THE 2018 Downpatrick season opened last Saturday when a crowd of over 5,000 enjoyed a beautiful spring day. Racecourse manager Richard Lyttle is well in with the weather gods and must be the envy of others.

The Ulster National saw Poormans Hill win for local owner Vincent Caldwell and his 97-year-old mother Kathleen.

Trainer Gordon Elliott is a huge supporter of Downpatrick, where he has been leading trainer for the last three years. The presentations to the connections of Poormans Hill were made by Lauren and Gary Toal while Comber’s Marion Cave and her brother Peter McDowell presented the owners with the Caughoo trophy. This McDowell family award is made in memory of Caughoo who won the Ulster National in 1946 and 1947 and the Grand National at Aintree in 1947.