Preview and tips for Saturday’s Downpatrick eight-race Summer Jumps card
The latest Summer Jumps meeting at Downpatrick is on the horizon this weekend, with an eight-race card on offer on Saturday at the track.
Racing gets underway at 1.05 with a maiden hurdle over the two-mile and two furlong trip before rounding off a few hours later at 5.10 with a Flat race – run over Jumps rules.
The opening content sees 18 runners head to the start to take on the 2m2f maiden hurdle (1.05) and preference is for Limerick bumper scorer Long Gone for trainer Declan Queally, who also has a third over hurdles under her belt so far. Of her rivals, Femme Magnifique from the powerhouse Willie Mullins yard is certainly one to note despite a slight dip in form when last seen finishing fifth at the Punchestown Festival.
Tell Us This has a Down Royal win and Ballinrobe second under his belt from last month and should go well in the second race of the Downpatrick card (1.40) for trainer Gavin Cromwell in the ten-runner handicap hurdle over 2m1f.
Cullenwaine looks the one to beat in race three at Downpatrick, the 2m5f handicap hurdle (80-95) in division one at 2.15. In a low-quality affair, Philip Rothwell’s six-year-old has the best form on show with a fine second at Limerick just over a fortnight ago. Best of the rest could be Tick Along, a course and distance scorer last season at Downpatrick who has been off for ten months but still enters calculations.
Race four (2.50) is in division two of the same discipline as race three and preference here is for the in-from O’Faolains Glory, a recent third at Cartmel and prior to that had won two his prior four starts. Aliunde enters equations off the back of a third over course and distance three weeks ago.
The fifth race on the card (3.25) can go the way of Itsalongroad who was a fine second in a handicap chase at Tramore and can go one better at Downpatrick, but will face a stern test from Quite Incredible in the 2m3f handicap chase, a winner at Downpatrick last time out.
Race six (4.00) is a smaller field of seven taking on the beginners chase over the 2m7f trip fr horse’s older than five. Tullyveery Lad, trained by Ray Cody, appears the class of the field here having had a useful spin over hurdles at Listowel a fortnight ago to blow off the cobwebs and is back over the bigger obstacles here.
The penultimate race on Downpatrick’s Saturday card sees 15 runners head to the start for the 0-102 rated handicap hurdle (4.35). Previous course and distance winner Ocean legacy for trainer Dermot McLoughlin, who was also well placed over course and distance three weeks ago before falling. Another veteran C&D winner in Greenway Machine rates as the chief threat.
Finally, the card comes to a close with the Flat race (5.10) and preference in the card closer goes to Starcrossed Lover, who was second on debut in a Punchestown hurdling contrast and is taken to go one place better here.
Downpatrick selections – Saturday (via Betfair)
1.05 – Long Gone
1.40 – Tell Us This
2.15 – Cullenwaine
2.50 – O’Faolains Glory
3.25 – Itsalongroad
4.00 – Tullyveery Lad
4.35 – Oceans Legacy
5.10 – Starcrossed Lover.
