UK Horse Racing Tips: Downpatrick

The 118-rated RHYTHM DIVINE ought to take the beating. Tom Gibney's mare was runner-up to Great White Shark in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in April last year, before filling the same berth in Listed company at Punchestown the following month. She picked up another couple of places in maiden hurdles in December, before being moved up in class. She still had her chance in third when falling in a Grade B mares' handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, and then was unplaced when last seen in a Grade 2 at this year's Cheltenham Festival. Her form gives her every chance of making the breakthrough over flights in this assignment. What Wonders Weave has to be considered after a neck second to the favourite in Ballinrobe last month, however, she was due to run on the Flat in Tipperary on Friday evening. Gordon Elliott's Escort'namix was a beaten favourite in her last two starts, but the trainer's fantastic record at this venue entitles her to plenty of respect. Jelona is making her hurdling debut and should be monitored for market confidence.
Prediction : 1st Rhythm Divine 2nd What Wonders Weave 3rd Escortnamix

SOLDIERS HILL is two from two at Downpatrick and has a good shot at marching in again. Gordon Elliott's charge won his bumper here last summer by 12 lengths. He regained a winning thread when travelling well here last month and obliging by six lengths in a maiden hurdle, in first-time blinkers which are retained. King Pellinor was an easy winner of a Tipperary maiden hurdle in June and will appreciate this good ground. He is certainly one for the shortlist. Ado McGuinness is fresh off a lucrative Galway and his Politicise will carry many hopes, particularly as he hasn't been out of the first three in his last three runs over hurdles. Humm Baby should come on from her first run in 10 months. She was waited with in Cork last month before making her effort in the straight and kept on at the same pace in third. The eight-year-old mare has won three times before over hurdles. Rasiym got 10lbs for winning in Kilbeggan which makes life tougher, but he has the ability to land a blow.
Prediction : 1st Soldiers Hill 2nd King Pellinor 3rd Politicise

No less than three recent winners out to supplement their gains. GONE RACING appreciated the good ground in Tramore last month to grab his first career success. He has to be tempting around a similar track, and indeed, a venue where his trainer Mark McNiff knows what is required to win at. At the time of writing, in-form McNiff has had five victories in the last three weeks. Ballinaboola Steel makes a quick reappearance after landing the spoils over three miles in Wexford on Wednesday, in first-time cheekpieces which are kept on. The 5lbs penalty is more than offset by the booking of 7lb-claimer Shane Fenelon. He is clearly in rude health, but this is a markedly different trip. Misty Mountain had reportedly been working well before scoring by six lengths at Sligo on Wednesday, and is feared under the same penalty. Deauville Society was gambled-on before finishing second to an easy winner at Cork. Her form indicates that she would welcome rain which isn't forecast. Gotta Getaway was beaten half a length into second by Gone Racing at Tramore, and is respected off 2lbs higher.
Prediction : 1st Gone Racing 2nd Balinaboola Steel 3rd Misty Mountain

Rachael Blackmore clearly gets a good tune out of KILGANER QUEEN and the pair could team up for another victory. The 10-year-old bounced back to form by a two and a half length margin in a mares' handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe last month. Blackmore has been on board for four of her six racecourse wins. Dime A Dozen switches back to hurdling from steeplechasing which shouldn't cause her problems as, when she was last seen in this sphere, she landed a mares' auction maiden hurdle at Cork in October. Gordon Elliott does well with his recruits from Britain, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Mrs Davies leave her form behind her particularly if strong in the market. Aasleagh Dawn hadn't been out for almost nine months when weakening over an extended three miles at Kilbeggan in July. She is entitled to improve upon that, and has three hurdle victories to her name albeit the last one came in November 2018. Bracka Lily won this last year and isn't on a bad mark. She is far from out of it after a third place in Tramore. If Caerleon Kate puts it all together she would have a shot at prize money.
Prediction : 1st Kilganer Queen 2nd Dime A Dozen 3rd Aasleagh Dawn

KNOT ON TIME put in a decent effort to come home second behind a good winner at this track last month, and could find the necessary improvement to go one better. He didn't land a glove on that ready winner, but appeared to enjoy that new trip of two miles six furlongs as he finished well clear of the remainder. He encounters a similar trip in this contest, and the winner of that aforementioned race (Soldiers Hill) has the opportunity to frank the form in race two on this card. Gordon Elliott trains Soldiers Hill, so should have a fair idea what is needed to neat Knot On Time. He runs Golden Nomad who has come home fourth in his last two handicap hurdles. He looks a likely sort to go well for Elliott here. Dakota Beat is stepped up in trip after being a beaten favourite in second at Kilbeggan, and has obvious claims. He has won a couple of bumpers, and has only been out of the first three in one of his seven races. Will You Win, placed on her last two starts, should get in the hunt for prize money.
Prediction : 1st Knot On Time 2nd Golden Nomad 3rd Dakota Beat

HE TRIGGER is rated 110 over hurdles now. Despite his top-weight impost then, he's got to have a major say here in his 'drive for five' off 105. Mark Walsh got a horrible looking fall off Arctic Light at Roscommon on Monday. Thankfully he's been in action since, and after winning on The Trigger at Galway he'll be hopeful of gaining another success on Ronan McNally's admirable eleven-year-old. McNally also has De Baba Elephant in the mix. He could run into a place under Danny Mullins. However perhaps it'll be course-winning hurdler Cushinstown Finest that will give The Trigger most to do.
Prediction : 1st The Trigger 2nd Cushinstown Finest 3rd Da Baba Elephant

He went at the very first flight when favourite at Ballinrobe in July, but ASHTON COURT got back on track when second at Kilbeggan since. John 'Shark' Hanlon has his horses in good form and perhaps Ashton Court will be able to make a winning chase debut for him here. Ruinous has experience over larger obstacles from his days in the point-to-point fields and he's a danger to all. Gordon Elliott is two-handed with Miracle In Medinah and The Abbey and they can't be underestimated.
Prediction : 1st Ashton Court 2nd Ruinous 3rd Miracle In Medinah