DESPITE the fact that it was one of the busiest weekends of the British hunt racing season to-date with seven meetings, the only locally-bred winner I could find was Butte Montana who landed the Level 2 conditions race for novice riders at Shelfield Park on Saturday.

Owned and trained by Tim Underwood and ridden by Molly Landau, the eight-year-old Presenting gelding was bred by Richard Irwin out of the Old Vic mare My Cool Lady who won the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association mares’ premier bumper at the 2010 Punchestown Festival when trained by Sneezy Foster for the late John Halliday.

On the track there were wins for the Kathleen McKeever-bred eight-year-old Whistleinthedark (Fame And Glory – Last Of Many, by Lahib) at Kempton on Saturday when the Colm McHenry-bred 10-year-old Cash To Ash (Westerner – Knocklayde Rose, by Even Top) won at Newcastle.

On Tuesday, the Roy Wilson-bred 10-year-old Hawthorn Cottage (Gold Well – Miss Kilkeel, by Religiously) won at Market Rasen and, on Wednesday at Haydock, there was a win for the Gerald McPolin-bred eight-year-old Equus Dreamer (Getaway – Thornleigh Blossom, by Presenting).

THE team at Downpatrick are gearing up for the track’s first fixture of the year – which is also its most prestigious – the Randox Ulster National meeting on Sunday next, April 2nd.

The featured three-and-a-half-mile chase, which has been running since 1939, has a prize fund of €50,000 and Randox is being backed up by some other loyal sponsors on the day such as Toals Bookmakers, Boardsmill Stud, WKD, The Tote, Cosy Roof plus the family of the late Billie and Bertie FitzGerald.

There will be live music before and after racing – with the Downshire Brass Band making a welcome appearance – and free face-painting for all young racing enthusiasts.

Tickets are available through the Downpatrick racecourse website and all those purchased online before midnight tonight will be entered into a free draw to win a pair of tickets to the Randox Grand National at Aintree in April.

There will also be a racecard draw on the day to win 500 litres of home heating oil generously sponsored by Strangford Fuels.

MANY congratulations to point-to-point enthusiast Alistair Smyth who celebrates a big roundy birthday this weekend. From Glynn outside Larne, Alistair travels to every meeting in the Northern Region with other regulars Bob McKnight and Alex Hall.