Downpatrick - Sunday 14th June 2026
SOUND JUDGEMENT may have been found a good opportunity to open her account. The Doyen mare won a point-to-point and has been placed both in a bumper and over hurdles for current connections. She beat all bar the odds-on Galileo Dame at Navan and was reportedly showing signs of coming in season when disappointing subsequently at Clonmel. Tribal Moon won twice at Dundalk for Danny Murphy but was well beaten on his only hurdle start, while Texas Red and Lunar Majesty have shown some promise over hurdles. Surfin Usa represents powerful connections but has been soundly beaten on both bumper starts.
AMINA filled the runner-up spot twice in Limerick bumpers last year and was far from disgraced when last seen in a Listed race at Cheltenham in November. Western Shores made a pleasing debut when staying on into fifth at Tramore and, with the benefit of that experience under her belt, is a threat. In The Trenches has proved a frustrating sort to follow and again had to settle for minor honours when reverting to hurdles at Clonmel recently, while Eye Contact showed improved form behind Daddy Long Legs at Ballinrobe last month.
SHE'S A FINE WINE has to give weight away all round but may have a class edge over her rivals. Her chase mark was elevated to 130 after an easy win at Cork in October and she has a good record when fresh. The daughter of Flemensfirth can take advantage of her 11lb lower mark in this sphere. Wild Mandate ran well on handicap debut last summer and gets in off bottom weight, while You Make Me Smile ran creditably from well out of the handicap at Ballinrobe.
MR MASTER MAC won a C&D maiden last month and now starts off in handicaps. He's open to plenty of improvement on just his third start over hurdles. Red Glory won first time out last season, so his layoff since a victory at Galway in October isn't a concern. Chanceawetmorning has won three out of four since joining Gordon Elliott and drops back from 2m4f after easily beating two rivals at Roscommon on Monday.
BUTCH COOLIDGE became the sixth winner out of the Bowe family's smart racemare Solerina when showing much improved form in a maiden at Tramore on his first run of the year. A first-time hood deemed to help and dropping back to this shorter trip isn't likely to be an inconvenience. Sea Of Doubt won a course and distance handicap on her first start for seven months and the bounce factor may have been at play when fifth here two weeks later. Blue Moon Boy disappointed at Tramore, but is better judged on his handicap debut second at Sligo.
HIGH NOTIONS has ground to make up on Walk Win after they were placed at Kilbeggan, but the extra two furlongs here may enable her to turn around the form. The top-weight's maiden win was over 2m4f and her latest run was encouraging after a few moderate efforts earlier in the year. Alan O'Sullivan is likely to be positive on her in an attempt to bring her stamina into play. Only a four-year-old, Walk Win meets the selection on 3lb better terms due to a claimer being used now and is open to more improvement. Demanding Gerry was second three times in a row last year, including once here, and returned with another good effort at Wexford last month.
CHURCHFIELD ANNIE was too free before being pulled up in a Listed race at Navan in November and returns from a layoff with a tongue-tie now fitted. The daughter of Joshua Tree was placed on her first two starts and the winners of those bumpers have both won maiden hurdles since. Jet To Glory had plenty of rivals behind when fifth in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown and John Gleeson is a significant booking. The Crawford-trained bumper runners always merit respect and Crystal Ocean newcomer Irish Lace has to enter calculations, while Magical Sal wasn't beaten far over course and distance last month and has place claims.
SOUND JUDGEMENT was disappointing last time but her previous runner up effort sets a clear standard in this line up. The point winner should appreciate this step up in trip so can defeat stablemate Majestic Horizon who was carried out on his debut. Surfin Usa showed minor promise in bumpers and should have more to offer now hurdling over longer distances. She could prove the main danger in a weak race.
The frustrating IN THE TRENCHES can belatedly get off the mark here. He boasts a big experience edge while setting a clear standard on what he's shown over hurdles and fences. Eye Contact is probably a bit flattered by his latest rating but still looks an obvious danger as does hurdling debutant Amina. She was highly tried in bumpers and her form has worked out very well.
SHE'S A FINE WINE has an absence to overcome but she was a winner off 2lb higher over fences last time so is potentially thrown in for her reappearance. The ground ground will be in her favour and she is chosen to defy top weight at the expense of progressive dual purpose performer You Make Me Smile who should appreciate this longer trip. Radar Ahead is another who has shown useful form on the Flat and she isn't fully exposed in this discipline so rates a threat.
CHANCEAWETMORNING can prove a class apart from this line up. He's won 3 of his last 4 and had plenty in hand last time so looks well treated returned to handicaps. Stablemate of the selection Arch Empire was poor last time but he has proven generally consistent in this sphere and looks well treated on his novice form. He can fill the places with Cloonainra who arrives in form and is another who is well treated on her best novice efforts. She will appreciate today's drop in distance.
A tight contest where most of the field can be given a chance. Minor preference is for MAXWELL SMART who has been in good form on the Flat and just about sets the standard on his debut hurdles run which has been boosted at Graded level. Pure Logic has been disappointing on her last couple of starts but her 2025 form would give her a chance while Lumiere Du Large isn't ruled out either. That rival showed useful form in France and has been running into form for her new stable.
The best handicapped in the race looks to be Oh So Charming who bounced back to form when placed in a claiming race last time. He may be flattered by that run but he is now 12lb below his last winning mark and could take advantage. However PATRICK STREET is marginally preferred as he has been in excellent form in both codes recently. He looks on a workable mark and will appreciate the drop in trip having flattened out over 2 3/4m last time over fences. Maiden winner High Notions returned to form when placed last time and isn't dismissed despite top weight either.
A pair stand out here in CHURCHFIELD ANNIE and Jet To Glory. The latter has shown promise in points and over hurdles so is respected but the former is marginally preferred. She was too keen when upped in class last time but placed in a pair of stronger contests than this prior to that. Irish Lace represents a stable which can get first time out winners in this sphere so is worth following in the betting.
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