A great atmosphere is assured at Downpatrick © Photo Healy Racing
There are two Irish meetings today with jumping action this afternoon at Downpatrick plus the return of Friday evening racing on the polytrack at Dundalk.
A seven-race card at Downpatrick gets underway at 1.50 and the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase could provide a popular winner in the shape of the Henry de Bromhead-trained Ingenious Stroke
The point-to-point winner has shown promise in handicap hurdles and now switches to fences in a race for horses with a hurdle rating of 102 or less.
John McConnell and Gordon Elliott are always a force at this venue and again are well represented throughout the afternoon, while it may be significant that Willie Mullins just sends the one runner up north with Doyen Flyer making her debut in the bumper.
Selective watering has been carried out at Downpatrick where the going is currently described as good to yielding, yielding in places. The forecast is for a dry day with sunny spells.
The first on an eight-race card at Dundalk goes to post at 4.55 where Congo River looks set to go off at odds-on for Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.
The O’Brien/Lordan combination could double up later on in the Join On Instagram @dundalk_stadium Race (8.00) where Cork maiden winner Gulliver’s Travels faces just three rivals.
Billy Lee and Colin Keane continue their battle for the Flat jockeys’ championship with six and five rides respectively on the card. Lee looks to have his best chance aboard Arinniti in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden (5.25).
