RACING:DUMBARTON WASN'T bred for the purpose of running hurdle races in desperately testing ground conditions but Gordon Elliott's four-year-old can get today's Downpatrick fixture off to a winning start.

The going will be different to the strand at Laytown where the well-bred son of Danehill Dancer out of an Irish Oaks runner-up ran earlier in the month when third to Dream Applause over seven furlongs. That came after a couple of attempts at hurdling, the second of which saw him fall when going well in a race where one of today’s opponents, Faustina Pius, eventually ran third.

A winner on the flat for Michael Stoute last year, Dumbarton looks open to improvement while Faustina Pius and Westhaven have had plenty of chances to win over hurdles. Champion trainer Willie Mullins sends three horses North from his Co Carlow base and the pair of Zadarska and Shes Tensixtysix both look to hold good chances. Clara More ran a decent third to Fosters Cross at Galway and a 109 rating could be good enough to land the first of the Beginners Chases.

Downpatrick will have an 8pm inspection this morning.