Down Royal Racecourse: Preview and Tips for Friday’s and Saturdays Race Meetings
It’s the penultimate day of Royal Ascot over in England, but the Flat racing action continues at home as well in Down Royal, where we have seven races to look forward to on Friday evening.
Read on for a preview of and tips for the Down Royal card, brought to you by BetVictor Online Casino.
We begin with a five-furlong two-year-olds’ maiden (17.10). There are three newcomers in the mix here, who could be appealing as few of the previously raced horses have shown enough at present to suggest they can win in maiden company.
Donnacha O’Brien’s Tradewinds has come the closest, though, and the low purchase prices of the debutants are off-putting.
Next is a five-furlong fillies handicap (17.40). Sarahmae won last time out and is 10 pounds higher in the weights today. Treasured Royal was behind her that day and, two pounds lower in the handicap now and with a claiming rider in the saddle, she could be the one today.
The third race is a five-furlong three-year-olds’ handicap (18.15). Cashel Blue won over course and distance last time and is significantly higher in the weights now, so looks unlikely to reproduce the form.
Mini Cotai could run a good race on this mark, though, but This Guy – who wasn’t too far behind Cashel Blue last time, looks to have the best winning chance.
Race four is a five-furlong handicap (18.50). Clonmacash is a reliable sort who is competitive at this mark and should be getting involved here, while Collective Power looks attractive on a workable mark as well. He is a course and distance winner and is capable of carrying top-weight nicely, so has plenty of upside on this occasion.
A seven-furlong juveniles’ maiden follows (19.25). A big portion of the field are newcomers, so this could turn out to be anyone’s race, but the best existing form comes from Paddy Twomey’s Joga Bonito, who has placed fourth and second out of two starts so far. Jessica Harrington’s Full Volume is a tempting debutant, out of a Galileo mare, while Supreme Act has a nice pedigree too.
Second to last is a seven-furlong handicap (20.00). Battle Borne was good last time out, finishing second of 10, and is on a highly attractive mark today with five pounds from his rider to boot. Flaming Rib also looks very competitive, another with weight given by a claiming rider, while Glyndwr could be helped by this step down in trip too.
We conclude with another seven-furlong handicap (20.30). Alex Belardo is a course and distance winner who was only beaten a neck when last seen at Dundalk, while Concaire was similarly only beaten a nose at Limerick earlier this month. Both should be big players here.
Down Royal selections – Friday:
17.10 – Tradewinds
17.40 – Treasured Royal
18.15 – This Guy
18.50 – Collective Power
19.25 – Full Volume
20.00 – Battle Borne
20.30 – Concaire.
SATURDAY”S RACE MEETING.
Down Royal Racecourse: Preview and Tips for Saturday’s Seven-Race Card
It’s day two of Down Royal’s two-day meeting and today’s action brings us seven races to get stuck into on Saturday afternoon, featuring the prestigious Ulster Derby and Ulster Oaks.
Read on for a preview of and tips for the Down Royal card, brought to you by BetBrothers.
We kick off with a 10-furlong three-year-old fillies’ maiden (14.06). We have a couple of newcomers here, who might be worth considering as few of the previously raced fillies have shown enough to suggest they are capable of winning in maiden company. That said, Charm Of Venice has offered some promise and might benefit from the step up in trip here.
Next is a handicap over the same trip (14.41). Connecteo was only beaten narrowly last time and should be a factor here today, while Chapel Island is intriguing stepping up in trip for the first time. Aquila Star for John McConnell also is interesting with a claiming rider on her back.
Still over the same trip, race three is another handicap (15.16). Albatala can be a useful performer at her level, usually running to a place. Coul Dore, though, might be the one to think about here having been beaten just a neck last time at Fairyhouse and he should be able to win at this point in the weights.
Race four is the first of the feature contests; the Ulster Oaks handicap (15.53). Beauparc was second at Gowran Park last time and remains competitive here, while Chablis Rock was such a convincing winner at Limerick that she has to be main player, particularly at this middle point of the race’s weights. Chica Guerrera might get involved too, having placed on two of her three latest starts.
Next is the Ulster Derby, run over a mile and five furlongs (16.33). Coolmore’s New Zealand is maiden winner but has failed to shine in Listed company. Juddmonte’s Bay Of Stars makes more appeal after a maiden success at Dundalk, which he followed up with a close second at Leopardstown in May. One of the least exposed, he should have the potential to win this.
Second to last is a handicap run over the Ulster Derby trip (17.13). Deluca Chop won his latest start at Navan and is entitled to another good run here. Grey Fable was also a winner when last seen, but is generally not consistent enough to be relied upon here. Jazz Forever was marginally behind Deluca Chop last time and could be the one here.
Last of all is a maiden run over a mile and five furlongs (17.43). Willie Mullins’ Daddy Long Legs should be the star of the show here, having been a high class hurdler in 2025. He’s not shown as much ability on the Flat but is still a solid sort and won his latest hurdling start, so he ought to be involved here. Joe Cool might be the one he has to beat, though.
Down Royal selections – Saturday:
14.06 – Charm Of Venice
14.41 – Aquila Star
15.16 – Coul Dore
15.53 – Chablis Rock
16.33 – Bay Of Stars
17.13 – Jazz Forever
17.43 – Joe Cool.
