Downpatrick – Friday 6th May

It has been a few days since the last daily article and in that time we have seen some informative racing from Chester, alongside some decent flat action at Gowran Park. All of those pointers are being taken onboard and hopefully will lead to some more informed flat selections in the coming weeks. However, the racing at Downpatrick this evening far supersedes the flat action in my head, and there are a few horses I am keen to back and hopefully might lead us down the right path this evening. 

Starting off with the opening contest of the evening, which is the 2m6f maiden hurdle at 5.20. This could be deemed as a last chance saloon for a horse I have been keen on for a while, but has failed to deliver on his last few starts. That horse is The Flier Begley, who put in a really uninspiring display at this track last time out when giving a runaway leader far too much rope. I am prepared to forgive him for his last two runs as his form prior to that would take out this contest 9 times out of 10. I am hoping that he can settle in behind the pace on this occasion, and the step up in trip should mean that he is traveling sweetly into the contest. A horse of this ability should not still be a maiden and despite coming up against a few good horses, he should be able to take a contest like this. Ottoman Style sets a fair standard, but is short enough for what he has achieved, and I’ll be hoping my lad can do himself justice. At a price of 5/1 with Paddy Power, I’ll be backing him each way. 

The next race I’ll be looking at is the 6.20 race – which is the 2m3f maiden hurdle and I am a big fan of one at the top of the market in this race. That horse is Wild Shot, who must hold massive credentials in a race of this nature based off his hurdling form thus far in his career. His last run over hurdles was back in October, when he finished fourth behind Top Bandit in a competitive novice at the Cheltenham October meeting. He has been campaigned at Dundalk since then on the flat but he returns to hurdles in a winnable race and with race fitness well on side. If transferring that form from last season into this race, he should take all the beating. A price of 2/1 with Bet365 seems fair. 

The 6.50 race is a decent standard mares handicap hurdle over a trip of 2m1f and this has attracted a strong enough field of 11 to the table. There has been a lot of support for Hidden Land, who is dropping in class here, but her form figures do leave a bit to be desired. Instead, I am going to be siding with the lightly weighted course specialist, Ask The Leader, who represents an in-form yard in David Christie. This mare has won twice in her last three starts at the track and won two starts back by a very impressive 12 lengths. She was well beaten last time out, when failing to stay at Thurles and drops well down in trip on this occasion. Jack Foley continues the partnership and there is cause to suggest she should run very well today. At a price of 13/2 with Bet365, who are offering 4 places, she should be backed each way. 

The last race I will be covering today is the 7.50 race, which is a staying 2m7f handicap chase. I think course veteran, School Lane has a big chance in this race and despite a slightly below par run in Perth last time out, he has been holding his form very well throughout the majority of the season. He won twice on the bounce back in the year and is only a few pounds off those peak efforts, while he was a close up fourth off one pound higher at this track two starts back. Barry Browne takes the ride on this occasion, and I don’t think he is handicapped out of contention whatsoever. At a big enough price of 11/1 with Bet365, who are offering 4 places, he should also be backed each way.