Racecards
14:20 Downpatrick (IRE)
William Hill Northern Ireland Maiden Hurdle
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 50y
- Going: Yielding, Yielding to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- €7,501 added
- Winner: €5,175
- 2nd: €1,199
- 3rd: €525
- 4th: €300
- Form 600-52
- Age 4
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer M J Grassick
- Jockey P Townend
settled 5th, headway into 3rd after 3 out, 2nd before 2 out, challenged 2 out, led last, kept on strongly run-in, easily
- Form F3-25
- Age 4
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
chased leaders, mainly 4th, ridden in 5th after 3 out, soon no extra and kept on one pace
- Form 5330
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Michael G Cleary
- Jockey B T O'Connell
chased leaders, mainly 3rd, ridden in 4th before 2 out, no impression in 3rd 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form 5
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey P T Enright
led, veered left 3rd and headed, left again 4th, 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, no extra in 4th 2 out, weakened
- Form 870-006
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer W J Fitzpatrick
- Jockey D J Bates
chased leader in 2nd, led 3rd, ridden and challenged 2 out, headed last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace
Cyrus (IRE)
15- Form 976P57-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey I J McCarthy
always in rear, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and weakened 3 out
Verdict
Official figures suggest ROCKY WEDNESDAY is home and hosed here and Gordon Elliott's charge, a very good third to Little Green in a Fairyhouse Grade 2 in February and runner-up in a Grade 3 there later, should be good enough despite an absence since beaten a long way in the Champion 4YO Hurdle at Punchestown in May. King Of Aran, a consistent but luckless performer on the Flat, doesn't have that level of form over timber but improved with a good effort over the C&D last month and looks the main threat. Dalkeith ran poorly when tried over this trip at Kilbeggan; Slow Train Coming was well beaten on his bumper debut at Gowran and Cyrus has yet to be placed in six starts over timber.
Formwatch
King Of Aran (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 2nd before 2 out, stayed on run-in to press winner closing stages, no extra close home, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Teak (10-9) at Downpatrick 2m 2f 4yo mdn hdl gd in Sep.
Rocky Wednesday (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Never a factor, ridden along in rear halfway, no threat from 2 out, 5th of 7, 40l behind Grandouet (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 4yo hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in May.
Dalkeith 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, 9th when mistake 5 out, soon no extra, 11th of 16, well behind Never A Secret (11-0) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f hcp hdl 80-102 gd in Sep.
Slow Train Coming (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Close up, led 6f out, joined 5f out, headed approaching straight, soon no extra, 5th of 10, 26l behind Mumbo Jumbo (11-5) at Gowran Park 2m N H flat gf in Sep.
Whitehead Lad (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to lead after 4 out, ridden and headed entering straight, no extra in 3rd when mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 16, 18l behind Irish Soul (11-1) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-95 gd.
Cyrus (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Towards rear, 8th before 3 out, soon no impression, 7th of 15, 34l behind Old Theatre Royal (11-10) at Tramore 2m hcp hdl 80-95 gd in Apr.