All aboard for the season finale at Downpatrick. Former jumps jockey Paul Callaghan has you covered with a selection for each race.
DOWNPATRICK TIPS
- 14:13 Euro Agent
- 14:48 Facile Ocean
- 15:23 Centaq
- 15:58 Little Ginger
- 16:30 Sekakarma
- 17:05 Parkgarve
- 17:37 Fr Gilligansvoyge
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14:13 (2m1½f) Randox Maiden Hurdle (4yo+)
Euro Agent has been running of late without getting his head in front.
Second on his previous two visits to Downpatrick – the first of which was back in June, behind In The Trenches. Amina, who finished third in that race, has won since. On his next visit, Euro Agent ran another solid race chasing Eben Zaabeel home at the end of August.
It was another gallant effort finishing third over 2m4f at Gowran Park last week. He will likely go forward under Jack Kennedy from the start, and dropping down to the extended 2m1f trip is taken to get a deserved success for trainer Gordon Elliott.
Selection: Euro Agent
14:48 2m1½f (2m1f65y) Denis Macauley Memorial Novice Handicap Hurdle (3yo+)
Facile Ocean is taken to make a successful handicap debut for trainer Ciaran Murphy and jockey Eoghan Finegan.
The son of Affinisea has had five runs over hurdles (all at Kilbeggan), that has yielded one win, two seconds, a third and fourth last time out only beaten 4 & 3/4l by the winner La Cote Fleurie who runs at 15:43 in the Grade 2 Persian War Novice’ Hurdle at Chepstow on Friday.
He’s a horse that likes to go forward and could prove difficult to pass up the Downpatrick hill if getting an easy lead.
Selection: Facile Ocean
15:23 2m1½f (2m1f65y) CM Precision Components Handicap Hurdle (3yo+ 0-100)
Downpatrick wouldn’t be the same without Centaq who is having his eleventh start at the venue on Friday.
When you look back through his form, it’s difficult to believe he has yet to open up his account from seventeen attempts. He has posted a number of decent placed efforts at Downpatrick and possibly the best of which was behind Invincible Oscar (who reopposes) last time out. Centaq hit the front shortly after the second-last hurdle and led most of the journey up the hill, only to be caught close home.
I’m not convinced Invincible Oscar can back up that last time-out success, and while I have been previously burnt by Centaq, I am going to give the Dermot McLoughlin-trained runner one last chance to get his head in front.
Selection: Centaq
15:58 2m6f (2m5f180y) Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle (4yo+)
Little Ginger won a bumper at Kilbeggan in May and took a step forward from hurdling debut, staying on to finish 1length second behind Lygon Lad over 2m2f at Downpatrick last time out.
Looking slightly one-paced when the race quickened, Little Ginger was doing his best work late on and hit the line strong, which I think is always positive.
There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree, and I think Little Ginger can go one better here. He’s one of my stronger fancies on the card.
Selection: Little Ginger
16:30 2m6f (2m5f180y) Tennent’s NI Handicap Hurdle (3yo+ 0-100)
After a couple of decent placed efforts at Wexford and Sligo, Sekakarma made all to open up his account in a handicap hurdle over the extended 2m4f trip at Wexford at the end of August.
He ran well for most of the way in a competitive handicap hurdle won by At The Wings at Navan last time out.
If holding his form, Sekakarma can go close again under jockey Donagh Meyler for trainer Mark Roper.
Selection: Sekakarma
17:05 2m3½f (2m3f100y) McGrady Financial Services Beginners Chase (4yo+)
Parkgarve made all under jockey Paddy O’Hanlon to win a handicap hurdle over 2m2f at Downpatrick in August.
He only managed to beat one rival home when trying to repeat those tactics in a handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan last time out.
Overall, Parkgarve has run his best races at Downpatrick in seven previous visits, and a chance is taken, with the cheekpieces fitted for the first time that a return to the north can see the Ian Donoghue-trained gelding open up his account over fences at the fifth attempt in what looks a competitive Beginners Chase.
Selection: Parkgarve
17:37 2m7½f (2m7f150y) Northern Ireland On Course Bookmakers Association Handicap Chase
With 14 runners set to face the starter, this is set to be a cracking handicap chase to bring the curtain down on what has been a thoroughly enjoyable season at Downpatrick.
Fr Gilligansvoyge has forgotten more about racing than I’ll ever know. A course and distance winner earlier this season, a chance is taken that the teenager can repeat that feat under jockey Sarah Kavanagh, who gets a good tune out of the John Carr-trained gelding.
I thought he outran his odds for most of the way at Sligo nine days ago, in a race where most of the fences were omitted due to the low-lying sun.
With no anticipated issues and all fences in play, I think we will see Fr Gilligansvoyge in better light and he gets a tentative nod to reverse the form with Mini Getaway.
Selection: Fr Gilligansvoyge
Downpatrick Tips
- 14:13 Euro Agent
- 14:48 Facile Ocean
- 15:23 Centaq
- 15:58 Little Ginger
- 16:30 Sekakarma
- 17:05 Parkgarve
- 17:35 Fr Gilligansvoyge
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