16:09 And that’s it from my first visit to Downpatrick and what a tough course it is.

From a cool and getting dark Northern Ireland a very good night.

16:06 As is tradition a bumper to end proceedings this afternoon and as is tradition Nina Carberry was on the favourite, which ran on to take third place.

However the winner Itsallaracket had flown, after being settled mid-division before running on turning for home.

Fairwood Bob made a race of it for a while but the winner had plenty in hand as the field came home well strung out.

15:37 Our longest race of the afternoon, a just short of three mile chase and it would be too much to ask for a front running performance in this one – wouldn’t it?

15:06 Of course no plan is perfect and it looked as though Ah Come On Tom was going to be another valiant pillar to post victory and it would have been had he not run out of gas three from home where he dropped out of contention like a stone.

His dropping out briefly resulted in a battle between the two runner who had bene tracking hiom Selection Box and Palace Storm. It was the latter named who initially took up the baton but by the second last Selection Box had leapt into the lead and thereafter the race was over as a contest.

Unlike the previous two and a quarter mile chase where the positions were tight, this time round the field were strung out like Monday’s washing.

14:35 OK confusion over now as I have finally worked out the tactics and Downpatrick is, without doubt, a front runners course.

The first of our chases, which took three attempts to get under way, saw another front running display, this time from Games who indeed showed he was game by taking the field along at a decent pace before holding on to defy the late challenge from the favourite Killenaule Boy.
Burley Harbour and Darling Harbour tracked the leader. The former fading badly three out with the latter holding on for third place.

13:55 OK I am confused about the tactics at this course now as race three was definitely one for the front runners with Bandearg under 3lb claimer Sean Flanagan setting off in front – well he did when they finally got away after an initial false start – and never being headed. Indeed as well as putting in a bold front running performance he did not seem to be too perturbed by the hill as he was pulling away to win by sixteen lengths.

Bronx Boy who had run on well inside the final mile seemed to run out of stamina took the runners up spot.     

Whilst the win may have been facile there was a good battle for third spot with Present Gem getting the better of a three way go by a short head from Van Boxtal and The Hedge.

13:27 This course takes some getting and there is no delicate way of putting this but at the end of the 2¾ mile hurdle the runners were finishing absolutely knackered – demonstrated by the fact the first two came home 22 lengths ahead of their rivals.

No brave front running performance this time as Clonsilla Affairs set the pace only to fade half way round the second circuit.

12:53 I have seen some undulating tracks in my years of racing but I have to say Downpatrick takes the biscuit – the final hill approaching the finish makes Towcester look like an easy track. Also I don’t think I have seen such a narrow track either.

A maximum field of 15 went to post for the opening 2¼ hurdle and it was a race in which the favourite In The Zone in the McManus colours set the pace, aiming for a pillar to post victory. It looked as though it was going to be a successful policy until he was headed approaching the last and it looked as though the tactic had failed, as For The Staff and Johnny Kilawee jumped into the lead.

However, as at Towcester, the hill was to have the final say and as the front pair soon tired the favourite got a second win and recovered to win by half a length from Johnny Kilawee with the running on Deccan Express taking third.

11:51 Good afternoon from Downpatrick where the weather is overcast.

The official going is Good, yielding in places

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Non-Runners

12:45
10 Rosiel
17 & 18 Reserves

1:15
16, 17 & 18 Reserves

1:45
16, 17 & 18 Reserves

2:20
16 & 17 Reserves

3:25
16 Reserve

3:55
4 Florida Pal
7 Night Spark
8 Seacon Boy
17 Reserve

Results

12:45

1st 8 In The Zone 11/8 fav
2nd 9 Johnny Kilawee 14/1
3rd 1 Deccan Express 10/1
15 Ran NR's 10 , 17 & 18
Distances 1/2 & 4 1/2
Fav winner
Time 4' 51.5"

1:15

1st 8 Orpheus Valley 10/1
2nd 7 In The Haven 3/1 fav
3rd 4 Ballymahon 6/1
15 Ran NR's
Distances 1/2 & 22
Fav second
Time 5' 51.5"

1:45

1st 1 Bandearg 5/1 jf
2nd 10 Bronx Boy 9/1
3rd 13 Present Gem 12/1
15 Ran NR's 16, 17 & 18
Distances 16 & 1/2
Fav winner and 3 Lady Beneficial (12th)
Time 5' 57.7"

2:20

1st 7 Games 12/1
2nd 9 Killenaule Boy 13/8 fav
3rd 5 Darling Harbour 13/2
15 Ran NR's 16 & 17
Distances 2 1/2 & 2
Fav second
Time 4' 54"

2:55

1st 7 Selection Box 12/1
2nd 6 Palace Storm 14/1
3rd 4 Spring Charm 7/2 fav
13 Ran
Distances 4 & 8
Fav third
Time 4' 55.4"

3:25

1st 4 Merchent Paddy 8/11 fav
2nd 11 Deutschland 5/1
3rd 13 Hereholdthis 33/1
15 Ran NR 16
Distances 2 & head
Fav winner
Time 6' 18"

3:55

1st 16 Itsallaracket 6/1
2nd 3 Fairwood Bob 11/2
3rd 9 Steve Capall 6/4 fav
15 Ran NR's 4 , 7 , 8 & 17
Distances 8 & 7
Fav third
Time 4' 21.5"