FOLLOWING 14 years in the role, Peter Stewart has stepped down as Chairperson of Downpatrick racecourse, with the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Noel Chance taking over in his stead.

Stewart has been widely respected for his collaborative approach and strong advocacy for the racecourse, working closely with stakeholders, sponsors, staff and the local community to ensure Downpatrick continued to evolve, while remaining true to its heritage.

During his tenure, he guided the racecourse through a period of sustained development and improvement with significant progress being achieved across infrastructure, facilities and the overall raceday experience.

Key developments included major investment in track widening, a stableyard extension which incorporates upgraded stable-staff canteen facilities, a substantial grandstand refurbishment and the introduction of a ‘Winning Connections Suite’.

Downpatrick, which also became the first racecourse to offer complimentary meals to owners, was named Racecourse of the Year at the 2022 Godolphin-backed Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards.

Progressive venue

Collectively, these achievements have helped secure the track’s position as a valued and progressive venue on the Irish racing scene. Richard Lyttle served as racecourse manager during much of Peter’s time as chairman, providing vital operational leadership and supporting many of the improvements achieved under Peter’s chairmanship.

Speaking on the announcement of Stewart’s retirement as Chairperson, Ruth Morrison, General Manager of Downpatrick, commented: “Peter’s commitment, leadership and steady guidance over the past 14 years have been instrumental in the continued success and stability of Downpatrick Racecourse. His contribution has been immense, and the Board, staff and wider racing community are deeply grateful for his service.”

Stewart himself said: “It has been a privilege to serve as Chairperson of Downpatrick Racecourse for the past 14 years.

“I am extremely proud of what has been achieved during that time and grateful to my fellow board members, management, staff, sponsors and patrons for their dedication and support. I have every confidence that my successor, Noel Chance, will do an excellent job in the role.”

HE’s a long way off the leader and current title holder Sean Bowen (182 wins) and slightly behind Harry Skelton (91), but the former three-time British champion jumps jockey Brian Hughes is enjoying a busy season with 82 wins from 441 rides.

Four of those wins came in the period under review, as the Co Armagh native was on the mark once at Wetherby last Thursday week and also visited the winner’s enclosure once at Doncaster on Friday. He reached his seasonal total with a double at Sedgefield on Sunday.

Downpatrick-born Caoilin Quinn brought his tally for the campaign to 30 on Monday, when he partnered two winners at Plumpton.

Flat winners

On the level, there were wins on Friday last for Patsy Cosgrave at Southwell and for Darragh Keenan at Wolverhampton and on Wednesday for Martin Harley at Eagle Farm, Brisbane and another for Dylan Browne McMonagle at Happy Valley, Hong Kong.

On the training front, we stay with the flat as Natalia Lupini recorded a double on Wednesday at Dundalk where both were partnered by Wayne Lordan. Karen McMullen’s 11/2 shot Pass Me If You Can, a Supremacy gelding having his third start, landed the opening five-furlong maiden, while the Zoustar filly Thaloria, running in the trainer’s own colours, won the seven-furlong handicap at odds of 40/1.

There was a win at Newcastle on Saturday for the David Laverty-owned and bred four-year-old filly Wee Mary (Sands Of Mali - Ty Rock Brandy, by Dandy Man).

Also on Saturday, but over jumps at Cheltenham, the Grade 2 Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle over three miles was won by the Michael and Leonard Cave-bred seven-year-old gelding Ma Shantou (Shantou - Ma Pretention, by Great Pretender).

NEXT Saturday, the first of the North Down spring point-to-points takes place at Kirkistown where 10 years ago, on heavy ground, there were just 31 runners in total.

Mark O’Hare, who had four rides during the afternoon of Saturday, February 13th, 2016, recorded a double. He landed the opening four-year-old maiden on the Warren Ewing-owned and trained newcomer Cesar Collonges and the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden on the George Stewart-owned and trained Slemish.

The five and six-year-old mares’ maiden attracted the largest field of the day, eight, and here Stuart Crawford supplied his brother Ben with a winning ride on the Chris Johnson-owned and bred Red Con One. Ben partnered the favourite One Cool Clarkson in the four-runner open, but this 4/5 shot was comfortably beaten into second by the Barry O’Neill-partnered Valmy Bai, who was trained by David Christie for Ray Nicholas.

Local handlers were out of luck in the winners of one, which went to the Ashleigh Murphy-trained Redbridge Rudi (Gary Murphy), and the concluding six-year-old and upwards maiden won by Jim Dreaper’s charge Sizingdowntherhine (Jamie Codd).

The North Downs moved their point-to-point from Comber to Kirkistown in 2006, but the only meeting held at the new track that year was in March.

LOCALLY-trained horses won half of the six races at Tyrella last Saturday and two of these winners, both partnered by Stephen Connor, were trained by Stuart Crawford for Largy Bloodstock.

In the Dennison JCB five-year-old geldings’ maiden, Crawford saddled two of the 12 runners with the always prominent Largy Silver beating his stable-companion and fellow newcomer Wings Of Ayrton, who was ridden by Brian Dunleavy, by a length. The double came up in the Bluegrass and Dengie open where Carnfunnock justified favouritism by six lengths.

While that Getaway nine-year-old will be heading down the hunter chase route for his present connections, Largy Silver will most likely be heading for the sales ring.

Five foals

Home-bred by Largy Bloodstock, the Sholokhov bay is the third of five recorded foals (all colts) out of Ballinahow Star (by Definite Article), who won two point-to-points and three hurdle races and is a half-sister to Ballinahow Lady (by Beneficial), whose five track wins included a Grade 3 chase.

Ballinahow Lady’s first foal, Largy Star (by Blue Bresil), landed a six-year-old geldings’ maiden (at Damma House) and a winners’ of one (at Kirkistown) last November for the Cormac Abernethy yard and, on his first start for Gavin Cromwell, finished second in the bumper at Naas last Sunday.

The dam’s second foal, Largy Meadow (a 2020 gelding by Soldier Of Fortune), finished second in a Ballinrobe bumper last July on his only run for Crawford and most recently finished fourth in a Wetherby novices’ hurdle on his second start for Mike Smith.

On board the Stephen Carlin-trained Tony The Pony, Connor had to settle for second in the concluding Morning Star Bar six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden behind the Barry O’Neill-ridden West Of Idaho, who is trained for Ray Nicholas by David Christie. The winner comes from the first crop of the Galileo stallion Idaho, who is now standing at the Skuttles Barrough Stud in England.

British winners

The only other locally-bred winners we spotted in Ireland and England over the weekend were two on Sunday, both following up on earlier successes this year.

The Decky Lennon-bred 11-year-old mare All Loved Up (Winged Love - Rowdy Exit, by Exit To Nowhere) landed the men’s open at Cocklebarrow, while the Cally Berry-bred nine-year-old gelding (Fame And Glory - Full Of Birds, by Epervier Bleu) won the novice riders’ open at Dungarvan.