Downpatrick races: preview and tips for Friday’s competitive seven-race jumps card
An evening of summer jumps racing is on offer for punters heading to Downpatrick on Friday with a competitive seven-race card at the track.
Racing gets underway at 5.05pm with a 12-runner maiden hurdle and rounds off at 8.30 with a 2m1f bumper – a Flat race run over Jumps rules.
The opener (5.05) will be run over the 2m5f distance which looks to be between two runners of the 12 heading to post.
Big Stage, trained by Gordon Elliott, is the one to beat having finished a good second in an 18-runner novice hurdle last time out. His main challenge will likely come from Nouvotic from the Henry de Bromhead yard, second of eight in a Tramore hurdle when last seen but will have to defy a 130-day layoff to be in with a shout at Downpatrick.
Race two (5.35) appears to be a strong contest for an 80-102 rated race and Son Of Hypnos, who won a ten-runner handicap at Downpatrick just a fortnight ago, should be in contention once again as he switches to the bigger obstacles.
Kilbrin Rocco can run him close having landed a career-best when scoring in a 15-runner handicap at this course on April 26 as a 40/1 shot for trainer Michael Winters.
Race three (6.10) can go the way of Going Live, who was purchased for £150,000 and sent to the Elliott yard after a point-to-point win at the third time of asking
Race four (6.40) can go the way of another Elliott runner, Doctor Nightingale, who won a juvenile race last month and is taken to follow up at Downpatrick, with Elliott having won this race last year with Return To Base.
Ergimoor holds leading claims in race five (7.20) having moved to the Elliott yard from Stuart Edmunds and started life at Cullentra with a fine third of 13 in a Tramore handicap 13 days ago.
O’Faiolains Glory is another very much in contention here having scored in a Down Royal hurdle contest in April and followed that up with a second at Bellewstown last time out.
The penultimate race on the card (7.55) sees a large field of 15 head to post for the 2m7f handicap chase and Lady Kate can continue her good start to life in handicaps having scored at Tipperary 17 days ago.
Finally, the competitive card comes to a close with the bumper at 8.30 and preference in the finale goes to Ocean Brew, a point-to-point winner who looked promising under rules when finishing second at Cork over Easter.
Downpatrick selections:
For Friday 10th May 2024 ( check out: horse racing odds)
5.05 – Big Stage
5.35 – Kilbrin Rocco
6.10 – Going Live
6.40 – Doctor Nightingale
7.20 – Ergimoor
7.55 – Lady Kate
8.30 – Ocean Brew
