Downpatrick Race 2:11 Randox Maiden Hurdle

TimeWise Master Top Two Rated Horses:

1. First Ascent (IRE): Total rating of 234.
2. Sea Eagle: Total rating of 233.

First Ascent (IRE)

• Recent Form & Comments: This four-year-old has shown decent efforts in defeat on the Flat for Matthew Smith, achieving a rating of 77. He is making his stable debut for Gordon Elliott.
• Chances in Today’s Race: First Ascent (IRE) is an interesting contender given his solid Flat rating and the backing of a top trainer. His strength lies in his proven Flat ability, which suggests raw talent. However, a significant weakness is his lack of proven form over hurdles, as this is his hurdling debut. He is suitable for the 2m2f trip on Yielding ground, assuming he can transfer his Flat ability to jumps.

Sea Eagle

• Recent Form & Comments: This five-year-old is rated 83 on the level with three wins from 7.5f to 10.5f, including on heavy ground. He is making his hurdling debut today.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Sea Eagle holds a strong chance, with the Spotlight giving him preference due to his high Flat rating and proven ability on softer conditions, which bodes well for today’s Yielding ground. His main strength is his Flat class and ground suitability. His weakness, like First Ascent, is that he is unproven over hurdles.

Spotlight Verdict: Former Flat performers First Ascent and SEA EAGLE are the most interesting, with preference for the latter given his rating of 83 and one of his three wins coming on softer conditions. Due respect is given to the former following some good runs in defeat and he is the choice of Kennedy for hurdling debut. The drop in trip is of concern for High Court Cave, while a repeat of the effort exhibited by October Hill at Tramore last time would bring her into the equation.

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Downpatrick Race 2:46 MB McGrady And Co Chartered Accountants Handicap Hurdle

TimeWise Master Top Two Rated Horses:

1. Must Meet Cecil (IRE): Total rating of 260.
2. Arcland (IRE): Total rating of 249.

Must Meet Cecil (IRE)

• Recent Form & Comments: This seven-year-old has a record of five hurdle wins. He has shown decent efforts in his last three outings, including a “cracking effort” over 2m at Kilbeggan most recently. He has been raised 1lb and will wear a visor, replacing blinkers.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Must Meet Cecil (IRE) is a strong player, especially after his excellent run at Kilbeggan. His strengths include extensive hurdling experience and good recent form. The 1lb rise and change of headgear are minor concerns (weaknesses), but his overall form makes him a serious contender for this 2m2f Handicap Hurdle on Yielding ground.

Arcland (IRE)

• Recent Form & Comments: This nine-year-old has been in “good form on the Flat and over hurdles” since joining the Cromwell yard, notably being “just denied on the level at Navan last time”. He runs off the same mark as when finishing fourth in a Killarney handicap hurdle.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Arcland (IRE) is considered a key player, having demonstrated strong form on both the Flat and over hurdles, and is well-handicapped based on a previous respectable run. His versatility and consistent performances are his main strengths. No significant weaknesses are highlighted, and he is well-suited to the 2m2f Handicap Hurdle on Yielding ground.

Spotlight Verdict: In fine form since joining the Cromwell yard, ARCLAND was fourth in a stronger Killarney handicap on his last hurdle run and was just denied on the Flat last time. Must Meet Cecil ran a cracker at Kilbeggan last time and is a player on that form. No More Silver is of interest on handicap debut.

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Downpatrick Race 3:21 Tennents NI Handicap Hurdle (0-100)

TimeWise Master Top Two Rated Horses:

1. Tir Og (IRE): Total rating of 254.
2. Silent Dawn (IRE): Total rating of 235.

Tir Og (IRE)

• Recent Form & Comments: This four-year-old secured her first win on her ninth start at Sligo (2m1f, good), benefiting from a good front-running ride. She carries a 5lb penalty for this victory.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Tir Og (IRE) is considered the one to beat, having won impressively last time out. Her strength is her recent winning form and front-running style. The 5lb penalty is her primary weakness in this handicap. She is suitable for the 2m2f trip on Yielding ground given her recent win on good conditions.

