Treble time for Elliott

Treble time for Elliott

23 September 2020

WITHOUT a winner at the two previous meetings at Downpatrick, it was service as usual for Meath trainer Gordon Elliott in perfect conditions on Friday when he paid three visits to the winner’s enclosure.

His runner Tullybeg was the odds-on favourite in the opening Toals Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle, but despite holding the advantage as the runners turned for home it had to be content with second behind the smooth winner The Shunter with Ulderado third.

The Shunter was having his first run since an incident at Tipperary that saw winning Carlow-based trainer Emmet Mullins fined €6,000, the horse banned for 60 days and successful jockey here Brian Hayes banned for 21 days. SP: 5/2, 1/2 fav, 33/1.

Elliott’s first success of the day came in the third race, the Ulster Carpets Maiden Hurdle, over two miles and five furlongs, when he saddled the long absent Fancy Foundations to victory.

The winner took control approaching the last flight going on to win in good style over the 5/6 favourite Captain MC and Electricity, owned and trained in Co Derry by Gary Magill and ridden by his amateur son Oran.

The 4/1 winner was a third winning ride for Jack Kennedy since he returned to action recently following a bad leg break.

Prior to the Frank and Brian Fitzsimons Memorial Handicap Chase, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Pat Smullen, the nine-time champion Irish flat jockey and Classic winning rider, who sadly passed away earlier in the week following a two year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was laid to rest that morning.

This race saw Scullys Dream, ridden by amateur John O’Neil set out to make all but had to give best at the finish as Denis O’Regan brought the Elliott-trained Give Him Time with a perfectly timed run to win, with Cushinstown and Jordan Gainford back in third. O’Neil was given a four day whip ban post race. SP: 6/1, 11/2, 13/2.

Elliott’s third success came in the ten-runner bumper race when he saddled a nice newcomer in Off Your Rocco, ridden by Jamie Codd, the combination proving too good for Patrick Mullins on Sam Curling’s Method Madness and Game and Glory. SP: 7/4 fav, 5/1, 50/1.

The second race of the day was the Joe Rea Memorial Handicap Hurdle and it was good that the race saw an all local finish as, without Joe’s efforts in the local track’s darkest days, it may well not be still a racecourse.

The 12/1 winner, British Art, make every post a winning one under Barry Browne, the top weight lasting home as Lusis Naturea, trained by Paul Traynor at Templepatrick, put in a storming finish. Running a good race to finish third was Greenanadwhitearmy, owned and trained at Loughbrickland by Neil McKnight.

The winner is trained in Co Armagh by Keith Watson, this being his first success of the year. The eight year-old had a decent run on the flat and was last successful at Down Royal in December 2018.

The previous Friday at Kilbeggan, Ardagh’s Choice won at 100/1 and the Dusty Sheedy, trained runner, ridden by Kevin Sexton, this time at 9/1, proved the success was no fluke when successful in the Randox Health Rated Novice Hurdle.

Taking up the running at the penultimate flight, the five year-old was chased home by the Sean O’Keefe ridden Knot-on Time, with Ashqar from the Elliott stable third.

Meath trainer John McConnell, who saddled a 150/1 winner earlier in the week on the flat, recorded his seventh winner in the last three weeks when his 12/1 shot Itsalonglongroad with Mark Bolger in the saddle, made a winning debut over fences when winning the fifth race of the day, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase, from Gordon Elliott’s 17/2 shot Thisonesforollie.

Finishing extra well under new jockey Jamie Hayes was Zagzig, still owned by Ballyclare’s Harry Smyth, but now in the care of Keith Watson, this one starting at 125/1.

A good day’s racing, but sadly no spectators. However, at least owners are now allowed back to see their horses run.

Balloted out of the Joe Rea Memorial Race, Dreal Deal, owned and trained in Armagh by Ronan McNally, was the result of a big gamble on Saturday at Navan, winning the baroneracing.com Handicap Hurdle at 6/4 favourite with amateur jockey Eoin O’Brien in the saddle.

Also at Navan in the Baroneracing Pro/Am flat race, Tyrone trainer James Lambe saddled the 5/1 shot Sundrenched to win in the colours of 19 times Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop, a first winner as an owner for the great rider. Lambe’s stepson, Liam McKenna, was the successful pilot.

Also in the Ladies Handicap Hurdle, Ballee girl Toni Quail in her first ride over hurdles, finished third on Arkan Questl which she jointly owns with Downpatrick’s Mark Breen. Formerly with Brian Hamilton, this horse is now trained by Yvonne Latta.

The 14 jockeys who appealed the two-day suspensions they received for a false start at the East Down point-to-point at Tyrella in March, lost out when the appeal was heard last Wednesday. They will have to miss out on two days’ racing.

This Saturday (no spectators or bookies) the local autumn point-to-point season gets underway with the Fermanagh meeting at Necarne Castle, Irvinestown.

Best chance of seeing some action is to purchase a DVD from Ardglass Videos.