The penultimate race meeting at Downpatrick saw the going soft as the rain poured
The finale at Downpatrick on Friday 15th September provided a local success when Wrecking Ballbilly trained at Magherafelt by Noel Kelly comprehensively claimed the bumper asserting in the dip prior to the straight and readily going clear writes Joe Kavanagh.
The card at Downpatrick suffered badly from withdrawals due to the change of going to soft and the persistent rain.
The bumper winner was partnered by Oran McGill also from Maghera who said: “When I asked him to quicken he was very good. I’ll remain an amateur this season then think about turning professional.”
Trainer Noel Kelly said: “He was just minding him today on the soft ground. He’s loads better on better ground. He said he hated the condition of the ground being soft. We came here for our local track and always like to get a winner here.
Check out the RACE PHOTOS by JIM MASSON / DOWN NEWS
“Wrecking Ballbilly is as green as leaves this horse. We were minding him at home and he is probably the nicest horse we have had in the yard this long time. He’s a very classy horse and a big baby.”
(Race photos by Jim Masson / Down News ©)
Trainer Edward O’Grady completed a hat trick at the venue with Gwan Tadhg winning for the third time from his last four starts at the course.
The winner of the Randox Hurdle partnered by Mark McDonagh started favourite and on the rain softened ground was patiently ridden improving to dispute the lead before the last and kept on in game fashion when challenged by the locally trained Gladiatorial.
Mc Donagh said: “The ground went a bit soft for him and you didn’t see the best of him. I think he’ll go to the Listowel Festival next week and hopefully get the going he wants.”
Morricone outclassed rivals when winning for trainer Mags Mullins and son Danny aboard.
Wee Jerry shot clear setting a god gallop however, the winner stayed on strongly in the closing stages for a facile victory.
Mullins Junior said: “Unfortunately he slipped up in Limerick last year. We always thought he was a nice horse and he had a lot of time off.
“Hopefully the way he is improving now, he might fulfil some of the early potential we would have hoped he would have had. He definitely travelled well on the soft ground. I wasn’t too worried about the rain.”
Ringdufferin supplied a locally-owned and bred winner for Killinchy owners Bill and Alan Dunlop and trained by Gordon Elliott in the Novice Hurdle.
Top jockey Jack Kennedy dictated a very steady pace in the contest chased by stable companion Jay Jay Zee.
However, the winner was always in command and kept on in resolute fashion to win for the owners who also owned Irish Grand National winner Organised Confusion trained by Arthur Moore in 2011.
Check out the RACE PHOTOS by JIM MASSON / DOWN NEWS
Kennedy said: “We didn’t go a great gallop and I didn’t want it to turn into a sprint finish as he’s a staying horse.“
Dunlop Senior said: “I’ve been involved with horses hunting and racing for years and winning the Irish National was a great day.”
Trainer Gordon Elliott added: “I’ve known Alan since I was sixteen and riding in point-to-points. We stay with them twice a year including for the Down Royal Festival and they look after us tremendously well.”
The handicap chase produced a thrilling finish and a dead heat called between the Henry De Bromhead-trained Some Dove and favourite C’est Quelqu’un trained by Elliott.
Gali Flight had attempted to make all but the pair of winners went head to head up the hill and possibly a better jump by C’est Quelqu’un would have provided outright victory.
Jockey Jack Kennedy said: “He’s an funny old horse… I thought I would win from the back of the last.”
Rachael Blackmore appeared likely to have successfully made all the running in the opening maiden hurdle on Gone For Tea, however, Fathom Two trained by Gavin Cromwell under a patient, waiting ride from top class jockey Keith Donoghue steadily improved on the downhill run and only gained the upper hand in the final hundred yards to score despite the game efforts of the runner up to rally.
A stewards enquiry was called post-race. Cromwell said: “Hopefully we will come out on the right side of the enquiry, Keith didn’t think there was much in it even though there is an enquiry.
“Once they got out of the dip, I was confident he would get up the hill. He’s versatile enough regarding ground – I don’t think he will go on bottomless winter ground, but sure he stayed on strongly and it’s nice to get his head in front.”
The Dermot McLaughlin-trained Finnians Row with Conor Maxwell in the saddle gave an ultra game performance making all to claim the Beginners Chase causing a 22/1 shock.
The runner up Jenny Flex tried to challenge the winner from two out but Finnians Row was not for being denied while favourite Ceanndana stayed on late to finish third.
Jockey Conor Maxwell said: “ I got a freebee in front. He’s very genuine but can over race at times. He’s owned by people from the North.”
