Punters roar for Nina at Downpatrick Racecourse

18 June 2014

ON a blistering hot day Nina Carberry raised the roof of the stands at Downpatrick on Sunday when getting the verdict in a thrilling finish to the day’s final race.

Carberry has a cult following at the local track and she timed her run to perfection aboard Itchymei’mscrath to collar Patrick Mullins on 5/4 favourite Tempest Missile right on the line.

Content to her mount towards the rear for much of the race, Carberry came with a powerful run up the stands rail to a deafening roar from the crowd to collar Willie Mullins’ runner by a head at the line.

“We’ll have a chat with the owner and see what we do next,” said trainer Gordon Elliott after the race. “He’ll probably have a break before going over hurdles.”

Smiler made it two wins from two runs at Downpatrick when winning the opening race on the card in good style under trainer Mikey O’Connor.

The 5/4 favourite was a 16 lengths winner of a bumper at the track back in October and after leading for much of the race fought back in the closing stages to deny Johnathan Burke on Oscar Vespasian by a neck.

“They’ve done a great job with the ground here. He’s a summer horse and he’s not too big. We’ll keep him to Dundalk in the winter as he hates

soft ground,” said O’Connor in the winner’s enclosure.

Sligo runner Pennys Tune visited the winner’s enclosure on her third start for trainer Mark McNiff when showing a liking for the fast conditions under jockey Derek Fox.

The mare was having her 25th career start and had just over four lengths in hand of former track winner Point The Toes under Shane Butler.

Spoils were shared in the Thanking Catherine Kelly handicap hurdle when Brian Hayes got Rita Shah’s Shabra’s Bertollini up on the line to force a dead heat with Conor Maxwell, who had looked the likely winner rounding the bend for home on Dublican publican Eugene Kavanagh’s House Limit.

Hayes lost his stick after jumping the final flight but still managed to get a positive response from Oliver Brady’s inmate to get up and force a dead-heat.

“Oliver is just getting out of hospital about now but if he was watching that they might have to admit him again,” said Brady’s relieved assistant trainer Anthony McCann in the winner’s enclosure.

Nine runners faced the starter for the beginners’ steeplechase with Noel Kelly’s Mighty Whitey improving on his recent second at the track to win first time over fences under Mick Darcy.

The 6/1 chance appears to appreciate the unique nature of Downpatrick and showed a zest at his fences on his way to a half length success over 20/1 runner-up Darwins Theory under Ger Fox.

“He’s very game. Mick said he wanted to go long at every fence. I wasn’t too sure he’d get the trip but thankfully he did,” said Kelly.

The smallest field of the day lined up for the handicap chase with the race complexion changing when favourite Romanesco slipped up on the flat under Paul Carberry.

Eddie O’Connell kept Coldstonesober for a late run and the 8/1 chance produced a winning gear up the hill to get the better of Kevin Sexton on King High by a length.

“He’s won twice round Tramore and we were hopeful as this track would have a similar profile which seems to bring out the best in him,” said winning trainer Jimmy Finn.

The Baler landed a nice touch for his connections in the Richie Kavanagh Cabaret Show handicap chase when getting the better of a host of rivals on the long run home.

Runners were waved round the final fence as medics attended to Ger Fox who had taken a crashing fall from Commanchewardance on the previous circuit.

Available at 14s in the morning, JP Dempsey’s former Inch point-to-point winner outstayed his pursuers returning at 4/1 under Johnathan Burke whose 7lb allowance meant the winner carried just 9st 12lb.

Outsider Maddoxtown (25/1) fared best of the rest to take second under Andrew Lynch with former Ulster Grand National winner Duroob back in third under Adrian Heskin.

Off the track Newcastle man Gerry McAllister received a prize as the best dressed gentleman and Ardglass man Jack Magee can look forward to a trip to the Galway races after winning two tickets to the festival.

There was also a vintage car show from the NI Jaguar Drivers’ Club as well as after-racing entertainment from the track’s new stage to keep racegoers entertained.

Mrs. William Brownlow received a presentation in recognition of her MBE in the recent Queen’s birthday honours, while Sunday’s meeting marked a farewell to track administrator Catherine Kelly, who retired after 11 years’ service.

• Next meeting: Monday, July 14.

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