16:55 Well I have to say I have enjoyed my first visit to Down Royal and all credit to everyone taking part this afternoon in deteriorating ground conditions.

The person whom I feel most sorry for is Carson Lyons who, according to the racecard, is the course foreman.

What was a lush grassy racecourse some 4½ hours ago now resembles a ploughed field.

I have just popped outside the press room which, as at most Irish courses, located inside the weigh-room and Jamie Codd was standing outside the Stewards room like a schoolboy outside the headmasters office.

Have just heard he has picked up a five day ban.

Well I have a bit of time to kill before my flight home so it’s off to Belfast for something to eat.

16:45 A good local result in the bumper with local trainer Chris McBratney saddling the first two home in a controversial bumper.

Once again it was a front running performance which grabbed the spoils as Sole Witness led from flag fall.  By contrast his stablemate Fireitfromye was settled near the rear and tried to defy this afternoons evidence by trying to win from the back.

It has to be said in the home straight it looked as though Fireitfromye may just pull it off but once challenged Sole Witness found extra and ran on to claim a four length victory.

The controversy centred around the minor honours.

Andlau had been in touch throughout and had run on well in the home straight and looked home and hosed for third spot. However his rider Mr J Codd dropped his hands and stopped riding 50 yards for the line allowing the fast finishing Our Gar to take third spot by a head.

16:21 Well this final race over obstacles was certainly less fraught than the last with the only casualties being Some Legend who unseated and Good Decision who pulled up.

We also saw another front running performance in a race where both ditches were omitted due to the deteriorating ground.

The front runner this time was The Flying Dustman who, despite some very, how shall I put it, bold jumping managed to get round well.

He was looking to tire coming down to the second last but it transpires his rider was just taking a breather and when it mattered he ran on again, eventually recording an eight length victory.

Second spot went to I See Icy who was always in second, again showing it is virtually impossible to come from behind today.

15:53 Well a most incident packed race in our opening chase of the afternoon.  It was an ugly contest to watch with some horrific looking falls, most notably Corskeagh Royale who had an horrific fall two out and the long time leader Quartetto who had an equally ugly looking fall at the last, although he looked beaten at the time.

Fortunately all the horses came back OK.

However I have to say I am absolutely disgusted by the behaviour of Corskeagh Royale’s rider Paul Carberry who took one look at his prostrate mount and just walked off and left him – not bothering to see if the horse was OK or to look after his mount.

Fortunately the horse did get up on his own accord and trotted back down the course.

As has already been mentioned Quartetto set out to virtually make all, hitting the front after the third with Corskeagh Royale and Melbourne Lad tracking.

Approaching two out Corskeagh Royale had just taken up the running but then came his crashing fall leaving Quartetto in front again.

However he was beginning to tire as they approached the last and Mick the Man was closing fast.
Quartetto’s fall was a tired one and, in all probability, Mick The Man had his measure.

15:18 A stonking finish to our final hurdle of the afternoon.

It was an odd race after the earlier races which were run at a steady pace. This time, by contrast, Imperial Shabra set off like a bat out of hell and even after half a mile the field were well strung out.

However it was clear such a tactic would not work in the really testing conditions and, sure enough the field was bunched up as they began the turn for home.

The filly Rose’s Emma had been in second throughout and she was now almost upsides the long time leader. Donoughmore in the McManus colours was looking good in third spot.

Imperial Shabra’s stablemate Mexican Venture was another wanting to join in the action between the final two hurdles.

First of the leaders to crack was Rose’s Emma who was soon back in fifth spot.

At the same time Donoughmore hit the front and looked to be the home and hosed winner with Mexican venture looking to be the only possible challenger.

However Rose’s Emma suddenly found a second wind and absolutely flew down the stand side to not only challenge for the lead but actually head Donoughmore on the line for a head victory.

14:52 A treat for lovers of nostalgia as old timer Oodachee set the early pace in this contest along with the favourite Rubi Light.

However his moment of glory was relatively short lived as he soon relinquished the lead and by half way he was dropping towards the rear of the seven runner field.

Indeed by the time they began their final circuit two horses were contesting the lead due to some scrappy jumping Rocco’s Hall was leading on the flat but as soon as they came to an obstacle Rubi
Light outjumped him to briefly lead, although it has to be said as the race progressed Rocco’s Hall jumping improved.

By the time they turned for home Jessica Harrington’s Hugo De Vindecy had joined the front two and the three pulled clear of their rivals to have a battle down the hill into the closing stages.

Two out the three were locked together line abreast.

Hugo De Vindecy was the first to break rank, pulling a couple of lengths clear and looking impressive in front pinging the last.

The battle was then on for second with Rocco’s Hall looking to have the better of the favourite Rubi Light but, not for the first time, the favourite put in a better jump to go second.

14:19 The going is now officially Heavy all round

14:19 After two massive fields we have only seven going to post in our third, following the defections of C’est Ca and Hans Crescent.

14:18 On the weather front the rain has finally eased.

14:16 Interestingly the time of the second race, on paper a better contest than the opener, was almost four seconds slower, indicating the jockeys are showing plenty of respect for the going.

We saw a different winning tactic in this contest with Hughies Grey setting out to make all and succeeding, although in the closing stages he looked there to be shot at – unfortunately nothing had the pace to challenge.

Indeed the runner-up was Rossbeigh who had tracked the leader throughout.

The favourite, Slippers Percy, was settled around fourth pace and looked to be making decent progress as they came down the hill at the entrance to the home straight, however he flattered to deceive and was unable to make a serious challenge, coming home third but never looking to threaten the front pair.

