Downpatrick 18 June 2023

Going: Yielding (Yielding to Soft in places)
 
 
Light showers

Forecast: Light showers
Temperature: 13.3° - 18.1°
Rainfall: 0.29mm
Wind: 6.4 mph SE

All Racecards within one PDF

Instructions

1

13:45 Downpatrick (NI) (4YO plus)

Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle

2m 5f 60y

Winner €7,200 - 12 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

The obvious starting point is 116-rated High City Roller. He won a bumper and was placed in three maiden hurdles for Willie Mullins before switching to Liz Doyle. There was a lot to like about the way he finished for second, beaten by a neck, in Wexford last month after a lengthy absence. He is a good-ground horse and there's a lot of rain forecast over the weekend in Downpatrick. He also has to give weight away to the field, so preference is for MISTER TWIST. Significant rain won't inconvenience him and his third place over a shorter trip at this racetrack last month has been franked by both horses that finished in front of him. Dylan's Day showed potential when staying on for third at Wexford on her penultimate outing. She gets first-time blinkers. Point-to-point winner Alvarez Eclipse has a shout.

2

14:20 Downpatrick (NI) (4YO plus)

Cab Plant Maiden Hurdle

2m 2f 165y

Winner €6,000 - 15 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

FOXFIRE GLOW was beaten a fair way into third at Punchestown but closer scrutiny shows that to be a decent effort. The winner was a 1/6 favourite and different class to the field. The runner-up has since been good enough to win a maiden hurdle in Punchestown by 11 lengths. Willie Mullins' Dysart Dasher finished fourth in his one outing in a bumper over Christmas. He is a half-brother to a pair of multiple winners including the classy Dysart Dynamo. It wouldn't be surprising to see him bang there. Now Is The Hour was an eye-catching 30-length winner of a point-to-point. He has moved to Gavin Cromwell for his racecourse bow and must be checked for market strength. Duleek Street hasn't been out since last October, however, on his last two starts he came in runner-up over C&D. Katesbridge is a point-to-point winner to note.

3

14:55 Downpatrick (NI) (4YO plus)

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle

2m 2f 165y

Winner €11,100 - 14 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

Gordon Elliott's ROYAL EAGLE has been performing consistently well with three wins and two places from her last six races over hurdles and on the Flat. She showed that her new mark over hurdles shouldn't be beyond her when a close third in Ballinrobe. She avails of Danny Gilligan's 7lb claim. Bella Bliss drops back in trip after disappointing in Wexford. She was found to be blowing hard post-race, so it may be best to put a line through that run. She is trip versatile and has won three times over hurdles. Royal Eagle's stablemate, Fruit Blossom, is another contender after a string of good efforts including a victory at Wexford last month. Presenting Doyen finished second to Fruit Blossom in Wexford and connections now claim 7lb from her. Mary Meehan makes her seasonal reappearance off a lovely light weight. First Dare and Natural Look add further spice to the mix.

4

15:30 Downpatrick (NI) (4YO plus)

Tote Always SP Or Better At Downpatrick Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

2m 1f 65y

Winner €8,700 - 8 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

This is likely to be run at a good clip with several horses who like to race prominently. BY YOUR SIDE lost out by the minimum margin after being ridden patiently in a 25-runner handicap-hurdle at Punchestown in April which is very solid form. His trainer, Gordon Elliott, holds a strong hand as he also runs In From The Cold who had his confidence boosted by a victory on the Flat in Sligo last month. I Don't Get It runs this track very well. He actually didn't run badly in fifth at Down Royal at the start of the month as he lost considerable ground at the start and didn't get to dictate matters. Dollar Value landed this race last year. He hasn't been in form this year, but he does love the undulations in Downpatrick so a better performance could be on the way.

5

16:05 Downpatrick (NI) (4YO plus)

Dunlop Homes Rated Novice Hurdle

2m 1f 65y

Winner €6,600 - 9 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

SEQUOIASPIRIT couldn't be switching back to hurdling in better form. He was a decisive winner of handicaps on the Flat in Gowran Park and Roscommon last month. When he was last seen in this discipline at Listowel in September, he was badly hampered before finishing an unlucky second. Charlie Luciano was an easy winner of a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle in April which makes him dangerous. Zettabyte came from a long way back for a remote third in Ballinrobe at the end of last month. The winner of that race has gone in again at Perth. Zettabyte is likely to be ridden closer in this small field and is likely to be a big player. Prioritise put it all together to win over flights in Roscommon last Monday. There should be more to come from her now.

6

16:40 Downpatrick (NI) (4YO plus)

Try Racing TV For Free Now At racingtv.com/freetrial Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

2m 1f 65y

Winner €6,000 - 12 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

BE MY HERO has been found a nice opportunity to continue the excellent recent run of his jockey and trainer. Despite remaining a maiden after 14 starts, the eight-year-old has only been with Gordon Elliott since February and has gradually progressed in each of his runs since then. Having shown his best form to date when runner-up at Wexford last month, the gelding can go one better now. Natural Breeze, one of few in this contest to have previously won a race, has twice been second at this track. The ability to handle this unique course is a definite plus. Jinxs Link stepped up on anything he had done previously when third at Ballinrobe last month. A reproduction of that effort would be good enough to see the Dylan Thomas gelding involved at the finish.

7

17:15 Downpatrick (NI) (4YO plus)

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race

2m 1f 65y

Winner €6,600 - 7 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

RIVER TARA can go one better here, having finished runner-up at Kilbeggan on her stable debut in April. The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old had previously shown ability for her former connections when fifth in a Killarney bumper last summer. In A Little While is an interesting debutant, being a half-sister to her stable's Listed winner Cedarwood Road. It will be interesting to see if there is market support for the daughter of Getaway. Gaye Winnie acquitted herself well in two maiden hurdles when last seen but has yet to race in bumper company. Provided this trip isn't on the sharp side, the Gordon Elliott-trained Walk In The Park mare should be capable of making her presence felt.

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