Downpatrick Racecourse sees two runners, two winners for Stone-Walsh and Donoghue
Racing at Downpatrick Racecourse on Friday afternoon saw a good spread of results, with some winning favourites as well as some less well fancied victors, but the main story of the day was that trainer Ian Donoghue’s two runners at the meeting, both ridden by Conor Stone-Walsh, both came home winners.
Read on for a full report of the Downpatrick card, courtesy of Betano, who provide all the latest horse racing odds.
(Photos by Jim Masson.DownNews©).
Our first race was a two and a quarter mile maiden hurdle (2.13). Gavin Cromwell’s runner, Luker’s Tipple, was the hot favourite at 1/2. With the field looking well-strung out approaching the final turn for home, the favourite had been leading the field and looked likely to win, but faced a late challenge from his stablemate, 9/1 shot Barrys Spirit, who nipped in front approaching the line under claiming rider Eoin Staples to win by half a length.
Race two was a novice handicap hurdle over the same trip (2.48). Oh Janey was our market leader here at 9/4, ridden by Sam Ewing. In touch with the leading pair of Derry Lad and Diamond Tipp, the favourite was ridden to take the lead before the final flight and, always doing just enough, she crossed the line two and half lengths ahead of Derry Lad at 5/2, while Diamond Tipp was third at 11/2.
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The third race was a handicap hurdle, again over two and a quarter miles (3.23). Centaq, trained by Dermot McLoughlin and ridden by Patrick O’Brien, was our favourite here at 9/4, and raced in third behind the leading pair; Clonclough Lady and Parkgarve, who had gone clear of the rest early on.
The former leader fell at the final fence, while the latter began to weaken, allowing Centaq to come forward, but not as strongly as the mid-field travelling Someone’s Wish. This 6/1 shot, ridden by Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott, won by two and a half lengths, with the favourite in second, followed by Parkgarve in third.Â
A maiden hurdle over two and three quarter miles followed (3.58). Favourites were comfortably back in business here, with the very well-backed Pour Les Filles (1/9) leading the way in the betting for Elliott and Kennedy. This was only a four-runner race, but Pour Les Filles made all from the off, tracked by Bold Rhyme, who was not able to sustain his challenge. The favourite pulled further and further into the lead, eventually winning by an impressive nine lengths.
Race five was a handicap hurdle of the two and three quarter mile trip (4.30). Here we saw the first leg of Ian Donoghue and Conor Stone-Walsh’s double, with Hitthehayson, who jumped off as 3/1 favourite.
Similarly to the previous race, the market leader made all from the beginning, fending off challenges from Georgia Celena and Oogum Boogum to win by just under two lengths.
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Second to last was a two and a half mile beginners’ chase (5.05). Henry De Bromhead’s The Electrical Kid was the favourite at 8/11, and led in pursuit of the win. After the last fence, however, he lost his lead as Sophia Rose and Seskin Flash – both priced 15/2 – came to the fore. The latter stayed on best, keeping on to win by over three lengths under Donagh Meyler.
Finally, racing concluded with a three-mile handicap chase (5.37). We had yet another winning favourite here, in the shape of Donoghue and Stone-Walsh’s Small Town Hero, who was priced at 4/7 at the off. 5/1 shot Toor Moon was the leader, but the main fancy was hot on his heels and began to take the lead with two left to jump.
Keeping on smartly towards the line, he won by over five lengths, bringing home the double for the trainer-jockey combination.
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