UK Horse Racing Tips: Downpatrick

FORTUNA FAVENTE is a more than interesting newcomer. Barry Connell's five-year-old mare is related to several winners including Appreciate It who landed the Supreme Novices' Hurdle among his three Grade 1 hurdle victories. Fortuna Favente made six figures at the Sales and has to be given plenty of respect ahead of her debut. Gaye Winnie wasn't beaten far into third over slightly further at this track last month and wouldn't need to find much more to get off the mark. Artemis Angel has changed stables since finishing a close third in Killarney. The form of that race has been franked, so she should be involved. Franno has been in decent nick on the Flat and could show up better on her fifth crack at hurdles. John McConnell brings Meadow Soprano up for her Irish debut and a market check is advised.
Prediction : 1st Fortuna Favente 2nd Gaye Winnie 3rd Artemis Angel

AN MHI is in a rich vein of form and could bring up the four-timer for Gordon Elliott. He began his winning run with an easy success in a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle in May and has since been sent across the Irish Sea to land novice hurdle events in Perth and Uttoxeter. Elliott has a superb record at this northern venue. Weddell Sea is a worthy opponent. He was placed in two decent handicap hurdles at Listowel and Kilbeggan which earned him a shot at a valuable contest in Galway last week where he finished unplaced. He is well versed in small fields, though. Gordons Aura also represents Elliott and has the ability to get involved off bottom-weight, while Annexation could return to form in this company.
Prediction : 1st An Mhi 2nd Weddell Sea 3rd Gordons Aura

Mark McNiff has been among the winners recently and a chance is taken on his FASSBENDER. He hasn't been at his best in better company, but has been dropped 2lb and just gets into this basement grade. It is worth noting that he won on his last visit here and has a very good record in Downpatrick. Cheekpieces are fitted for the first time. Woodstream Lad certainly outran his 50/1 odds when third in an opportunity handicap hurdle at Sligo last month. That run came off a break of almost nine months and Mike O'Connor, who rides this track well, has been booked again. He would want the ground to dry out a bit. Silverstrand is a long-standing maiden, but is a threat on the back of a runner-up spot in Kilbeggan last month. Crafty Gael would have solid claims, but was declared to run in Kilbeggan on Saturday evening. Reserves Up And Out and Redwood Queen would both have chances if getting a run.
Prediction : 1st Fassbender 2nd Woodstream Lad 3rd Silverstrand

Eyes are drawn to Lighthouse Rose who has won two of the last three renewals of this race. She has been out of form since winning at this track in August, but gets first-time blinkers and is dangerous. THEONEWEDREAMOF posted solid placed efforts at this venue in May and at Cork in July, so a second victory over hurdles doesn't look far away. She is up in trip after keeping on over 2m4f in Cork. Fruit Blossom came in second over a similar trip at this track in April which brings her into contention. Howaya C D And E won her bumper here and also didn't run badly in second when last seen in a maiden hurdle at this venue last month, albeit that wasn't a deep race. The Grey Monty has a long absence to overcome, but has been placed in three of her four races over flights.
Prediction : 1st Theonewedreamof 2nd Fruit Blossom 3rd Lighthouse Rose

Out of action for over two years after winning a point-to-point, GENTLE AND KIND will have delighted connections when finishing second at Kilbeggan last month on Rules debut. She steps up in trip by a couple of furlongs and can go one place better under Rachael Blackmore. Rule The Wind was soundly beaten at Tramore last time but may have found the trip a bit sharp. He was narrowly foiled over 2m4f at Tipperary in the spring and this test of stamina should suit better. The locally-trained Invictus World won a bumper at Navan last year and was a fair fourth on his second hurdles start at this venue. He's back from a break and may improve for the application of a tongue-tie.
Prediction : 1st Gentle And Kind 2nd Rule The Wind 3rd Invictus World

NUTTORRIDGE regularly makes the trip east from his stable in Sligo to run at Downpatrick and his two career wins have come at this venue. He did little wrong when runner-up over C&D last month and the horse that beat him followed up under a penalty a week later. Prior to his tumble at Limerick, Tuff Days had been most consistent and went down by only half a length on his most recent completed start at Kilbeggan. He stays further than this and is likely to contend again. How Decc has shown a bit of improvement lately and is now tried in cheekpieces. Runner-up to an easy winner over fences at Tipperary, he wasn't beaten far when fourth over a trip similar to this at Limerick last time and is partnered by an in-form claimer.
Prediction : 1st Nuttorridge 2nd Tuff Days 3rd How Decc

Willie Mullins had had a couple of beaten favourites in bumpers in recent days but his strike-rate in these races is still awesome and UNCLE PAT looks a likely sort on pedigree. The Well Chosen gelding is a brother to smart jumpers Kylecrue and Adamantly Chosen and the latter was a bumper winner on debut. Nakatomi Plaza starts off for Gordon Elliott and is a Flat-bred son of Born To Sea. His half-sister was a Group 3 winner over six furlongs as a two-year-old. Of those that have run before, Kalanisi Flash makes most appeal. The dual point-to-point winner was runner-up at this venue in May and is probably better judged on that than a very disappointing effort at Kilbeggan a couple of weeks later.
Prediction : 1st Uncle Pat 2nd Nakatomi Plaza 3rd Kalanisi Flash