Friday afternoon saw crowds arriving at Downpatrick racecourse on a beautiful Autumn day to enjoy the racing.
Claiming jockey, Eoin Walsh stole the opener on the line aboard the Noel Meade-trained Roseriver Has. Ya Boy Ya looked home and hosed having always been prominent and going clear after the last but Walsh had rode a waiting race to get up in the final strides with the pair joint favourites writes Joe Kavanagh.
Walsh said:” I always thought I was getting there – when he met the rising ground he stayed all the way to the line. Noel (Meade) was confident – conditions were perfect for him.”
Rachael Blackmore was seen to excellent advantage when claiming the handicap hurdle on the Ellmarie Holden-trained Presenting Sun despite a year’s absence and readily repelling the late challenge of the locally trained, Santa Ana. Blackmore said: “He saw it out really well and there’s plenty more improvement to come.”
The unplaced under rules JN Wine.com Supporting Youth Action Maiden Hurdle, despite a very weak contest, produced a four-way finish with the Colin Bowe-trained, Cushinstown Finest partnered by amateur Jordan Gainford staying on in the closing stages to deny My Galway Girl which had attempted to make all and supply the winning teenage rider with his first racecourse victory. Bowe said: “We’ll maybe come back here with her for the next meeting and then we’ll give her a break.”
Three Is Company attempted to make all in the Rated Hurdle only to be overhauled at the final flight by Boro Tari and Nibblers Charm with the last named trained by Ray Hackett and Donnie McInerney aboard going clear on the run to the line. Hackett said: “He toughed it out well in fairness to him and we would be happy enough with him.”
The favourite Scotch Quay fell at the first leaving Inishbel clear which attempted to make all in the Irish Stallion RBF Beginners Steeplechase but the James Dullea-trained Mohart with Philip Enright in the saddle lead two from home and despite slipping on landing at the last kept on well to score. Dullea said: “He’s been a nice horse and a frustrating horse – He’s had an awful lot of injuries and niggles.”
The complexion of the Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders Handicap Steeplechase changed at the penultimate fence when the saddle on Tara Mia [20’s to 10/1] slipped unseating his rider leaving favourite, Global Racing trained by Gavin Cromwell with new stable jockey Jonathan Moore aboard to prevail as the County Down trainer Liam Lennon’s I’m An Izz Wizz stayed on to finish as runner up.
Global Racing trainer Gavin Cromwell said: “Look he has been consistent and he was entitled to win some day.”
Tecumseh Sherman with top Downpatrick rider Declan Lavery aboard turned the finale into a procession when making all to win to end the racing for another day in Downpatrick.
