NOT for the first time by any means, Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott were tough men to beat at Downpatrick, emerging from the track’s final meeting of 2025 with a double.
It was a fair performance from the Call It What You Like Syndicate-owned Someone’s Wish to defy a 245-day absence in the Willwego.com Handicap Hurdle - taking advantage of a handy mark over hurdles compared to his better chase rating.
This two-and-a-half-length win over 9/4 favourite Centaq made for pleasant reading for the winning trainer at 9/1.
“To be honest, we thought he would come on from the run,” said Elliott.
“They went very fast and Jack said it played into his hands - they stopped in front. Jack gave him a good ride, as always. He was very patient on him. He likes better ground and he’s a fun horse for the lads.”
Perfect Pour
With main market rival Echo Pete a non-runner, the 124-rated Pour Les Filles didn’t let a gilt-edged opportunity go to waste in winning a four-runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle as 1/9 favourite.
Runner-up to the useful Putapoundinthejar when last seen at Down Royal in January, the Leopardstown bumper winner and Aintree Grade 2 fifth had too much class for his rivals in this nine-length success. The winner carries the colours of Kenny and Laura Haughey, and Kieran Byrne.
“It was a lovely opportunity,” said Elliott. “That was the longest trip he’d been tried over so far [two miles and six furlongs] and it worked out grand. He hasn’t been the easiest horse to train. I thought he was a couple of weeks off running, but the race found us so we had to run him. It’s lovely that he won as one of this horse’s owners, Kieran T Byrne, passed away recently.”
MANY expected Gavin Cromwell to land the opening Randox Maiden Hurdle over an extended two miles and a furlong, and he did saddle the first two home - just not the order predicted by the market.
Luker’s Tipple was sent off the 1/2 favourite - and traded as short as 1/14 in the in-running markets when seemingly travelling strongly in front - but he could not find the necessary answer when pressed hard by 9/1 stablemate Barrys Spirit, who forged on by half a length under promising conditional Eoin Staples. The pair drew 15 lengths clear of the remainder.
Cromwell said: “The winner runs in the colours of Chrissy Maye, who passed away a few months ago, so it is very nice for them. He’s a half-brother to My Mate Mozzie and The Other Mozzie; it’s nice to have another winner in the family.
“I fancied him to be placed. Eoin was good on him and mugged Keith [Donoghue on Luker’s Tipple] late on. He just got the kick off the last hurdle and it was grand for him to win. Eoin is great value for his 7lb claim and is riding with great confidence.”
Janey joy
There was an overdue first win for Oh Janey in the Northern Ireland On Course Bookmakers Association Novice Handicap Hurdle over the same trip for owner-trainer Stuart Crawford.
Well backed into 9/4 favourite under Sam Ewing, the five-year-old mare had been running consistently well in maiden hurdles lately and didn’t need to be at full tilt to see off Derry Lad by two and a half lengths.
Crawford said: “I’m really disappointed I haven’t won with her before now. She has always shown us a nice wee bit at home and she has never really run a bad race, she is very consistent.
“She has started off there anyway, and sure it will maybe get her confidence up, and hopefully she can go and win again. Sam said she was a lot sharper today. Probably even a stronger-run race maybe would suit her better.”
Silky Seskin
A beaten favourite when last seen over fences at Tramore in April, Seskin Flash proved a different proposition Franco Hughes Away Bet Beginners Chase over just shy of two and a half miles, staying on well under Donagh Meyler to spring a minor upset at 15/2.
Front-running 8/11 favourite The Electrical Kid couldn’t maintain his effort up the stiff finish, and it was the Philip Dempsey-trained winner who took full advantage for Tinnahinch Construction Limited.
Dempsey said of the now dual course winner: “It was a lovely ride. He obviously likes it around here and Donagh said he jumped very well. We bought him off people down in Thurles [Patrick Carey yard] and we let him off for a while after Tramore. Onwards and upwards, hopefully.”
LAST week’s edition of The Owner column in The Irish Field showcased the joyous celebrations for the ManAboutHorse Syndicate after Hitthehayson won on his first start for the group, and the party rolled on to Downpatrick when the in-form handicapper made it back-to-back wins in the Denis Macauley Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
Ian Donoghue is getting a sweet tune out of the Jukebox Jury gelding and a 7lb rise for his breakthrough win wasn’t enough to halt his progress. Conor Stone-Walsh had an extremely willing partner when the pair were challenged around the final bend by Darragh O’Keeffe on Georgia Celena.
Speaking after the length-and-three-quarters victory as 3/1 favourite, Donoghue said: “He’s very hardy. He’s a funny, quirky horse at home; some days he would run away with you, other days he wouldn’t want to go. He seems to be in the form of his life at the moment.
“Today was two miles and six furlongs, and hopefully when he gets up to three miles, he’ll be better again. He mightn’t have to make his own running.
“Half of the syndicate are in Spain, some of them are in America, and then there’s a few here. It is great for them and they will enjoy tonight. They enjoyed Roscommon and I don’t think they got home until 3am, they will be the same again!”
Four-timer
A good day for Donoghue and Stone-Walsh got even better in the concluding Download The Tote App Handicap Chase as Small Town Hero brought up a fourth consecutive win since joining the Kilkenny Racing Syndicate for £7,000 from Britain this summer.
The 4/7 favourite has been a revelation for connections and the winning rider was going comfortably enough in the straight to take a number of looks over his shoulder for dangers.
In winning by five and a half lengths, he took advantage of his chasing mark of 77 - having been raised to a rating of 100 over hurdles of late through his trio of victories in that sphere.
“He’s been a right horse for connections,” said the winning rider. “He carries you everywhere and jumped well for his first start over fences in Ireland. I schooled him during the week and he was class.”