Racecards
15:05 Downpatrick (IRE)
BMG Insurance Hurdle
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 100y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- €15,000 added
- Winner: €9,240
- 2nd: €2,865
- 3rd: €1,365
- 4th: €615
Fearachain (IRE)
785- Form 426842/
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 121
mid-division, 4th halfway, pushed along and no impression in 5th 2 out, moderate 4th approaching last, no extra
- Form 5/3360-0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Liam McKenna
in rear, never a factor, slight mistake 4th, pushed along and no impression in 6th after 3 out, no extra
- Form 45-6135
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 122
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along in 2nd 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd run-in, kept on one pace
- Form 3-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer G P Cromwell
- Jockey G N Fox
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, headway to lead 3 out, travelled well and asserted after next, ridden run-in and kept on well
- Form 7-3214
- Age 4
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
rear of mid-division, pushed along after 3 out and went 3rd next, ridden approaching last and 2nd early run-in, kept on one pace, no impression on winner closing stages
- Form 221212-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 100
led, headed 3 out, soon no impression and not fluent in 4th next, no extra
- Form P5P/
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer S Millar
- Jockey Mr N Gault
rear of mid-division on outer, pushed along and dropped to rear before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Verdict
Midnight Escape, a promising hurdler early last year, hasn't taken to fences and reverts to the smaller obstacles though Count Simon looks best of Gordon Elliott's pair. A winner here last month, he didn't impress with his jumping at Bellestown last week and can do better. Niven, a winner at Ballinrobe in May, also ran at that Bellewstown fixture where he didn't perform badly in a tough handicap. POLITICAL POLICY (NAP) is yet another to have run last week, finishing runner-up on the Flat before landing a maiden on just his second start over hurdles. He can go in again though Tranquil Magic won over hurdles and fences around here last summer and would be a threat if ready after a long break.
Formwatch
Fearachain (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up in 4th early, disputed 3rd from 2nd, ridden to press leaders before 2 out, 2nd and slight mistake last, no impression run-in and kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Princely Conn (11-12) at Clonmel 2m gd in May.
Midnight Escape (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Prominent, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 7th, pushed along approaching 3 out and soon lost place, no extra, eased after 2 out, 10th of 15, dist behind Balzac Turgot (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 3f gd in May.
Niven (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Mid-division, 6th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 10, 13l behind Monarch (11-3) at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp gf in Jul.
Political Policy (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Made all, ridden from 2 out, strongly pressed at last, edged left run-in, stayed on well close home, bumped runner-up near line, won at Bellewstown 2m 1f mdn gf in Jul beating Paris Texas (11-4) by nk, 16 ran.
Count Simon (IRE) 9-4 (11-6) Held up towards rear, progress into 5th 4 out, ridden in 4th and no impression before 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 8 1/2l behind Pearl Of The West (10-13) at Bellewstown 2m 1f gf in Jul.
Tranquil Magic (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Disputed lead early, headed and dropped to 3rd after 2nd, pushed along in 4th 2 out and soon ridden, went 3rd before last and kept on into 2nd run-in, not matching winner, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Alterno (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 3f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Nellys Robin (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Mid-div, wknd aftr 5out, mstk 4out, pu bef 3out, at Largy 3m mdn gd in Apr.