Political Policy gets the vote for triumph at Downpatrick

POLITICAL Policy is taken to land the Major William Brownlow Memorial Hurdle, tomorrow’s feature race at Downpatrick.

The selection, trained by Gavin Cromwell, won at the venue last month beating Count Simon. However, all seven runners in the race have claims.

Eight Till Late was a good second on the flat at Leopardstown on Thursday, while The Plan Man ran well at Down Royal re- centlyandGoAnotherOnewon at Perth last month.

Cartwright has Davy Russell (right) aboard, the champion jockey returning to the saddle after a bruising fall at Roscommon on Tuesday while Barry Geraghty partners Time For Mabel. Babbling Stream could prove the main danger though.

Smiling Jessica could complete a double for Cromwell in the Coors Hurdle. The selection was runner-up at Worcester on his most recent effort.

Lady Of The Sea appears the danger, while Grand National winning jockey Derek Fox is a notable booking for the Mark McNiff-trained Pump Road.

The Mags Mullins-trained Agusta Gold can open her account over flights in the first race, with the trainer’s son Danny in the saddle having finished runner-up on both latest starts. The Gordon Elliott-trained Dalouga looks next best, while

Fox partners Perfect In Pink for Sligo handler McNiff, who has an excellent strike rate at the track.

Cock A Doodle Doo gave a game front running display to win at Sligo on Thursday and, along with Make My Heart Fly and Maighealta, makes most appeal in the handicap hurdle, while recent Galway Plate winning jockey Mark Enright is enlisted by Shark Hanlon for Global Racing. Maighealta, a previous course winner despite shouldering top weight, gets the vote.

Tranquil Magic, Miss Sassie, Caerleon Kate and Mill Quest form the short list in the mares handicap hurdle. The first named — a winner and twice placed on his last three starts at the venue — just gets preference over the lat- ter which finished runner-up at the Galway Festival.

Present In Court and Turbo are both bumper winners at the course, but the latter also finished second to Ravenhill over hurdles at the track and is taken to land the long distance maiden hurdle, while Sonowyouno represents trainer Edward O’Grady and top rider Geraghty.

Dermot Weld has a rare runner at the track with Neptune in the bumper following a pleasing debut at the Galway Festival and Finny Maguire again booked.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins regularly produces bumper winners on their debut and has Rebel Og engaged with son Patrick aboard, while Tom Taaffe runs State Of Cognac — a good fourth at the Maze, partnered by his son Pat.

Everybreathyoutake won a Newry point to point and has Downpatrick rider Declan Lavery aboard, while top local amateur Mark O’Hare takes the mount on Geordiebest for Templepatrick trainer Graham McKeever.

SELECTIONS: 2.05 Agusta Gold 2.40 Political Policy 3.15 Maighealta 3.50 Tranquil Magic 4.25 Turbo 4.55 Smiling Jessica 5.30 Neptune