Antrim trainer Harry Smyth Lands A Win With Portnacoo At Downpatrick Races
The most popular winner of the day was the victory of Portnacoo for 87-year old Ballyclare trainer Harry Smyth which supplied teenager Paddy Hanlon with a double at Downpatrick in the long distance handicap hurdle writes Joe Kavanagh.
The winner was settled in second by the rider until readily leading at the penultimate flight and quickly extending his lead on the downhill run to win with considerable ease. It is two years since the former stock car driver who twice contested the World Championship had a winner coincidentally at the same venue.
The very unassuming local trainer who is recovering from major surgery will be boosted by the success said:” I didn’t know much about this horse as it was only his second start for me.
“I had my first winner forty one years ago with If You Believe at Navan. Horses have been my life after I stopped racing cars.”
Jockey Paddy Hanlon added : “My thanks to my agent Gary Cribben for getting me the ride. The horse did everything right and I’m delighted to ride a winner for Mr Smyth.”
The featured long distance hurdle, the Ciaran Russell Auto Sales Beginners Steeplechase, supplied an amazing finish.
Punters must have been ready to tear up their tickets on favourite Prairie Dancer trained by Joseph O’Brien with Conor Stone Walsh in the saddle with the horse under pressure and appearing beaten before the second last as Watch The Weather asserted from Air Drop.
Race Photos From Downpatrick Meeting on Ladies Day
However, the very talented claiming rider Conor Stone-Walsh got a renewed effort from his mount and in a photo finish managed to score by a neck to the amazement of all concerned.
Walsh said: “ I thought I was beat at the bottom of the hill. He really likes to be in front but when I asked him he really found for me. He’s been a great money spinner for the owners and was placed in a Galway Hurdle.”
Champion trainer Willie Mullins claimed the opening maiden hurdle with Chart Topper while the runners were well sprung out from an early stage and the leading trio breaking clear headed by In The Trenches which attempted to make all.
Partnered by the trainer’s son Patrick who was content to settle in second tracking the leader until readily improving and join the leader at the last and rapidly going well clear proving vastly superior to rivals.
Mullins Junior said: “ There isn’t a better national hunt stallion than Walk In The Park currently standing but there not cheap. He’s bred and owned by my mother and their always for sale. He’s clever rather than brave – he pops rather than having a crack.
“He’ll jump a fence in time. I would like to see him go further and seems versatile on the ground. We were disappointed as we thought he would win at the Punchestown Festival. “
The handicap hurdle provided a family success when Mr Sundancer trained by Shark Halon and his teenage son Paddy in the saddle scored in an eventful contest.
Top jockey Kevin Donoghue again opted to attempt to make all but a shuddering mistake on landing two out ended his chance and Thebeautifulgame lead downhill and appeared the possible winner until a terrible mistake at the last. All the time the winner having been pulled wide made ground and stayed on strongly on the uphill climb.
Race Photos From Downpatrick Meeting on Ladies Day
Hanlon Junior (17) said: “He won a bumper at Wincanton and we bought him. He jumped a bit sketchy but when I pulled him out he quickened well.”
Shark Hanlon added: “ A lot of people watch racing on television and think I couldn’t afford a racehorse. However if you get eight or ten people together a form a syndicate it can supply a lot of fun.”
The John Mc Connell -rained Intense Approach proved the facile winner of the Randox Hurdle scoring by fifteen lengths from the Mullins trained Stormbreaker which made numerous jumping mistakes.
“The winner already a dual bumper proved vastly superior to his opposition in the hands of Alex Harvey as the runner up which eased considerably in the betting made a another blunder at the last.
Harvey said:” She has plenty of speed and she took herself to the front and when I gave her a squeeze she quickly went away.”
The very talented Carl Millar based with trainer Gordon Elliott gave the Cian Collins-trained Calahill a bold and enterprising ride when leading from halfway to win the handicap chase from Finnians Row which had attempted to make all.
Millar Said: “ He came up out of my hands at the last and I want to thanks all those who have supported me – I have 3lbs left of my claim.”
The Philip Rothwell-trained Ricky Langford with Conor Owens aboard having led early lost his place and had one behind at halfway. However the winner powered again to front four from home and won easily at the line in the concluding Tote Chase.
Owens said:” When the rain came, I was slightly worried about my chances. He was an out-and-out two miler in his younger days, it was 21/4 mile today so maybe as a 10-year-old he wants that little bit extra.
“I got here very early so had lots of time to walk the track and I found a lovely patch of ground, albeit out very wide. I pulled him onto it going out on the last lap and he completely lit up, started travelling and doing everything easily.”
