Irish Horseracing Betting: Friday at Downpatrick

005 Irish Racing / Wayne Bailey / 18 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

Wayne Bailey marks your card as jumps action returns to Ireland's oldest racecourse...

Dating as far back as 1685, Downpatrick is Ireland's oldest and most historical racecourse. Indeed, one of the founding thoroughbred horses; Byerley Turk stopped off to race here - on his way down to the Battle of the Boyne no less! A trip to the course is normally a pleasant experience, made better of course if you pick a few winners along the way! Let's see if we can sort the wheat from the chaff...

12:20 - BRENNAN CONSTRUCTION HANDICAP HURDLE (5yo ,77-90)

I hate kick off the article in a dull fashion, but this tricky handicap does not interest me from a betting point of view and I'll sit this one out. If I was forced to pick one horse, I'd suggest that Master'n Commander could be good enough to nab a place - but my money will stay safely tucked away in my Betfair account here.

Advice: No Bet.

12:55 - INH STALLION OWNERS EUROPEAN BREEDERS FUND MAIDEN HURDLE (4-5yo)

In The Haven should appreciate the ground today and can lose the maiden tag in the second race of the day. A half brother to Grand National winner Papillon, the five-year-old performed well at this course in a similar contest back in November. Before racing under rules, he was a decent point-to-pointer, knocking up a win and numerous places along the way. The obvious danger is Port La Chaine, a versatile sort that's sure to win a race soon.

Advice: Back In The Haven to win.

1:25 - MARTINSTOWN OPPORTUNITY HANDICAP HURDLE (4yo ,81-102)

This is not a race for heavy punting, but Tryptronic can grab a place at the least and seems overpriced in the early markets. It's fair to say that he was disappointing at Fairyhouse last time out, but he never settled into that race properly, and I'm going to allow him one off day as he was looking like a decent sort previous. On form, Better Than Jewels looks the one to beat, but I'm not keen on taking a short price in a fairly open race.

Advice: Back Tryptronic to win (small stakes).

1:55 - IRISH RACING ANNUAL BEGINNERS CHASE (4yo )

Willie Mullins has found a weak race for Derrymore Dawn, and with young Emmet on board, they may find themselves in the winners' enclosure soon after 2pm today. Fair enough, his form hasn't been the greatest recently, but most of the opposition look pretty weak and it's a race he's more that capable of taking. I'm interested in how well Mullins' other horse Cru runs, and I'll keep her on my side in the place market.

Advice: Back Derrymore Dawn to win, back Cru to place.

2:25 - SAINTFIELD WINDOWS MAIDEN HUNTERS CHASE (DIV I) (4yo )

Jamadiel has been performing well on the point-to-point scene, and now may be the time to transfer that experience to the course in a hunter chase race. His basic form figures don't look the greatest under rules, but my mole in Wexford tells me that he's working very well at home and this race should be right up his street.

Advice: Back Jamadiel to win.

2:55 - SAINTFIELD WINDOWS MAIDEN HUNTERS CHASE (DIV II)

The second division of this hunter chase is not nearly as appealing from a betting perspective and this is another race that's best watched. Chief Oscar has won a couple of points recently and should go close, but I'm not willing to put money on that opinion!

Advice: No Bet.

3:30 - DOWNPATRICK INH FLAT RACE (4-7yo)

As usual, my stakes in the bumper will be small as they are the sort of race I struggle to make pay. Fairwood Bob has been knocking on the door, and should come on for his run here in early November. He may have just about enough to keep Morning Supreme at bay.

Advice: Back Fairwood Bob (small stakes).