May race meeting in Downpatrick sees plenty of action
Larne trainer Stuart Crawford maintained his winning streak when landing the opener on Friday evening with Ottizzini and JJ Slevin aboard at Downpatrick races writes Joe Kavanagh.
The winner originally trained in the centre of the course at Patrick Turley’s stable gave a bold, game effort to score going to the front at halfway and maintaining the gallop.
Slevin said: “ She a consistent mare and we learnt a lot more about her when she was third at the track last time.”
(Photos: Jim Masson / Down News ©).
Armagh trainer Ronan McNally, who faces a very prolonged Turf Club hearing regarding the running of some of his horses including Full Noise later this month, opened his account over fences in the Beginners Chase .
Always handy in third under jockey Keith Donoghue, the local winner quickened best after the last fence to pull clear of Likeable Character.
Keith Donoghue said: “His jumping isn’t perfect but he’s a big horse and gets away with it. I knew the one in front was coming back to me so was happy enough.”
Mc Nally added: “Keith was disappointed with his jumping. He said his heart was in his mouth the whole way. He added he wasn’t happy with his jumping and that has been his Achilles heel.
“That is why he is rated a wee bit lower than over hurdles. I don’t know why, he jumps well at home but when he goes to the track the jockeys never seem just as happy as they should be.
“He wouldn’t have blown you away maybe over the last two… Keith said they were his best jumps. You say that (on a fair mark), it looks a fair mark because of his hurdle rating but he has only won beating a fairly exposed horse.
“I don’t think the handicapper can be too hard on him and maybe give him another chance. Possibly step him up in trip and give him a wee bit more time with his jumping.
“He’s still big and raw, a big baby. He still needs a bit more time. He’s still a bit weak and you can see there is a long space between his runs to try and let him strengthen. Keith is a horseman, he hunts them around. He’s very, very good.”
JJ Slevin completed a double when landing the handicap chase aboard Ocean Legacy supported from 16s to 8/1 and having always been handy but under a patient ride was produced to lead at the final fence and readily go clear.
Favourite Mighty Jeremy appeared to have sealed success in the handicap hurdle with a ten length advantage in the final mile how the Gordon Elliott trained partnered by Corey McGivern stay on best in the final hundred yards to snatch victory.
Mc Givern said: “She stays and jumps very well. It suited me they went a really good gallop and I was able to catch the leader in the straight.”
Elliott doubled up when Ossifer Hops proved the winner by a nose in a photo finish to the maiden hurdle after a dour battle with Ring Of Roses from the last flight. O’Regan said: “I thought I had won but it’s a tricky angle here and they took a while to announce the result.
“He’s progressing the right way and will improve again on better going.”
The Cullentra House team quickly completed a hat trick when Return To Base with Danny Gilligan aboard claimed the featured Randox Mares Hurdle.
Will You Win had established a clear lead however the winner under a determined ride gradually overhauled the leader while favourite Theonewedreamof in the rear for most of the race arrived late to snatch second.
The Willie Mullins-trained Surf Club making a belated debut despite strongly supported in the concluding bumper finished third with the Richard O’Brien-trained Extrapolation making having previously won a point-to-point and could be above average.