Silent Dawn (IRE)

• Recent Form & Comments: This six-year-old has not won in 12 starts but came “mighty close” over this course and distance (good) last time, finishing second by a head. His form is described as “in and out,” and the ground conditions (Yielding) are a “slight unknown” for him. He runs off 2lb higher today.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Silent Dawn (IRE) has a good chance if he can replicate his last C&D run. His strengths include proven course and distance form. His weaknesses are his maiden status, inconsistent form, and the uncertainty regarding his performance on Yielding ground.

Spotlight Verdict: There could be a few lurkers here with a number entering handicap company, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see one of the debutants take the prize. However, on the form to date TIR OG is the pick of them following a good front-running win at Sligo last time and may be capable of going in again off 5lb higher. Silent Dawn is another interesting runner following his head defeat over C&D last time and a repeat of that could be good enough.

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Downpatrick Race 3:56 Charles And Kathleen Caldwell Memorial Rated Novice Hurdle

TimeWise Master Top Two Rated Horses:

1. Our Zebo (IRE): Total rating of 285.
2. Faceman (IRE): Total rating of 273.

Our Zebo (IRE)

• Recent Form & Comments: This six-year-old has won two of his three hurdles victories over this course and distance, including his last win off a mark of 109 (good). He has also shown decent runs in prior chasing starts and is in “fine spirits” and “loves this track”.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Our Zebo (IRE) is a strong contender due to his excellent course and distance record and current good form. His strengths are his proven track and trip suitability. A potential weakness is that “softer conditions would pose a question”, which is relevant on today’s Yielding ground.

Faceman (IRE)

• Recent Form & Comments: This six-year-old is in “flying form,” having secured a maiden victory at Kilbeggan in July, followed by a runner-up finish and another win in a novice race at Tramore (2m4f, good). He “shapes as though he should appreciate this trip”.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Faceman (IRE) is highly regarded due to his rapid progression and recent winning form. His main strengths are his current excellent form and expected suitability for the longer trip. No explicit weaknesses are mentioned. He is well-suited to the 2m5½f trip on Yielding ground, building on his good ground form.

Spotlight Verdict: All six runners carry a semblance of a chance. Following an easy victory when upped in trip at this track last time, PENNY PERFECT is the choice of Kennedy and makes most appeal. Faceman is in flying form at the moment and this trip could unlock further improvement. Our Zebo loves this track, with two of his three hurdle victories coming here, and is another who firmly enters calculations.

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Downpatrick Race 4:26 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase

TimeWise Master Top Two Rated Horses:

1. Gina Moon (IRE): Total rating of 206.
2. Rebellious Gale (IRE): Total rating of 206.

Gina Moon (IRE)

• Recent Form & Comments: This six-year-old is a maiden over hurdles and has run “reasonably well on some of her four chase starts”. However, she has been “poor the last twice and has to do much better”. She is one of three runners for the Gordon Elliott yard.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Gina Moon (IRE) faces a challenging task given her recent poor form. While from a top yard, her current performances are a significant weakness. Her prior chase experience is a strength, but she needs a considerable improvement to contend in this 2m2f Beginners Chase on Yielding ground.

Rebellious Gale (IRE)

• Recent Form & Comments: This nine-year-old has a hurdle record of 1-20 but has posted two solid runs in defeat over 3m. He has run “well enough in three chase starts”.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Rebellious Gale (IRE) brings some chase experience and decent form over longer trips. His strength is his proven stamina. A major weakness is that this 2m2f trip “might be a bit sharp” for him compared to his recent 3m runs. He is suitable for a chase but the distance is a concern for today’s race on Yielding ground.

Spotlight Verdict: This is tricky. Mickey Cohen and Sea Of Doubt have chances but won’t want the ground to deteriorate further. Lightning Legs and Stretchemout look the best of the Elliott pair while Quarry Tiepy is a point winner so can’t be ruled out. However, a chance is taken on PARKGARVE, who ran well over hurdles here last time and his yard does well here too.

