COLIN McBratney eyed bigger pots after Drumhart galloped away with the featured J For Jaguar Handicap Chase in Downpatrick.
The seven-year-old gelding scored by a head at the northern venue two runs back under Sean Flanagan but this time the pair had three lengths in hand when powering away from the last fence.
He landed the spoils at 11/2 (from 13/2) for Co Down owners James Murdoch and Stephen Pearson.
McBratney said: “It was a peach of a ride. Horses for courses - he’s a big horse and he loves it around here. Maybe with his wind he can travel and gets more breath as he can freewheel down the hill.
“I’m well pleased. It was a nice prize to win. We did a palate operation on him. The last day we ran him in Punchestown the ground was too fast for him, he just didn’t let himself down.
“We’ll look at a nice handicap somewhere. The Blazers would suit him but who knows, he has to go up a long way before we get to the Galway Plate stage. He could tip over to Perth, there’s a nice prize on the 10th of July. It’s a €25,000 race. He’s still a novice too so we have options.”
Gordon Elliott saddled a double as Lake Malawi (2/1 favourite) took the opening maiden hurdle and Blue Empyrean (6/4 favourite) prevailed in the ladies’ bumper.
Lake Malawi and Luke Dempsey saw off a stiff challenge from the well-backed Atlantic Breaker to deliver by half a length. The winner was stepping up on a runner-up finish in a Punchestown maiden hurdle at the start of the month.
Afterwards, Elliott said: “On his run the last day in Punchestown he was probably entitled to do it. He wasn’t doing a whole lot when he got there. The owner (James Reilly from Navan) loves going to Perth so he’ll go to Perth for a novice hurdle at the end of the month all being well. Luke gave him a good ride. He’s a very good rider.”
Again there was just half a length between Elliott’s Blue Empyrean and Sweet Shirleen as the pair fought out a final-furlong battle.
Elliott commented: “Two and a half miles over jumps would be more for him. He’s slow and stays galloping. Nina (Carberry) gave him a great ride.”
On his excellent record at Downpatrick, he said: “It’s lucky. The people up the north are great racing people and they have always supported me so it’s nice to keep coming to Downpatrick.”
The winner scored in the colours of solicitor John Taylor from Banbridge, Co Down.
Floral Fantasy (11/4 joint-favourite) was ridden clear on the run-in to post a four and a half-length victory in the mares’ handicap hurdle.
Jockey Mark Walsh, in the J.P. McManus colours, said: “She was entitled to that as she had been running in good enough maidens. It wasn’t the strongest race so I wouldn’t be getting too excited. It is lovely jumping ground out there.” Handler Enda Bolger added: “She’ll be kept going over the summer.”
Mr Mulliner stayed on strongly to nail Overtures and Tellthemnuttin close home in the two miles, six furlongs Sunday In Summer Handicap Hurdle.
Mark McNiff’s charge overcame top-weight of 11st 12lb as he responded to Derek Fox’s urgings.
“He rides him well. He’s a horse that has to be left to get into his own rhythm, you’ve to ride him really not the race. He had to give weight to the second and third and he’s small enough. I’d have rather run him off a lower weight in a bigger race,” McNiff said.
“The Sligo Racing Club have only just bought him off another owner of mine. He’ll probably now go to Galway for a two miles, six furlongs handicap on the Saturday if he got in off a low weight.”
Western Goose put in a good display of jumping which saw her take the beginners’ chase by four lengths for Keith Clarke and Barry Cash.
A delighted Clarke said of the 20/1 shot: “She’s been a proper mare. She always jumped fences well but I just wanted to see what I could do over hurdles before I went chasing with her.
“I thought it was a competitive heat but her jumping today just came out on top. With the ground changing (to good to yielding) as well it probably helped. It’s a great result for her and hopefully there will be many more for a smart mare like her.
“I’m delighted for the owner, Mick McHugh from Kilcock (Cill Choca Syndicate), who unfortunately can’t be here today and who has been with me since day one and been very patient.
“It’s fantastic to get a National Hunt winner and a chase winner. We have a handful of jumpers but would love to increase the numbers. Mick bought this horse in Goffs so it has worked out for him.
“She did what had to be done today and got a mares’ allowance. Her jumping took her there. We’ll aim for something down the country, Ballinrobe or somewhere.”
Boris De Blae, the 5/4 favourite who came in fourth, was examined by the Turf Club Veterinary Officer at the request of the stewards and was found to be blowing hard and lame behind post-race.
Ballyfinboy led his seven rivals a merry dance in the extended two and a quarter mile handicap chase and had enough in his locker to hold on by a length and a half.
Owner/trainer Jimmy Finn said of the 10/1 shot: “It’s grand to collect it; it was a poor enough race. He just wasn’t firing there, he was a bit flat. He got cast one night and was a bit sore.”
Fox stood down
Jockey Ger Fox was stood down for the day after a fall from Josephine Marcus in the second race. He left the track with a suspected ligament injury to his thumb, which also could be fractured.
ACTING STEWARDS
B. Fitzsimmons, R.S. Martin, F.G. Fitzsimmons, L. McFerran, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
SWEET SHIRLEEN (Mrs M. Mullins): She is getting closer to her first victory. The form of her first run was franked by the winner going on to land a maiden hurdle at Limerick.