Preview and Tips for Racing at Downpatrick Racecourse This Weekend
• Downpatrick Racecourse: Preview and Tips for Saturday’s Eight-Race Card
We’re kept busy at Downpatrick Racecourse this weekend, with eight summer jumping contests to get stuck into on Saturday afternoon. There are four hurdle races, three chases and a bumper.
Read on for a preview of and tips for the Downpatrick card, brought to you by BetBrothers.
We kick off with a mares’ maiden hurdle run over two miles and three furlongs (13.25). Everyday Life has some good point-to-point form, so she could prove handy on Rules debut.
Spring Waltz won in that sphere, so also should gain plenty of support today. The mares with existing form have not yet shown to be good enough to win in maiden company, so the pointers may be the way to go here.
A handicap hurdle run over two and a quarter miles is next (14.00). Gavin Cromwell’s Arcland is a course and distance winner who is equipped with first-time blinkers here, which could be helpful. Cozone looks interesting but likely to want softer ground, while Liceo might have an opportunity here, having improved on his annual debut at Tramore last time.
Next is the first division of a two and three-quarter mile QR handicap hurdle (14.35).
Western Model can be forgiven a lacklustre return to action in May, coming off a winter break. He starts today two pounds lower in the weights and can get back to better form with a run now under his belt.
Mount Shenshan is capable of better than her latest performance, and it seems that further is better for her.
In the second division (15.10), Henry De Bromhead’s Lady Fromentro makes her handicap debut and, based on her latest maiden start, could have a chance if her mark is kind.
Georgia Celena is a course and distance winner who restarts for the season here, looking fairly positive, but does lack race fitness.
A two and a half mile handicap chase follows (15.45). Driveonwill won over course and distance last time, but has risen sharply in the handicap since then.
Finnians Row did the same by a much greater distance and could run another big race here. Magic Day ran well last time at Tramore and could make some further progress here.
Race six is a three-mile beginners’ chase (16.20). Huntsgrove was one of the best over hurdles, but pulled up on chase debut in May.
Saunton Surf’s start to chasing was more positive; she was beaten just half a length. She can cope with the step up in trip and could be one to think about.
Second to last is a three-mile handicap chase (16.55). Big Island ran a good race last time and is two pounds lower in the weights this time, while Doyen Wolf could get involved again after finishing third last time. Thehairyfella is down to a tempting mark, but might prefer the ground a touch softer.
A bumper concludes the card (17.30). There are two newcomers here; Mevoila A Vassy and Katie Can’t Count for the revered Willie Mullins. Half sister to a smart mare, also trained by Mullins at Closutton, she might be the one to win this. Few of the rest have shown enough promise to be bumper winning types.
Downpatrick selections – Saturday:
13.25 – Spring Waltz
14.00 – Liceo
14.35 – Mount Shenshan
15.10 – Lady Fromentro
15.45 – Finnians Row
16.20 – Saunton Surf
16.55 – Big Island, Thehairyfella e/w
17.30 – Katie Can’t Count.
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SUNDAY RACING
Downpatrick Racecourse: Preview and Tips for Sunday’s Seven-Race Meeting
It’s day two of Downpatrick Racecourse’s weekend meeting and today’s racing hosts seven contests; six over hurdles and one bumper to conclude the card.
Read on for a preview of and tips for the Downpatrick card, brought to you by BetBrothers.
We kick off with a maiden hurdle run over two and three quarters of a mile (13.50). Plenty of these have been well exposed by now, without winning, and it might be best to side with a lesser-exposed sort who could still have lots of potential. Open Approach would fit that bill, having been denied a real chance when disqualified on debut.
Another maiden hurdle follows, run over two miles and three furlongs (14.20). Gordon Elliott has another nice chance with the once-raced Western Shores, who finished fifth of 15 at Tramore in May. With few of the others having offered much in terms of encouragement so far, it could be a quickfire double for the County Meath handler.
Race three is a mares’ handicap hurdle run over two miles and three furlongs (14.50). Layenda improved when starting back over hurdles at this track last time, while Long Gone was the winner of a claiming hurdle at Bellewstown last year. Radar Ahead has been useful on the Flat and over obstacles. Fit from a few runs on the Flat this year, she is attractive with a seven-pound claimer taking the ride.
The fourth race is a two and a quarter mile handicap hurdle (15.20). Dontgowithjoe seeks a hat-trick, but might be hard-pressed to do so today after a seven-pound rise in the handicap. Malbay Madness also won last time out but looks slightly more competitive on this occasion.
Just behind him that day, though, was Metamorpheus, who could now be primed to win.
Over the same trip, race five is a rated novice hurdle (15.55). Yet again, Gordon Elliott looks to have one of the strongest chances with Lumiere Du Large, who outran her odds when last seen at Wexford to finish third of 11. Given the stable’s form, she is hard to argue with.
Second to last is a two and a quarter mile handicap hurdle (16.30). Bowgate Street is a in a good strain of form and can keep up the good work here, while Centaq wasn’t beaten too far last time and makes plenty of appeal, one pound down in the handicap now.
Finally, we conclude with a mares bumper (17.05). Irish Lace and Castle may are the newcomers, but they have a couple of potentially nice sorts to beat here. Churchfield Annie was beaten just a neck in a mares’ race at Galway last year, and she looks set to progress. Jet To Glory was fifth of 24 on Rules debut and, fit from that, should be able to take the win now.
Downpatrick selections – Sunday:
13.50 – Open Approach
14.20 – Western Shores
14.50 – Radar Ahead
15.20 – Metamorpheus
15.55 – Lumiere Du Large
16.30 – Centaq
17.05 – Jet To Glory.