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Downpatrick Race 5:01 Peter Fitzpatrick & Sons Estate Agents And Chartered Surveyors Handicap Chase

TimeWise Master Top Two Rated Horses:

• Please note: The provided numerical data for this specific race does not include a ‘Total’ TimeWise rating column, preventing the identification of the Master Top Two Rated horses from TimeWise ratings. Therefore, the assessment below will focus on the horses highlighted in the Spotlight Verdict.

Le Grand Vert (Highlighted in Spotlight Verdict)

• Recent Form & Comments: This nine-year-old is a two-time winner over fences, with his last win at Ayr in March (3m, soft) off a mark of 99. He was disappointing in his three subsequent starts, all on good ground, but his “best form is on softer”.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Le Grand Vert is the “nap” of the spotlight verdict and has a strong chance, particularly if the ground remains on the softer side (Yielding). His strengths are his proven ability on soft ground over a similar distance and a favorable weight compared to his last win. His recent “disappointing” runs were on unsuitable good ground, so they are not a true reflection of his ability on today’s conditions. He is highly suitable for this 2m7½f Handicap Chase.

Tango Theatre (Highlighted in Spotlight Verdict)

• Recent Form & Comments: This ten-year-old is a point winner who has been “tailed off and pulled up” in his two previous chasing runs under rules. However, he showed “encouragement” in recent hurdles form, with back-to-back runner-up finishes before a “wide margin victory at Sligo (3m1f, good)”.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Tango Theatre presents a mixed profile. His recent hurdles form is excellent, suggesting he is in good shape. His strength is this recent impressive hurdles victory. The major weakness, however, is the “question marks as to whether he can bring that form to chasing” given his poor previous chase efforts. He faces a challenge in this 2m7½f Handicap Chase on Yielding ground due to his unreliable chase form.

Spotlight Verdict: Failing to get his preferred ground in his last three starts, LE GRAND VERT (nap) is capable of a bold show and runs off just 1lb higher since an easy victory at Ayr in March. Tango Theatre was a supremely comfortable winner over hurdles last time but there are question marks as to whether he can bring that form to chasing. Betty Dutton and Hardy Diamond are others who can get involved.

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Downpatrick Race 5:35 J Murdoch Contracts Flat Race

TimeWise Master Top Two Rated Horses:

1. Moja Dama (FR): Total rating of 264.
2. Bells Grove (IRE): Total rating of 200.

Moja Dama (FR)

• Recent Form & Comments: This four-year-old “well-bred French import” ran a “decent race” on her hooded debut at Kilbeggan, finishing beaten 6l. She is expected to have “improved from that and go closer today with hood retained”.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Moja Dama (FR) is expected to improve significantly from her promising debut. Her strengths are her good breeding, a decent debut run, and anticipated improvement. A weakness noted by the spotlight is that she, along with Bells Grove, “don’t set a particularly high bar” based on their initial outings, and they may be “upstaged” by a well-bred newcomer. She is suitable for this 2m2f Flat Race on Yielding ground.

Bells Grove (IRE)

• Recent Form & Comments: This four-year-old finished “beaten 6l in third on debut at Sligo over 2m2f, rallying after being outpaced”. He is “entitled to improve from that and go closer today”.
• Chances in Today’s Race: Bells Grove (IRE) also has a good chance of improvement after a solid debut. His strengths are a respectable debut performance and expected progression. Similar to Moja Dama, the spotlight suggests that his debut performance, while good, doesn’t set a high bar, making him vulnerable to strong newcomers. He is suitable for the 2m2f Flat Race on Yielding ground.

Spotlight Verdict: Mojo Dama and Bells Grove ran to a similar level on debuts, should have improved since and look players today. However, they don’t set a particularly high bar and maybe the well-bred MINELLA JURY could upstage them on debut. Tropical Twist is also a respected newcomer.