Down Royal Racecourse: local trainer Natalia Lupini scores impressive win on Monday’s race meeting
Monday’s Down Royal card offered a typically testing surface on the Flat which saw Willie McCreery train a double on the card, while local handler Natalia Lupini also secured success.
Read below for a full rundown of the Down Royal card on Monday courtesy of Boyle Sports, who offer the latest horse racing odds.
The opener, the Nursery Handicap over five furlongs for two-year-olds, saw Love Bomb bag the win edging ahead inside the final furlong after a decent contest with Final Melody.
In the Fillies’ Handicap over an extended 1m4f, Navy Waters, ridden by Nathan Crosse, ran a patient race, staying off the early pace before making headway from two furlongs out and digging deep to lead inside the final furlong with Alba Chiara stayed on into second, though never able to trouble the winner.
Perhaps the highlight of the day came in the Handicap for three-years-old and up, where Bishopton turned in a commanding performance for Banbridge trainer Natalia Lupini.
Always handy, he surged in the final two furlongs and took control just over a furlong out, drawing clear to win convincingly from Port Louis, who closed well for second after being held back early,
Jockey Colin Keane picked up the victory in the Irish EBF Auction Fillies’ Maiden over 7f with Stars Will Shine, who bolted clear in the final furlong to win in robust fashion, leaving Celestial Siren and Running Point trailing in his wake.
The day’s racing also included a severn furlong maiden which was won by Smiling, trained by powerhouse handler Aidan O’Brien, a comfortable four length winner over Diego El Queso in second, while the one mile and three furlong handicap went the way of Faro Island, an 11-2 chance and a second winner on the day for jockey Billy Lee.
Finally, the card came to a close with a mile and five furlong handicap and 15/8 favourite Glenroyal got the job done for trainer Joseph O’Brien, scoring by a neck from Railwayview Lady in second.
