Andrew’s hard act to Folly on day of drama at Downpatrick

FOLLY Dat, trained by Keith Watson at Armagh, made all the running to claim the Coors Hurdle at Downpatrick yesterday.

A stewards enquiry was called as the Andrew Ring partnered winner appeared to hamper runner up Shine In Dubai in the closing stages but after deliberations the result stood.

The going was altered to yielding after the initial races and the handicap hurdle was not without incident either. The leader, Humps and Bumps, fell three from home and Maighnealta, backed from 20/1, had claims but a very bad mistake by Andrew Lynch’s mount at the penultimate flight allowed Lleyton to head the new leader Blue Skimmer at the last only to be overhauled late by the Tom Mc Court trained Muroor with Conor Maxwell in the saddle in the final hundred yards.

Drama followed post-race with dual stewards’ enquiries when the originally winner was disqualified for an incorrect weight when weighing in and the placings were revised with Lleyton awarded the race, supplying Barry Geraghty with a winner for trainer Jimmy Finn. Lusis Naturea was promoted to third.

Mother and son duo, Mags and Danny Mullins combined to land the opener with Augusta Gold. The mare, runner up on both recent starts, had life made easier when Perfect In Pink unseated her rider at the final flight having just been headed by the winner. Trainer Mullins said: “She still has to go out and do it — she’s genuine and she’s a super galloper. She runs well every day and she’s a lovely mare. I’m delighted. I’d say when she sees a fence she will be better. There’s plenty of scope for fences.”

Babbling Stream ran out the easy winner of the feature hurdle. The winner ran second for most of the race before leading prior to the last and asserting, giving claiming rider Hugh Morgan back-to-back victories on the Henry De Bromhead trained runner.

The well supported favourite Cartwright was last for most of race and blundered at the last when attempting to improve.