THERE were no locally-trained winners at Downpatrick last Sunday but Co Meath’s Ian Donoghue, who saddled the winner of the Randox Ulster National, Dunboyne, spent a lot of time working in Co Down in the East Down and then the Co Down hunt kennels.
Also, when consigned to the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale in 2020 by Sean Doyle following his win in a Tattersalls maiden the previous month, the 2015 Yeats gelding was purchased on behalf of present owner Stephen O’Connor by Kevin Ross Bloodstock.
The beautiful trophy which will be presented to the connections of today’s winner of the Randox Grand National at Aintree was on display last Sunday when racegoers could get their photograph taken with it.
It was a big draw with the large crowd, many of whom were enjoying Mother’s Day at the track. Children received complimentary goodie bags on arrival and the ice cream van was busy all day.
It was great to see so many local firms sponsoring some of the other races on the card while Downpatrick has retained the patronage of Boardsmill Stud.
The Flood family would have been delighted to see that their Poet’s Word sired another winner from his first crop on Saturday at Loughbrickland in the shape of the Stuart Crawford-trained, Largy Bloodstock-owned Largy Go who landed the Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden under Stephen Connor.
They probably would have been nearly as pleased to see that the other five winners were also bred in Ireland, that quintet including two geldings trained by Caroline McCaldin for her father Wilson Dennison.
These were the Presenting seven-year-old Ballyphilip, who landed the open under Noel McParlan, and the Getaway six-year-old Spiddle Hill who took the winners of one in the hands of Deckie Lavery.
Monksgrange
Lavery and Paddy Turley bypassed their local Randox Ulster National meeting at Downpatrick on Sunday to travel to Monksgrange where they won both divisions of the opening ITBA four-year-old mares’ maiden with Mary Turley’s A Chara (by Gentlewave) and She’s A Fair Maid (by Crystal Ocean). Meanwhile, Stephen Connor joined forces with Ross Crawford to win the Goffs Aintree Sale four-year-old maiden at Oldcastle with Green Style.
On the breeding front, the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Liscarroll was won by the Patrick Murphy-bred Welonlyhavedone (Diamond Boy – Graces Treasure, by Shantou).
On the track there were jumping wins for the Deckie Lennon-bred Holeshot (Court Cave – Rowdy Exit, by Exit To Nowhere) at Warwick last Thursday week, and for the CAFRE-bred, former Gerald Quinn-trained Ballygelly (Soldier Of Fortune – Indian Love, by Indian Danehill) at Fakenham on Tuesday.
Jockeys
On the National Hunt jockey front, there were wins in the period under review for Simon Torrens at Clonmel last Thursday week, for Danny McMenamin at Uttoxeter on Saturday and for Brian Hughes at Newcastle on Monday when Caoilin Quinn recorded a double at Wincanton.
On the level, Patsy Cosgrave was on the mark at Chelmsford last Thursday week, Luke McAteer rode another winner at Dundalk the following evening, Dylan Browne McMonagle landed a double at The Curragh on Saturday and Oisin Orr visited the winner’s enclose at Musselburgh on Wednesday.
Down under, Martin Harley landed a double at Doomben on Tuesday.
EN route to claiming the first of her four champion lady rider titles with 21 wins, Clare MacMahon landed the opening four and five-year-old maiden at the Newry Hunt meeting in Taylorstown on Saturday, April 30th 2005 on board the Bob Back gelding Fourty Acers.
Robert Widger, who finished fourth on the market-leader Shootforthemoon, rewarded favourite backers in division two of the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden where Carroll’s O’Tully scored by a head from One For The Lads.
The latter was partnered by Paul Cosgrave who also had to settle for the runner-up spot in the open where Lovely Native was beaten 20 lengths into second by the Rachel McGuigan-ridden Eglish.
Johnny Farrelly recorded a double on Doctor Hanley (six-year-old maiden) and Glenfolan (seven and eight-year-old maiden), Joe Finnegan landed division one of the mares’ maiden on Moscovy Thyne and William McLernon rounded off his day with victory in the winners of one on Deskelly Interiors.
Riding honours
Ten years later on Saturday, May 2nd to be precise, Noel McParlan took the riding honours with three wins – on the Brian Hamilton-trained Definitly Grey in the four-year-old maiden, on Mr Bolt trained by his father Sean in the open and on the Colin McBratney-trained Quiet Account in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
Noel narrowly failed to record a four-timer as his mount Steel’s Cotton was beaten half a length in the mares’ maiden by the Mark O’Hare-ridden, George Stewart-trained Howwouldsheno. Aaron Murphy won the five-year-old geldings’ maiden on I Just Know, trained by his brother Ciaran, while Derek O’Connor on the Graham McKeever-trained Mighty Leader and Mark O’Hare on the Liam Lennon-trained Without Wings divided the spoils in the concluding winners of one.
Following today’s last race at Taylorstown, now the older geldings’ maiden at 3.30pm, the hunt is encouraging everyone to stay on and watch the Randox Grand National at 4pm, reminding racegoers that bookmaker Franco Hughes, sponsor of the day’s Lynda Hughes memorial winners of one, will be there to take bets.
DOWN Royal racecourse has recently announced two major sponsorships.
Full fibre broadband provider Fibrus returns as title sponsor of next Sunday’s family race day when families can look forward to an action-packed event, featuring top-class racing alongside a variety of activities including bouncy castles, face painting, balloon modelling, pony rides and much more.
As a leading broadband provider founded in Northern Ireland, Fibrus is committed to delivering ultrafast full fibre broadband to rural homes and businesses across NI and Great Britain. Their support of the family race day reflects their dedication to connecting communities – not just online, but in real life too.
This week the track announced Charles Hurst Toyota as its official vehicle partner for 2025. This new partnership will result in the leading Northern Ireland car brand being showcased at a variety of top meetings throughout this year, offering racegoers an exclusive opportunity to see and experience the latest Toyota range for themselves.
Not be outdone by their friends in Downpatrick, Down Royal too are showing their support for eventing this season by donating a pair of general admission tickets for their Fibrus family race day to the volunteers’ draw at Tyrella next Saturday.