Downpatrick Racecourse gets bumper crowd for first race meeting of 2022
The featured race of the Downpatrick season proved a grief stricken affair in the early stages with six departing after the first two fences including the locally trained favourite Portstorm, writes Sam Kavanagh.
Notice To Close and Agent Boru went head to head for a lot of the race but in the concluding stages it was the Gavin Cromwell-trained Spades Are Trump (7s to 5/1) partnered by Mark McDonagh with a bold leap to lead at the last quickly asserted that claim the £50,000 feature in the JP Mc Manus colours.
The winning trainer also supplied the third Peaches And Cream with Agent Boru settling for second. The winning jockey was fresh from the Cheltenham Festival where he rode his first festival winner, Banbridge.
Mc Donagh said: “A great week. I want to thank everyone for giving me opportunities, but for them I wouldn’t be here. He just took to the course, he travelled well and enjoyed being in and out. A lot of horses fell in the race, and there was a lot of misery. I’m sure if everybody stood up it could have been different.”
Racing got underway with a maiden hurdle and the locally trained I Don’t Get It (33s to 6/1) got a flier and quickly fifteen lengths clear of rivals. The well supported favourite Vinnie Is Busy fell three from home when making no impression, however, it was Winding River (12s to 9/1) trained by Oliver Mc Kieran with Barry Browne replacing the injured Gavin Brouder that stayed on the best to overhaul the leader on the uphill climb to the post. A steward’s enquiry was held into the start of the race.
Starter Derek Cullen stated that the speaker system at the start did not work for this race. He explained that the riders had been instructed to take two turns, were made aware when there were twenty seconds to go while at the same time Winding River was being led in and I Don’t Get It, the mount of Gavin Brouder, was instructed by him to take his time when approaching the tape. Evidence was heard from all riders. Their comments confirmed that there was no speaker system in use at the start.”
McKiernan said:” It was a king of a raggedy start I thought and anyway it worked out for us in the end. I suppose the other horse tired. He did (relish the better ground) and Barry gave him a very timed ride. He looked to have a lot to do but I thought the leader was going very quick after running during the week.
“He felt he would reel him in but you have to go and do it. He will probably head to Punchestown (for the final). I think he is improving a bit and the ground helped him.”
The Dermot Weld-trained Coltor (10s to 4/1) was the easy winner of the valuable Rated Novice Hurdle. Partnered by Darragh O’Keefe the winner was content to wait before delivering a well time challenge jumping into the lead two from home. The favourite Authorised Art was never a factor having been lucky to stay upright when hitting the second flight.
Darragh O’Keeffe said: “He enjoyed himself. He’s a horse that won the big amateur handicap in Galway so if he turned up in the same spirit, he was going to be hard to beat. He was fifth in a Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival last year. I’m delighted to ride a winner for Mr Weld, he thought he would run a big race.”
A quartet of horses landed together after the last flight in the handicap hurdle but in the battle to the line it was the John McConnell-trained Andy’s Flame with Omagh jockey Simon Torrens aboard in the saddle that kept on best to deny Sight No Seen. My Manekineko briefly looked like gaining a repeat having won the race last year but had to settle for fourth.
McConnell said : “”He ran a lovely race in a better race the last day. Better ground probably suited him and he is one for the future. He is still learning, he is a big baby and took a long time to mature even though he had won his point-to-point.”
Howaya Aoife, trained by Gerry Keane, with Ricky Doyle in the saddle sprang a 50/1 shock in the handicap chase. Reserve, Magic Sea (20/1) looked the likely winner having been clear in the closing stages only to be caught in the final strides by the winner on the stands side. Keane said: “”She is going to be covered now and after that we will race on for as long as we can. We’ll hopefully come back here.”
The photo finish camera was needed to supply the winner of the hunterchase and the Ciaran Murphy-trained Michael’s Pick giving rider Timmy Love his second course success.
The runner up, Handy Headon, which attempted to make all was another that got away with Derrylin trainer David Christie who suffered a heart breaking finish to the Cheltenham Foxhunters when Winged Leader was caught in the last stride.
The concluding bumper was another surprise result with Sir Jimmy Mac making every yard under Downpatrick top amateur Declan Lavery aboard to score on his debut for Galway trainer Muredach Kelly beating several well fancied contenders.
