rebelfm

DOWNPATRICK
6TH MARCH 2013
GOOD
BRIGHT CRISP LITTLE WIND

TWO AND A QUARTER MILES MAIDEN HURDLE

THE CRAFTY BUTCHER (tentative positive)
Didn’t look a bad bunch. The one I take out of this is the Michael Horigan Limerick trained favourite The Crafty Butcher. Clearly he needs a left handed track as was never really comfortable on the bends today and as a consequence came wide into the short straight and had little time to pick up at all. He looked well in the paddock and in fact got the best turned out awarded to him. He has been placed in the majority of his races but he has had 12 runs now without success. Ran in five bumpers last season with going down by a nose to Our Vinnie (who won a grade 3 at Limerick over Christmas and is rated 142 so a pretty useful novice). His best run to date over hurdles was at Cork when second to Blossom Gate when ridden by Ruby Walsh over two and half miles. But has met decent novices such as odds on Road To Riches when fifth again at Cork but over three miles.  So in conclusion TCB has ability, probably suited by slower ground than today, this sort of trip is fine but needs to go left handed.

TWO AND A QUARTER MILES MARES MAIDEN HURDLE

MY BELLE ANNIE (pos)

Despite this being a moderate field of mares My Belle Annie could not have been much more impressive ridden handy took it up coming down the hill to the second last and had the race in the bag before the short uphill straight. Had a couple of bumper runs for experience last season.  Chucked in the deep end on hurdling debut when running in good company (winner Rising Time had previously won a 50 grand bumper at Fairyhouse) at Listowel when fourth in unsuitable heavy ground. She was thrashed over Christmas by Our Vinnie when third in a Grade 3. But that was over an unsuitable 3 miles in heavy ground. On better ground ie soft she was a close up third to Royal Flight. So in short I think she is capable of following up this spring under a penalty given good ground and this sort of trip.

TWO AND A QUARTER MILES NOVICES’ HANDICAP HURDLE

NOTHING OF NOTE OTHER THAN IF PATRICK O’BRADY TELLS YOU A HORSE IS GOING TO WIN DON’T BACK AGAINST IT

The opening of the renovated Downpatrick was led by a great speech by Monaghan man and trainer of Derby and National winners Patrick O’ Brady. Snatches of his talk were ‘Who would have thought we’d have had carpets in the bar here at Downpatrick’. He also made sure everyone present was fully aware that his horse Khan Tengri was going to win for sure. At the time of the advice he was 12/1 and he finished up at 13/2 win going away from them by more than four lengths. He then took over the winner’s circle with craic and verse.

TWO MILES AND A QUARTER HANDICAP HURDLE

BATTLEMOUNT (slight pos)

Strong fancy Battlemount was soon beaten having been produced from the back to be competitive about threequarters of a mile out. When the pace quickened he had little answer and came home a poor fifth in his own time. He has bits and pieces of form generally in the mud and run his best races at Clonmel over two miles. On 84 and only a six year old you would imagine he can pick up a small handicap when conditions suit. However if his OR is an indicator of his potential you could not see this maiden picking up anything other than a handicap.

TWO AND A QUARTER MILES HANDICAP CHASE

BREFFNI GAEL (just about a positive).

No horse appeared to want to win this race as many either idled badly when in contention or fell when ahead. As such I will just about side with Breffni Gael who as held up and was produced spot on by Niall Madden but was left clear when favourite and leader Coolking fell 2 out. BG then idled lost concentration and fell at the last! She has won between the flags (runner up is rated 91 over timber) and is only seven so the 74 mark for the right race looks comfortable. Not one to trust implicitly but has a bit of ability if she does have a question mark over her attitude and seems to need kidding by excellent amateur Derek O’Connor (she had to come back after idling on PTP win)

TWO AND THREEQUARTER MILE MAIDEN HUNTER CHASE

BETELLINGYOUALIE (pos)

It was Cork v Down from the second last but this time the laurels were for Ulster.  But the much fancied Antim horse Oneforetheroad Mac failed to make much impression. Difficult to know what to make of the tight finish. You would have thought if the local winner General Mccreevey was well thought of he would have been a bit shorter than25/1. He had previously won three points including two at Kirkistown but not in what looks like exalted company. On the other hand the much lighter raced Cork runner Betellingyoualie has not been out of the first three in his last seven runs including picking up a similar event at Clonmel in February which followed a maiden win from subsequent PTP winner Moss Grove. In my view the seven year old Betellingyoualie has the ability to win more hunter chases and if fairly treated by the assessor say less than 100 can graduate to handicap chasing as I would say his jumping is pretty tidy. 

TWO AND A QUARTER MILE BUMPER

BALLY LONGFORD (pos when hurdling)

Great finish between three high quality amateurs as Nina Carberry just pushed favourite Noel Meade trained Benemeade home from Derek O’Connor ridden Michael Horigan trained The Job Is Right and Paddy Mullins ridden Bally Longford. It is the third home that I have as a positive. Looks a hurdler / chaser to me but will take time as not a natural jumper based on initial pointing form. Has had two PTP and the second was particularly interesting having been second looking like the winner till bade mistake lost him the race but was only beaten two lengths by Copper Birch who has done well in England over hurdles this year rated 134. Bally Longford was only beaten two lengths by that over three miles.