UK Horse Racing Tips: Downpatrick

OMNISCIENT looks a likely sort for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy who have a strong record at this racetrack. This five-year-old gelding has been placed in two of his four maiden hurdles and winners have come out of the race that he finished fourth in at Punchestown in June. Tell Nobody Nothin showed ability in third on debut at Bellewstown and is entitled to improve from that outing. Newtown Rambler is a point-to-point graduate who starts out on his track career for Henry de Bromhead. He could have a role to play at the business end.
Prediction : 1st Omniscient 2nd Tell Nobody Nothin 3rd Newtown Rambler

STEPS IN THE SAND won over C&D in July and has to be respected with that form franked. In all probability, the longer distance probably found her out when she was fourth on her latest visit to Downpatrick. British-raider Mary looks set to go off at the front and those tactics worked well in Stratford last month. Her trainer, Ian Williams, enjoyed a successful raid at Laytown on Monday. Bayou Belle arrives in a consistent vein of form and has been placed in her last four races over flights including at this venue in January. She is another threat.
Prediction : 1st Steps In The Sand 2nd Mary 3rd Bayou Belle

PORTNACOO routed the opposition over further at this track in August and, although he got a hike from the handicapper, would be the one to beat if in the same kind of form. That was just his second run since switching to Harry Smyth and this is a big drop in class from that 80-109 handicap hurdle. Init Together was runner-up over C&D last month and another solid shift is on the cards. Sandyman was a beaten favourite in fifth when last seen over C&D, but has the ability to get involved. Finn Russell didn't make an impact in three hurdle races in Britain last year, but gets in here off bottom weight and has been in decent nick on the Flat.
Prediction : 1st Portnacoo 2nd Init Together 3rd Finn Russell

Point-to-point winner Cloonainra impressed on her debut under rules as she sailed in by nine lengths in a maiden hurdle at Sligo for John McConnell. That said, all her form is on much slower ground. BOSTON JURY got off the mark on his third outing in a maiden hurdle at Down Royal. He was the subject of good support that day and looks to have some scope for improvement. Dinoland, a stablemate of Cloonainra, won over 3m at Down Royal and also has winning form over a similar trip to this one from Cartmel. He is a player. That's About Right has found life tougher off his revised mark, while Rowdy Romeo is returning from a break.
Prediction : 1st Boston Jury 2nd Dinoland 3rd Cloonainra

Connections mentioned chasing for DUE COURSE after he obliged over flights in Bellewstown last month and they get their wish in this beginners' chase. The six-year-old gelding appreciates good ground and this trip is ideal for him. Tuckmill is another hurdle winner sent over fences and he has to be respected, particularly as his trainer commented after that handicap hurdle victory in Wexford that he is a chaser in the making. Sea Road Fill faced a tough task in a beginners' chase at the Galway Festival and did as well as could be expected in fifth. Bobbi Gin Tree wasn't beaten in third when she fell at the penultimate hurdle in Wexford. She banked a runner-up spot at Sligo in July and could make her presence felt over the bigger obstacles.
Prediction : 1st Due Course 2nd Tuckmill 3rd Sea Road Fill

HAND OVER FIST really enjoyed a staying trip when successful for the first time over fences in Kilbeggan. The first-time cheekpieces that were deployed are retained for this assignment. He won twice over hurdles and there should be more to come in this discipline. Winding River didn't perform on his last visit here, but that was the first time he finished out of the first three on six visits to Downpatrick. He has competed in higher grades and has to be respected in first-time blinkers. Room To Roam has plenty of experience to call upon and knows how to pick up prize money. There is no doubt that Tullyveery Lad has the ability to get involved, but he has failed to complete the course in two of his last three races.
Prediction : 1st Hand Over Fist 2nd Winding River 3rd Room To Roam

DIPPEDINMOONLIGHT was a wide-margin winner of her point-to-point which saw her sold for six figures. The daughter of Zarak then found one too good in her first bumper at Down Royal. The horse that beat her there is highly thought of, so there was plenty of merit in that racecourse bow and she was well backed to deliver. Diamond Tipp is a more than credible opponent as she has finished second in her last couple of bumpers at Tramore and Bellewstown, while Sam Curling's Lord Ffrench has a chance in light of his debut third at Cork in July.
Prediction : 1st Dippedinmoonlight 2nd Diamond Tipp 3rd Lord Ffrench