Leading trainer at Downpatrick races, Gordon Elliott from County Meath, sent out Miro to claim the opener in the Keeping It Country Maiden Hurdle for four year olds with teenage jockey Jack Kennedy seen to good advantage coming between horses in the closing stages to prevail writes Joe Kavanagh.
![Local former jockey, Tony Dobbin [right] returned home for his sister Flo’s birthday party [left] and was enlisted to do the presentation after father & son duo Philip and Luke Dempsey claimed the mares' hurdle with Teachers Pet owned by JP Mc Manus.](http://www.downnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/A-Tony-Dobbin-presents-to-Tr-Philip-Dempsey-after-TEACHERS-PET-won-with-Tr-son-Kuke-in-saddle-Tonys-sister-Flo-extreme-left.jpg)
Elliott said after the race: ” Jack gave him a smashing ride and he saw it out well. I’ll look for something similar.”
The Meath trainer and young rider quickly doubled up in the second race, the Download The Toals App Rated Hurdle when Wrath Of Titans in the Ryanair colours of Michael O’Leary landed the rated hurdle. Kennedy adopted similar tactics leaving his challenge to near the line to score by a half-length.
The winning trainer said: ” Jack is riding out of his skin. I might aim the winner at Listowel… possibly the Kerry National if he got in on a low weight. That trip was short of his best but he did it well.”
Mr Smith which formed the middle leg of Charles Byrne’s much publicised coup at Roscommon last week at Roscommon could only manage fifth in the Downpatrickracecource.co.uk Handicap Hurdle and was under strong pressure landing over the final flight.
The race was won by the Gerry Keane-trained Aurora’s Dream with Mark Flanagan aboard having been third at the track last time. Keane said: ” The good ground suited… she’s been running well and had blinkers on for the first time today which I think also helped as she had been running her races in snatches.  She’s an improving mare.”
Father and son duo Philip and Luke Dempsey supplied the winner of the mares’ handicap hurdle with the JP Mc Manus-owned Teachers Pet to readily deny the Elliott-trained Urtheoneiwant. Dempsey Senior said: “She wanted that good ground. She deserved that one as she’s been running consistently. She’ll jump a fence in time. She’s in again at Tramore during the week but I’ll speak to Frank Berry, JP Mc Manus’ racing manager.”
Another father and son partnership was notable on the card with Champion jockey Ruby Walsh’s sole mount at the meeting being on Sam King trained by his father, Ted. The champion rider kept it simple setting of in front and never in danger with the locally-trained Benarty Hill filling second.
Walsh Senior said: “He’s in again at Tramore next week. It was an ordinary race and Ruby kept it simple. He was too keen the last day.”
![TB BROKE HER [donagh myler] centre winner & r-up scenic star right over last photo fin](http://www.downnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/A-TB-BROKE-HER-donagh-myler-centre-winner-r-up-scenic-star-right-over-last-photo-fin.jpg)
The Magners Hurdle provided the best finish of the day with a photo finish deciding Tb Broke Her had prevailed by a short head over Scenic Star. Trainer, Arthur Moore said: ” Donagh thought he might have got there too soon. She was 3lbs well in today… that’s why I ran her again.
“I had my first winner for the owner 42 years ago and we have been pals ever since. She will go chasing in time but I might consider Listowel. Donagh ( Myler) gave her a great ride.”
