Downmexicoway should prove tough nut to crack at Gowran Park
HANDICAP CHASE DEBUT: Downmexicoway should prove tough to beat in today’s Gowran Park feature, the Noreside Catering Handicap Chase. Picture: HEALY RACING
Making his handicap chase debut, Downmexicoway should prove tough to beat in today’s Gowran Park feature, the Noreside Catering Handicap Chase.
On a day which might provide plenty of joy for the in-form partnership of Henry de Bromhead and Darrragh O’Keeffe, this unexposed six-year-old looks likely to be a better chaser than hurdler — he won once in that sphere.
Downmexicoway made his eagerly-awaited chase debut at Killarney and duly delivered, brushing aside Hashtag Pretender and subsequent winner Addragoole.
Last time out, he stepped into Grade Three company at Tipperary and, although he failed by eight lengths to cope with the Willie Mullins-trained Gold Dancer, he finished 14 lengths clear of 150-rated Pied Piper in third spot.
Now, stepping into handicap company off 134, Downmexicoway has rock-solid claims here, although facing more battle-hardened rivals, including Gavin Cromwell’s The King Of Prs, winner of the Dan Moore at Fairyhouse last season.
Fourth to Lossiemouth in the 2024 Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham but disappointing on her sole start over fences (behind Fun Fun Fun at Naas), Lantry Lady might give the De Bromhead team a winning start in the opening mares' beginners chase.
And, on his stable debut, Tip Top, winner of a Thurles bumper for Pat Doyle, makes plenty of appeal in the second division of the four-year-old maiden hurdle.
In Naas tomorrow, Champ Kiely, who lowered the colours of stable-companion Ballyburn in a Grade One at the Punchestown festival on his final start of last season, will face a stiff task under top-weight and over an apparently inadequate trip in the Grade Three Barberstown Castle Chase.
If he’s vulnerable, the one most likely to take advantage is the Gavin Cromwell-trained mare Only By Night, running for the first time in the colours of Robcour.
Successful at listed and Grade Two level last season, this was mare was foiled late by Jango Baie in the incident-filled Arkle at Cheltenham before proving no match for Majborough in a Grade One at Punchestown.
Receiving 11lb from Champ Kiely and racing over her optimum trip, Only By Night might have the edge.
The main focus of attention tomorrow will be the seasonal debut of 163-rated chaser Spillane’s Tower, a dual Grade One winner, off a mark of 130 in the listed Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle.
He bypassed a Grade One engagement in Down Royal last week to wait for softer ground and is difficult to ignore here, off such a handy mark.
11.53 Lantry Lady
12.28 Magic Boum
1.03 Downmexicoway (Nap)
1.38 Bergamasquo
2.13 Tim Toe (NB)
2.45 The Passing Wife
3.20 Los Blanco
3.55 May Call You Back
11.53 Whatcouldhavebeen
12.28 Along The Way
1.03 The King Of Prs
1.38 Harty Cup
2.13 Foxy Footprints
2.45 Thedeviluno
3.20 Welluknow
3.55 Cousin Kate
12.20 Ceroc
12.50 Port Authority
1.20 Positive Energy
1.52 Fruit De Mer (Nap)
2.27 Spillane’s Tower
3.02 Only By Night (NB)
3.37 The Wallpark
4.10 Torpille Dagrostis
12.20 Crecora Hills
12.50 Murat
1.20 Our Lucky Lady
1.52 Newbrook Diamond
2.27 Backtonormal
3.02 Champ Kiely
3.37 Jacob’s Ladder
4.10 Simply Natural
