hill to win by a length.

‘That was hard work. He took while to warm to his jumping,” said Power after dismounting from the winner.

Tipperary raider Cnoc Na Sioga registered a first success in over two years when successful under Andrew Lynch in the handicap chase for Tipperary trainer John Patrick Ryan.

The winner was last successful back in May 2013 but got his jumping act together to get the better of Mikey Fogarty and Heavenly Brook by half a length at the line.

“Andrew reported that he (Cnoc Na Sioga) felt a bit sore after the race when he dismounted but hopefully he’ll be ok,” said Ryan in the parade ring.

Owner Barry Connell and trainer Alan Fleming combined to win the final race on the card, the ladies’ bumper, with favourite Boris De Blaeas, much to the delight of the majority of the large crowd in attendance.

Katie Walsh took the riding honours on the 13/8 chance, getting the better of Nina Carberry on Gordon Elliott’s Tajseer by just over a length at the winning post.

Next meeting: September 25.

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