Irish Horseracing Betting: Downpatrick Monday preview

005 Irish Racing / Editor / 25 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

A traditional mixed card awaits us for Downpatrick's end of August Bank Holiday meeting. Darren Skelton has the best bets....

2.35

Race one on the card is a maiden hurdle that looks at the mercy of Dermot Weld's Noble Crusader. On the face of it this horse has all the hallmarks of a frustrating animal but his two places at the Galway festival can actually be called unlucky with the form standing up quite well. The ground will be no problem to him and his placed efforts recently show that he's in good heart. Probably dangers include Skylancer who will need to prove himself after a long break, Coolpotts who chased home the useful Spoonplayer last time and also Monty's Boy, who doesn't have great form in the book but may just have a liking for this course and conditions.

3:05

Another Maiden hurdle for us here and this is one is a tad trickier. As usual Ruby will probably be on the favourite, in this case Chicawayo. This one is dropping back in trip after a 5th behind Oliver Brady's Duroob last time. That was a decent race and on the face of it a drop back in trips looks to be the obvious medicine for this one but you get the impression that with his style of running, he may just need everything top fall right for him - that's easier said than done on this track. A safer option may be another horse who will benefit from a drop back in trip, Balrath Leader. This horse was placed at big prices in his last two races - both times he raced prominently but just didn't stay the trip. 2m 2f around here may suit him down to the ground.

3:40

Another hurdle race for us, a handicap rather than a maiden seems to be the only difference because we're going to have another Ruby Walsh hotpot. Conker Nails looked a horse to follow when winning her maiden last time and should follow up here to give Ruby a 2 or possible 3 timer.

4:15

The first flat race of the card and it's a decent 3yo contest. Lady Alicia won her maiden in good style in Galway (despite drifting like a horse who must have just been hit by a bus). However, she found things a lot harder when entering handicap company in her next race. It could be argued that she just came up against a decent sort that day so I wouldn't rule her out so quickly here. The favourite here, Dirar looks fairly exposed for a 3 y-o but is stepping up in trip and connections think that that will be enough to take this race today. It's hard to argue with them, simply because I can't find another horse in the field to beat them...so in a poorly contested, but decent enough race, we'll have to go along with Dirar

4:50

The Ulster Casarewitch is next up on the card and it looks like a very difficult race, especially in conditions like today and on a track like Downpatrick. Last year's winner, Dow Jones has been running well over fences of late and is well in himself so may run a good race today. Probable favourite, Green Mile comes from Tony Martin's yard so an obligatory look to the market is needed. However, his chances are fairly obvious and I think this one may actually win this race today, just because he has no nasty fences in his way. He's on a decent mark for flat racing and although running well in jump races his jumping was not exactly what you'd call Stag-like. A lot of others in the race Strolling Home, Princess Nicole etc, are running at a moderate level but improvement from them is probably unlikely. We'll stick with Green Mile but if he starts to drift markedly on your Betfair screen we should probably take that as a hint that today may not be a going day.

The last two races on the card are scary looking. If you feel that you've been watching too much racing and you can hear your wife making the dinner downstairs, now may be the time to consult with your conscience and go down and peel the spuds. A wide open handicap and a ladies NHF race...the first one you may want to challenge yourself with...if that's the case than I'll put forward Danticat under Pat Smullen to do the business. If you're backing in the ladies NHF race than I can only presume that your daughter, or sister, or wife is running in it...to that regard, I wish you all the best.