Today / 17.39 Downpatrick

17.39

Good

Downpatrick Racecourse Style Awards Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £7682.61
  • 2m 1f 165y
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Downpatrick Racecourse Style Awards Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 44U439

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Quirky customer won over fences at Wexford last summer; ran okay in a handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter but well beaten over fences at Galway since; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

2nd Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 54y

15:30 Galway

War Correspondent

10st 0lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Quirky customer won over fences at Wexford last summer and is unexposed as a chaser; okay run over hurdles last time, and small chance if they've got his confidence back (didn't want to know about jumping on his last run over fences).

28/1

Form: 63-601

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Had struggled for form before winning his second start over fences quite convincingly over 2m3f at Wexford three weeks ago; likes good ground or a slight ease and only 5lb higher; on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

8th Aug 2026

Good

2m 3f 20y

16:00 Wexford

Beggars Rock

11st 10lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

1-9 over fences; hasn't really fired in 2026 and failed to exploit lower hurdles mark at Galway on latest when 28-1; needs to rediscover best.

13/2

10th

16

2nd Aug 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 60y

14:20 Galway

Beggars Rock

10st 8lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Both wins have been at around 2m5f, including Kilbeggan beginners' chase last year; just okay run on latest in Wexford handicap hurdle over this trip in May; stamina remains a possible issue.

14/1

Form: 55-PU5

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Had a couple of mishaps over fences and didn't run badly in first-time blinkers over hurdles at Bellewstown last month; could do better with that confidence booster under his belt and the headgear is retained.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

15

4th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 40y

18:18 Bellewstown

Stuntman Steve

11st 5lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Has suffered mishaps over fences lately, equipment failure at Tramore, hampered and unseated at Punchestown; second in this race in 2025; could be interesting in first-time blinkers; however, Fiver Friday appeals as the stable's main hope.

16/1

Form: PP-110 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
In excellent form earlier in the summer, winning twice over 2m3f here; well below his best at Galway last time; up 13lb but his liking for this venue is a significant plus and is much respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

6

28th Jul 2026

Good

2m 2f 54y

17:45 Galway

Finnians Row

11st 9lb

J: Liam McKenna

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

5-33 over fences and arrives on the back of successive front running 19.5f wins at Downpatrick, both on good ground; has gone up a total of 13lb but clearly in good heart and should make another bold bid here.

6/1

1st

10

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 3f 100y

15:45 Downpatrick

Finnians Row

11st 3lb

J: Liam McKenna

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

C&D victory came from the blue after being pulled up in his previous two starts; blinkers (retained) replaced the visor that day; four-time chase winner is up 7lb, has never won off a mark this high but his win was impressive and he was consistent last term.

4/1

Form: 2-5633

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Winning hurdler and unexposed over fences; showed some small improvement when third in a Roscommon handicap chase four weeks ago; more needed but far from impossible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

4th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 142y

19:00 Roscommon

Piccolo Player

11st 12lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Is 1-10 over hurdles and rated 104; two runs over fences; beaten 23l in a handicap chase over this C&D in January off 105; remote third behind progressive Shadow Paddy at Killarney latest; needs to improve plenty on those efforts to take this.

10/1

Form: -920P2

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Six-time winner over hurdles and fences; somewhat in and out this year but was very much on a going day when narrowly beaten in a 1m7f handicap chase at Tramore last time; stable does well here and a clear chance if he can reproduce that; blinkers replace cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

16th Aug 2026

Good

1m 7f 140y

16:35 Tramore

Presenting Lad

12st 0lb

J: Daniel King

T: Mark Michael McNiff

Six-time winner, including over C&D in a novice chase two years ago; form has been in and out over the last 12 months but best effort in that time came over C&D when 4.25l second off 4lb higher in May; below form last twice, pulled up at Wexford 47 days ago; on a good mark if return to this track sparks him up again.

6/1

Form: F0/211 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Has really hit his straps since joining Declan Queally, landing a Wexford handicap chase and a Tramore handicap hurdle in the space of five days; only up 4lb over fences and probably suited by going right-handed; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

13th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

18:48 Tramore

Rightfolksplease

11st 4lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Declan Queally

Downpatrick hurdle winner in 2024 for Paul Flynn; came back from a long absence for this yard with a close second over hurdles at Wexford; got off the mark over fences since at the same track; should go well.

9/4

1st

7

8th Aug 2026

Good

1m 7f 120y

17:05 Wexford

Rightfolksplease

10st 8lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Declan Queally

Sent off at just 9-2 on return from mammoth absence in a handicap hurdle here 16 days ago (16.5f, good) and denied only by a neck; capable off this mark over fences but the 'bounce' factor has to be a concern and has fallen both previous chase runs at this venue.

100/30

Betting Forcast

25/1 War Correspondent, 100/30 Beggars Rock, 10/1 Stuntman Steve, 5/1 Finnians Row, 6/1 Piccolo Player, 9/2 Presenting Lad, 9/4 Rightfolksplease

Verdict

Small field but very open. Finnians Row is very good around here but might have a couple of better-handicapped rivals today. Beggars Rock came back to form at Wexford and is only up 5lb. The one to beat though could well be the hat-trick seeking RIGHTFOLKSPLEASE(nap) who looks to be still improving and should be suited by this track. [Justin O’Hanlon]

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Piccolo Player

SPOTLIGHT:

Rightfolksplease

The Irish Sun:

Stuntman Steve

TOPSPEED:

Piccolo Player

POSTDATA:

Rightfolksplease