Another who flattered to deceive was the filly Glendine Lady, who also made some decent progress turning for home, only for the effort to peter out.

Indeed running on best of all was another filly Posh Bird who made some decent late progress, albeit too late, to grab fourth spot.    

13:56 Well the Martin / Walsh combo will not be winning the second as their runner Meadows Thyne has been withdrawn due to the going.

13:53 A follow-up to the opener - 5th placed Tonto Murphy was disqualified after his jockey failed to weigh-in.

13:50 The betting had this opener as a two horse contest and after Long Strand had made most of the front running it was the favourite Out Now and the second favourite Montan who filled the places.

However it was the second favourite under Ruby Walsh who grabbed the race holding on by three-parts of a length from the running on jolly.

It was no surprise the pace was steady in the very testing conditions and there was little change in the order throughout most of the contest with Long Strand plodding along in front from Eaglehawk, Hidden Diamond and Midtown Boy.

The favourites were settled mid division before making progress turning for home with Montan hitting the front after two out.

However Out Now was soon on the scene and although closing was not quite able to peg back the winner.

It was a popular local victory as the Tony Martin trained winner is owned by local William Moffett.

13:05 We are at the original start time now and still 25 mins to the opener. Not a huge crowd here this afternoon but considering the weather that is no surprise.

Apparently the races will now be run at 30 minute intervals which will make up some of the lost time and will hopefully mean the bumper is not run in total darkness.

12:35 I have just ventured outside and it is not very pleasant out there weather wise. A mixture of rain and sleet. I have a feeling it is going to be testing out there this afternoon and with maximum fields of 20 in the two opening contests the ground looks likely to cut up.

12:15 Still no sign of the snow, more a cold sleet, which is rather a silly thing to say thinking about is as sleet is cold by default.

11:45 The reason for the delay is there is still some frost in the ground on the chase course.

11:31 Good morning from Down Royal where it tried to snow a short time ago but it is now more sleety. Racing does go ahead, although the start has been put back 25 minutes with the opening race now going off at 13:30.

The official going is Heavy, Soft to Heavy in places.

10:03 A statement from the Irish Turf Club following a 7.30am inspection read: "The situation is being monitored at Down Royal ahead of this afternoon's scheduled fixture as the threat of snow in the area remains. The course is currently raceable."

There is no snow at present, although it is very overcast.

Our selections are:-

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

Non-runners

13:05
21 Dependant Man (reserve)
22 The Flying Pencil (reserve)
23 Ardnavalley (reserve)

13:35
19 Meadows Thyne (going)
21 Pat The Baker (reserve)
22 Red Basil (reserve)
23 Shorecliffe King (reserve)

14:10
1 C'Est Ca (temperature)
8 Hans Crescent (Lame)

15:20
11 Model Athlete (Lame)
21 Fly Boy Ron (Reserve)

15:50
1 Benbradagh (withdrawn - vets advice)

16:20
3 Lordswood Lane (going)

Results

13:05 Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f

1st 12 Montan 7/2
2nd 13 Out Now 3/1 fav
3rd 1 Long Strand 6/1
20 Ran Nr's 21, 22 & 23
Distances ¾ & 3½
Fav second
Tote
Win £4.50
Places £1.90 £1.10 £3.10 £5.70
Exacta £11.80
Time 5' 13.6"

13:35 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

1st 2 Hughies Grey 8/1 
2nd 1 Rosbeigh 25/1
3rd 10 Slippers Percy 3/1 fav
4th 6 Posh Bird 6/1
19 Ran Nr's 21, 22 & 23 WD 19
Distances 3, 3 & 5
Fav third
Tote
Win £10.90
Places £2.40 £25.10 £1.50 £1.70
Exacta £470.80
Time 5' 19.00"

14:10 Hurdle 2m 4f

1st 7 Hugo De Vindecy 15/8
2nd 9 Rubi Light 7/4 fav
7 Ran Nr's 1 & 8
Distances 3
Fav second
Tote
Win £2.00
Places £1.60 £1.30
Exacta £6.20
Time 5' 24.2"

14:45 Handicap Hurdle 2m

1st 11 Rose's Emma 8/1
2nd 9 Donoughmore 12/1
3rd 3 Mexican Venture 6/1
11 Ran
Distances Head & 2½
Fav 6 Roll Over Rover 4/1 (5th)
Tote
Win £17.50
Places £3.70 £1.70 £5.10
Exacta £343.60
Time 4' 32.3"

15:20 Beginners Chase 2m 4f

1st 10 Mick The Man 10/1
2nd 3 Chasing Cars 2/1 fav
3rd 5 Del Rio 9/2
19 Ran Nr's 11 & 21
Distances 17 & 3
Fav second
Tote
Win £9.70
Places £1.50 £1.10 £2.20 £ 9.00
Exacta £50.00
Time 5' 42.5"

15:50 Handicap Chase 2m 4f

1st 2 The Flying Dustman 4/1
2nd 3 I See Icy 8/1
3rd 7 The Corby Glenn 7/2 fav
9 Ran w/d 1
Distances 8 & 7
Fav third
Tote
Win £3.00
Places £2.50 £2.90 £1.50
Exacta £61.60
Time 5' 44.2"

16:20 INH Flat 2m

1st 7 Sole Witness 7/2 fav
2nd 11 Fireitfromye 25/1
3rd 5 Our Gar 11/2
13 Ran w/d 3
Distances 4 & 4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £6.70
Places £1.60 £9.90 £2.50
Exacta £356.10
Time 4' 28.9"