Downpatrick afternoon racing tips: Best bets for Saturday, June 15

Just one card in Ireland on Saturday as they go jumping at Downpatrick.

Eight races from the northern venue are set to go from 13:05-17:10 and Enda McElhinney has race-by-race selections for the card for Planet Sport readers.

Don't forget to check out the full racecard, results and live odds in Planet Sport's racing live centre.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

Downpatrick Saturday tips:

13:05 (Downpatrick) Femme Magnifique

13:40 (Downpatrick) Tell Us This

14:15 (Downpatrick) Pettigo

14:50 (Downpatrick) How Decc

15:25 (Downpatrick) Benny Silver

16:35 (Downpatrick) Ocean Legacy

17:10 (Downpatrick) Starcrossed Lover

 

13:05 (Downpatrick) Femme Magnifique

A big-field Mares Maiden Hurdle to kick proceedings off. A Thurles bumper winner in December on her Rules bow, Femme Magnifique now debuts over timber for the champion trainer.

She's picked up experience since, and outran her odds in a graded race at the Punchestown Festival last month, so she has solid claims here and the 5lb claim of Kieran Callaghan does her no harm.

 

13:40 (Downpatrick) Tell Us This

Winners have been infrequent for Gavin Cromwell lately but Tell Us This can provide a welcome score.

He's getting the hang of things over timber, scoring at Down Royal (2m1f, good) last month on second handicap start and he bumped into one since when clear second at Ballinrobe from a 3lb lower mark than this.

 

14:15 (Downpatrick) Pettigo

This Randox (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle looks as open as the numbers suggest and a chance is take on Pettigo.

She's s mare by Derby winner Harzand and she produced her most encouraging effort so far when sixth at Ballinrobe (2m5½f, good to yielding) at the start of May.

That having been her first appearance in 565 days, there is a strong chance she will strip fitter now and this mark is not prohibitive.

 

14:50 (Downpatrick) How Decc

He's a 12-race maiden over timber but How Decc ran some encouraging races last summer, including when third over this C&D in August, beaten just two-lengths.

He's rated 2lb lower now and showed the benefit of his seasonal bow when running well at Tramore a fortnight ago.

The fact he has handled this track before is a major source of encouragement.

 

15:25 (Downpatrick) Benny Silver

Benny Silver couldn't notch a win in the UK for Nigel Twiston-Davies in 11 starts but he shaped with plenty of promise in the context of a race such as this.

His four chase starts for the Naunton handler all had some merit to them, with figures of 3233, and he could shine from a reduced mark with the application of first-time cheekpieces now debuting for new connections.

 

16:00 (Downpatrick) Cocoplum

A tough race to weigh up but Cocoplum could be the answer in the Remembering Caughoo Opportunity Beginners Chase over just shy of three-miles for trainer Colin McBratney.

The Nathaniel mare was a never-nearer third over 2m3f on her chasing introduction in October having mostly fenced well.

She has hurdles form at this longer trip and has solid claims if fit enough to do herself justice after a break.

 

16:35 (Downpatrick) Ocean Legacy

Compensation is the name of the game here for Ocean Legacy. The mare was moving menacingly well over course and distance last month when she came down three fences from home.

She runs off the same mark now, with her rider this time claiming 7lb, and if they navigate the obstacles intact, a third career chasing success, and a second win here, beckons.

 

17:10 (Downpatrick) Starcrossed Lover

Lady Gooner doesn't appear one of the Mullins' leading lights in this sphere and has improvement to find, albeit getting away from testing ground may help.

Patrick Mullins' mount is respected but taken on with Starcrossed Lover for Colm Murphy.

He ran very well behind a Closutton hotpot in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown on debut last month and, on that evidence, has the ability to land a race like this on his first try in bumpers.