Preview downpatrick 26th Aug

Champion trainer Willie Mullins takes aim at the three maiden hurdles on offer at Downpatrick and looks to have his best chance with Dr Schultz in the opener.

The five-year-old has had just the three runs but put in an eyecatching performance last time when beating Cool As A Breeze by 12 lengths easily in a Kilbeggan bumper.

The drop down to an extended two and a quarter miles for the Ladies Day At Downpatrick Maiden Hurdle (2.35) should not be an inconvenience and he does not seem to mind the quick ground, so a prominent display can be expected.

Mullins saddles Bowfinger in the Giltspur Scientific Maiden Hurdle and Zadarska in the Fran Murrin Memorial Maiden Hurdle, but both face stiff opposition.

Bowfinger meets Romeo Is Bleeding and Stay In My Heart, both of whom finished runner-up last time, and the former has been knocking on the door for some time and would not be winning out of turn.

Zadarska bumps into the Tony Mullins-trained Sam Da Vinci, who has been placed in four bumpers and has shown similar consistent form in his runs over jumps. He certainly shouldn't be far away.

Downpatrick regular Pink Goddess goes into the Win A Diamond Ring Today Handicap Hurdle as a last-time-out course and distance winner, but could be anchored by weight and has the likes of Hold Em Cowboy, Daytime Dreamer and The Gnathologist to contend with.

Jamsie Hall fell last time and before that made no impact in the Galway Plate, but he will be more at home in the Downpatrick Handicap Hurdle, though Lancing is lurking at the bottom of the weights for the in-form Tony Martin.

Pestal And Mortar won a beginners chase at Wexford last time and reverts to the smaller obstacles for the Willie Murphy Jewellers Downpatrick Handicap Hurdle, while Waylander gets another big chance in the Meagan Green Miss Northern Ireland Ladies INH Flat Race.