Drumhart wins a 2nd at Downpatrick

Colin McBratney saddled the first and fourth home in the J For Jaguar Handicap Chase at Downpatrick as Drumhart earned the headlines by winning under Sean Flanagan.

The successful 11/2 shot got a patient steer from Flanagan, and he was produced with perfect timing to beat Coldstonesober and Russian Regent by three lengths and three and a half lengths.

Drumhart's stable companion Abbey Lane looked promising in the run for a while but he faded to be eight and a half lengths off the principals in fourth.

"It was a peach of a ride," enthused McBratney.

He added: "We did a palate operation on him. The last day we ran him in Punchestown the ground was too fast for him, he just didn't let himself down. Horses for courses - he's a big horse and he loves it around here. Maybe with his wind he can travel and gets more breath as he can freewheel down the hill. I'm well pleased. It was a nice prize to win.

"We'll look at a nice handicap somewhere. The Blazers would suit him but who knows, he has to go up a long way before we get to the Galway Plate stage. He could tip over to Perth, there's a nice prize on the 10th of July. It's a 25 grand race. He's still a novice too so we have options."

A. Ring, rider of Indian Fairy trained by Eoin Doyle, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having never travelled during this race.

(MG & EM)