Downpatrick 2.20 Handicap Hurdle - 2 miles 6 furlongs - 14 run - Good to Yielding

 

This is a tight and narrow right handed Course steeped in history going back 400 years and a real big dipper ride with rises and falls. It suits Course specialists on 4 legs and in the saddle.

 

At the top of the market Cher Tara is upped in trip and up 8lbs and Seskin Flash has really just one decent Tramore run to recommend it and both seem vulnerable and not great value . Ilbedare could be competitive on second run after a break with cheek pieces on and made my top 4 in rtings along with Jimils Cave a Course and Distance winner but one who usually needs a few runs off a break and he's been off for 149 days. With Ilbedare my reserve, if either of the top rated don't run, we'll rely on two here.

 

DOYEN FLYER is a Maiden but really deserves a win and today might just be that day. Plenty of decent runs up to 3 miles, that assured stamina will be a big plus here and the drop slightly in trip will be an advantage too I think on this demanding track. OUR ZEBO drops in trip too and brings that assured stamina also and off a declining mark the better ground should suit it too.

 

(Michael)

 

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Downpatrick 4.05 Ulster National Handicap Chase - 3 miles 4 and 1/2 furlongs - 15 run (3 reserves) Good to Yielding

 

Because of the narrow track 15 runners is the field size limit here, not great for industry standard each way betting but plenty of enhanced place offers do compensate.

 

At the top of the market Iris Emery steps up in trip for Willie Mullins and has a lot to prove in that stamina department. The same applies to Final Orders for Gavin Cromwell who has a pair who appear to have better chances at bigger prices. Dunboyne an ex Elliott horse may bring proven stamina in to play and not many of the rest outside of my top 4 rated really enthuse me.

 

The top 3 in the race last season oppose each other again and in preference order I think this time around that ASK ANYTHING runner up last time, better ground today and just 1 lbs more can win this for Gavin Cromwell. JUMPING JET won this race last year and the mare is both a Spring horse and likely targeted again at the race by Elliott, she carries 3lbs more than last year. PEACHES AND CREAM fell at the last in the race last year when bang in contention and although out of form might revive hare and just gets the nod in the ratings over BODHISATTVA who has been running with mixed results over in the UK but who does have the proven stamina to suggest he could finish in the first 4-5 home this time.  

 

(Sean)

 

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Doncaster 4.15 - Handicap - Class 3 - 1 mile 2 furlongs - 18 run - Good to Soft 

 

A nice race for the opening weekend of the Doncaster Card and any low draw preference that normally applies on the Round course may be mitigated if the come Stands side like yesterday when turning into the Straight. 

 

Magico the favourite has had a winning AW spin for Marco Botti, City Of Delight was a rapid improver last season but starts on a career high mark as a result. Theory of Tides is a dangerous wholly unexposed recently gelded 4 year old for John Gosden and could prove to be a real dark horse typical of the Yards handicappers.Qital won this on soft ground last year off a mark of 77 and is up 11 lbs but as we saw in the Spring Mile yesterday an early season type must never be discounted. 

 

At bigger odds KINGS CODE with some AW runs and fitness as a result just got the nod over Baryshnikov who ran well in this race last year and who is normally forward enough first time out, if you wanted to play a big priced one for a small e/w bet.

 

My clear top 3 rated though are STRESSFREE for David O'Meara who has had the benefit of a Hurdle run so should be spot on for this, ticks all the right boxes and it will be a shock if he's not in the first 3 here as a minimal expectation. HAVE SECRET takes a slight ease in grade was runner up on seasonal debut last year and looks extremely well handicapped and  Richard Fahey whose handicappers didn't deliver in such numbers as they have done in the past decade for most of last season, will be keen to hit the ground running this time around. RATHGAR from the Channon yard, who invariably have them fit and ready from day one of the season was best early in both of the last 2 seasons and I see no reason why he won't be spot on for this race once again. Stall 18 might not be a bad place to be either! (RJ)

 

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