There was an excellent crowd of racegoers at Downpatrick Racecourse on August Bank Holiday Monday who enjoyed an brilliant day’s racing during the very popular Ladies Day event. This year many ladies made a huge effort and the top prize of a week’s cruise holiday courtesy of Downe Travel and Royal Carribean was hotly contested.
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Marie Gallagher, Sales Director of Downe Travel, presents Angela Quinn from near Newry with the prize of a Royal Carribean / Downe Travel week crise in the Mediterranean. Included is Downpatrick Racecourse Manager Richard Lyttle.[/caption]
But it was won by Angela Quinn from Mullabawn near Newry who caught the judges’ eye with her distinctive classical style. The winner of the Best Hairstyle went to Lauren Brown with her fabulous hairdo writes Joe Kavanagh.
Punters enjoyed the early autumn day as there was a distinct absence of rain. They lounged around in the open air soaking up the atmosphere of the race day.
Iffjack attempted to make all the running in the opening maiden hurdle at Downpatrick yesterday but Killiney Court with Mikey Fogarty aboard which had tracked the leader throughout readily jumped into the lead at the penultimate moment to register a facile victory.
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Winning trainer, Colm Murphy said: ” He has just bumped into one or two. He’s in again on Friday at Kilbeggan and could go again – I’ll see how he is. I think he will probably go chasing sooner rather than later. He will certainly give the owner a bit of fun.”
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Feel the Air leads but Don Vicenso is ready to pounce in the Ladies Day hurdle.[/caption]
Kilclispeen and Victoryrowe had an epic battle to the line in the long distance maiden hurdle with the former owned by JP Mc Manus and trained by Aidan O’Brien prevailing by three parts of a length with Barry Geraghty in the saddle. Ultimate Horseman led from halfway but having started favourite yet again disappointed, and faded to finish fourth while the winner lead at the second last and although just headed after the final flight rallied bravely to score. Geraghty said: ” He battled well. He’s grand sort and will make a staying type – He’ll jump a fence in time.”
Geraghty opted for different tactics in the handicap hurdle when going off in front and establishing a clear lead on Chamonix. The tactics looked like paying dividends as favourite Mr Mulliner was ten lengths behind the leading quartet running downhill and  completed a hat trick in what the winning trainer described as ” the ride of the century “.
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Downpatrick Jeweller Willie Murphy with his wife Monty presents the silver platter for the Willie Murphy Jewllers Downpatrick Handicap Hurdle to Mark McNiff, the trainer of Mr Mulliner who won the race.[/caption]
Winning jockey, Derek Fox timed his run to perfection having looked at one place lucky to be placed. A delighted winning trainer. Mark Mc Niff said ” They got very well strung out and he’s only a small horse with a big weight. I’m delighted – he’ll probably come back here next time for a chase.”
Racegoers were treated to another thrilling finish in the Downe Travel and Royal Caribbean Best Dressed Lady Hurdle. Sounds Of Thunder had made all the running until headed by Feel The Air prior to the penultimate flight and looked the winner until Don Vincenzo which had stalked the runner-up swept through between the horses close to the line. Winning trainer, Colin Bowe, the Leading Points handler for several seasons, said: ” He’ll probably go for a little chase now. Today’s race was run to suit him and he enjoys that good ground.”
The Beginners Chase produced another rousing finish with Phantom Prince denying Dawn Flyer by a length. The pair improved in unison on the downhill run to overhaul the leader. Phantom Prince with Robbie Power was seen to good advantage on the winner trained by Jessica Harrington. Power said: “It was hard work. He’s not a scopey sort and took time to warm up. His class saw him through. Â He had schooled well but careful.”
The handicap chase was another cliff hanging finish with Cnoc Na Sioga beating the locally trained Heavenly Brook by half a length. Winning jockey Andrew Lynch dismounted after the line. Winning owner/trainer, John Ryan said: ” I hope he’s alright. Andrew thought he was a bit sore after the line. He’s a smashing horse and has won a few hurdle races but that was his first over fences.”
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