Horse Racing Tips: Two to back at Downpatrick on Friday from Betfair racing trader Ryan McCue

Downpatrick, 15:23 - Back Pralognan @ 3/14.00

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Pralognan (Fr)

• J: D. King
• T: A. J. Martin, Ireland
• F: 55/135-45

• SBK 3/1
• EXC 4.1

Pralognan has been campaigned over a mixture of disciplines in recent starts, but I'm keen to see him return to hurdles here and feel he has been given a good opportunity to get back in the winner's enclosure. He looks competitively handicapped on his best form over timber and, importantly, returns to Downpatrick, where he recorded his sole hurdle success back in June last year.

Dan King has been in very good form of late and knows this horse well, having ridden him on several occasions. That familiarity could be a positive, particularly around a track where positioning and jumping can be important.

It doesn't look the strongest of contests on paper, despite Invincible Oscar likely being popular following her recent victory. However, she only managed to get up close home last time and now has to compete from a 6lb higher mark, which could make life more difficult.

The slight concern with Pralognan is that he has to shoulder top weight of 12st, but I'm willing to forgive that given the overall weakness of the race and his previous winning form at this venue. If returning to his best over hurdles, his class could prove the difference, and I'm expecting him to have a major say in the finish as he bids to land his second hurdle victory at the track.

Downpatrick, 15:58 - Back Little Ginger @ 4/51.80

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Little Ginger (Ire)

• J: Alan O'Sullivan
• T: James Andrew Fahey, Ireland
• F: 44-102

• SBK 8/11
• EXC 1.96

This looks a weak maiden hurdle on paper and Little Ginger is one I'm quite keen on. The James Fahey-trained gelding has to carry a winners' penalty and give 7lb to the majority of his rivals following his bumper success at Kilbeggan during the summer, but I don't think that is enough to put me off.

That bumper victory showed that he has ability and, in what looks a winnable opportunity, I expect him to be capable of handling the extra weight. The booking of Alan O'Sullivan is another positive, with the jockey taking a valuable 5lb off his back and effectively reducing the burden he has to carry.

The main danger could come from Young Doran, who wears cheek pieces for the first time. He finished third at Downpatrick two starts ago, so there is some course form to work with, but I'm not completely convinced this track is ideal for him. His subsequent run in a bumper at Listowel was also disappointing, so he needs to bounce back significantly to trouble Little Ginger here.

With the penalty and weight concession to his rivals making this slightly more complicated, Little Ginger will still need to perform, but I think he sets the standard in what looks a relatively ordinary maiden hurdle. If reproducing anything close to his best form, he should take plenty of stopping.

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