At Downpatrick Racecourse: Successful weekend for trainer Dermot McLoughlin
The weekend’s two-day race meeting at Downpatrick was a highly competitive fixture with a good spread of results, but the main success story of the event was a trio of victories for County Meath-based trainer Dermot McLoughlin, who had three winners across the meeting.
Read on for a preview of and tips for the Downpatrick card, brought to you by BetBrothers.
Saturday 13th June
In the opening maiden hurdle (1.25), Brosna Queen justified her joint favouritism to win by just over a length, with the other joint market lead, Ardeen Joy, back in third. Spring Waltz was second, while 250/1 outsider Torque De Lune outran her odds very well to finish fourth.
Next, in a handicap hurdle (2.00), Matthew Smith’s Cozone became another winning favourite, ridden by James Smith. He finished over four lengths ahead of his next closest market rival, Gavin Cromwell’s Arcland, with Warm In Gorey finishing third.
The first division of a QR handicap hurdle followed (2.35). The Noel Kelly-trained Nakassama was hot favourite at 11/10, and won decisively by over four lengths. The horses in second and third were somewhat surprising; 11/1 shot Hitthehayson finishing runner-up, while Western Model was third at 20/1.
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In the second division (3.10), Seamus Neville’s True Harmony was the market leader but couldn’t do any better than sixth place, leaving Joya Del Mar to bring in the first win of the weekend for Dermot McLoughlin, running on well to win by over four lengths. Gangster Granny was second, followed by Georgia Celena in third.
A handicap chase followed (3.45). Here, Dermot McLoughlin was brought a quickfire double by 5/1 shot Finnians Row, who was ridden by Liam McKenna. Again, the two horses behind him were unexpected; 25/1 shot Ringdufferin as the runner-up, followed by 12/1 shot King’s Son in third.
The sixth race was a beginners’ chase (4.20). The market predicted the winner correctly here, as 11/8 favourite Saunton Surf trained in Maghera by Danny Magill won comfortably by an impressive 10 lengths under Philip Donovan. Anodandawink was second and Kalsman third.
The penultimate race was a handicap chase (4.55). Our biggest priced winner of the day cam here; John Carr’s Fr Gilligansvoyge, who jumped off at 18/1. Despite facing a challenge from Malton Groove, the 13-year-old veteran gelding kept on to win by half a length under Sarah Kavanagh.
Finally, Saturday’s racing concluded with a bumper (5.30). Willie Mullins’ hot favourite, Katie Can’t Count, did no better than fourth place, beaten six lengths, while Eoin Doyle’s Corway – a 14/1 outsider – ran on strongly to win by just under a length.
Saturday’s results:
1.25 – Brosna Queen
2.00 – Cozone
2.35 – Nakassama
3.10 – Joya Del Mar
3.45 – Finnians Row
4.20 – Saunton Surf
4.55 – Fr Gilligansvoyge
5.30 – Corway.
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Sunday 14th June Meeting Continues with good attendance
Downpatrick’s second day of racing proved harder to predict than the first day. We began with a maiden hurdle (1.50), in which Gordon Elliott’s Sound Judgement was the Even money favourite. He was beaten, though, by Willie Mullins’ eventual winner – Surfin Usa – and a 250/1 shot; Acheron, who showed dramatically improved form for Shark Hanlon.
The next race, another maiden hurdle (2.20), was won by Gavin Cromwell’s well-backed In The Trenches. He beat the strongly fancied 5/6 market leader, Amina, who finished third, behind Euro Agent, who was third.
A mares handicap hurdle was next (2.50). The joint favourites on this occasion were Rockstown Girl, who finished third, and Radar Ahead, who unseated her rider at the first flight. In what was an open race, Henry De Bromhead’s She’s A Fine Wine became the winner by just half a length, with You Make Me Smile in second.
Race four was a handicap hurdle (3.20). Dermot McLoughlin celebrated his third winner of the weekend here, as Malbay Madness won well by four lengths, with 28/1 Bridgehead the runner-up, followed home by 50/1 outsider Yosemite Gold in third.
A rated novice hurdle followed (3.55). Mark McNiff’s Houndsworth was well-backed favourite at 16/5, but he weakened on the run-in, allowing Andrew Kinirons’Blue Moon Boy to become the winner by half a length to runner-up Sea Of Doubt. Maxwell Smart was third.
Second to last was a handicap hurdle (4.30). We had the most unlikely winner of the day here, as 20/1 apparent no-hoper Georginas Jet won by an incredible 10 lengths under Gavin Brouder. Bryson, one of the joint market leaders, was second, with the other joint favourite – Oh So Charming – finishing fifth.
The final race of the weekend was a mares’ bumper (5.05). Emmet Mullins’ Churchfield Annie was the only runner getting any attention in the betting, jumping off at 4/5, but she could do no better than third. Instead, Irish Lace won, followed closely by Goodgollymissholly.
Sunday’s results:
1.50 – Surfin Usa
2.20 – In The Trenches
2.50 – She’s A Fine Wine
3.20 – Malbay Madness
3.55 – Blue Moon Boy
4.30 – Georginas Jet
5.05 – Irish Lace.
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