Race Preview

5:39 Downpatrick

Monday 31 August 2026 ·7 runners KTB Selection: Finnians Row · 62/100

The 5:39 at Downpatrick is a handicap steeplechase over 2m1f165y on good ground featuring a compact field of seven. With no obvious leader in a race that lacks pace on paper, the KTB numbers point to a steadily-run, tactical contest in which being handy and timing a run will be key. Finnians Row tops the KTB Fit ratings on 62 while the other principals cluster tightly between 55 and 53, underlining a race where course knowledge and proven effectiveness at the trip could prove decisive.

How the race shapes up

The pace shape indicates no natural front-runner, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay. Every horse in the field is a hold-up type who usually produces its effort late, so the race is likely to develop into a sprint for the line from around the home turn. The key question is which of these late runners can best negotiate the steady gallop and deliver at the right moment on a track where positioning is often critical.

The KTB Fit ranking

1Finnians Row KTB Selection62/100

Form PP-110 · Dermot A McLoughlin · Niall Moore(5)

Finnians Row is a smart performer who knows this track well, having won three times from nine runs here including a recent success. He has won twice at today's trip and boasts a solid record on good ground with four wins from eleven starts. The 10-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late. Trainer Dermot A McLoughlin has a 9% strike rate at Downpatrick from 160 runs with an A/E of 1.13 while jockey Niall Moore boasts a 15% strike rate from 20 rides with an A/E of 1.49. Recent form of PP-110 includes two wins and the selection arrives in good order.
2Beggars Rock55/100

Form 63-601 · Ian Patrick Donoghue · Kevin Sexton

Beggars Rock is a smart performer who arrives in decent nick after a clear-cut win at Sligo last month. He drops back in trip today to a distance he has never tried, which asks a fresh question of him, while this is also his first run at Downpatrick. The 7-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late with high confidence. Trainer Ian Patrick Donoghue and jockey Kevin Sexton both hold an 11% strike rate at the track, the former from 75 runs with an A/E of 0.79 and the latter from 123 rides with an A/E of 0.91. He has two wins from nine on good ground with four placed efforts.
3War Correspondent54/100

Form 44U439 · John Joseph Hanlon · Harry Sexton(7)

War Correspondent is high-class on his best days but has become hard to win with and is now 0-49. He has shown little spark in recent starts and arrives here with a modest 6% trainer strike-rate at the track from 268 runs with an A/E of 0.63 plus a 0-from-29 record for jockey Harry Sexton with an A/E of 0. The 7-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late with high confidence. He has two wins from 19 on good ground with six placed efforts. The trip has not really suited him in three attempts and he makes his first visit to Downpatrick today. Trainer and jockey combined are 1-53 with an A/E of 0.45.
4Stuntman Steve53/100

Form 55-PU5 · Gavin Cromwell · Eoghan Finegan(5)

Stuntman Steve is a smart performer who has shown little spark this season and was pulled up on his most recent completed start. He steps up in trip today having failed to land a blow at a similar distance last time, though he does have two wins from ten runs on good ground with three placed efforts. The 7-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late with high confidence. Trainer Gavin Cromwell has a solid 15% strike rate here from 262 runs with an A/E of 0.92 while jockey Eoghan Finegan is operating at 4% from 24 rides with an A/E of 0.47. Trainer and jockey combined are 8-43 with an A/E of 1.20.
5Presenting Lad50/100

Form -920P2 · Mark Michael McNiff · Phillip Enright

Presenting Lad is a useful performer who has placed on both starts at this track and is 4 from 7 when tried around this trip. Recent form is patchy but the return to a course he knows and first-time headgear could sharpen him up. Trainer and jockey both have established records here though neither is especially prolific.
6Piccolo Player46/100

Form 2-5633 · John Patrick Ryan · Daniel King

Piccolo Player is a useful performer who has been consistent of late with three straight placed efforts from his last four starts. He steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question while his record on good ground is limited to a single run. The trainer has a modest 4% strike rate at Downpatrick but the jockey is operating above expectations with an 18% strike rate here from limited rides.
7Rightfolksplease45/100

Form F0/211 · Declan Queally · Kevin Healy(7)

Rightfolksplease is a useful performer who has won over this trip and has already shown his liking for Downpatrick with a victory here from just two runs. He arrives in decent form having won two of his last three starts and acts on good ground. The yard's modest record at the track and the claimer's poor strike-rate here are both negatives.

KTB verdict

Finnians Row is the KTB Selection. A smart performer who knows this track well, having won three times from nine runs here including a recent success, he also has two wins at today's trip and a strong record on good ground. The combination of course form, trip effectiveness and the stronger jockey record at Downpatrick gives him the edge in a race where being handy should pay. His main dangers are Beggars Rock, who arrives in decent nick after a Sligo win, and the potentially well-treated Stuntman Steve if he can rediscover some spark for Cromwell. War Correspondent has the class but has become hard to win with.

KTB Selection Finnians Row

This is the narrative read of the 5:39 Downpatrick. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Downpatrick racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Downpatrick results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.

Questions about this race

Which horse has the strongest course record at Downpatrick?

Finnians Row has won three times from nine runs here including a recent success while Rightfolksplease has won once from two runs and Presenting Lad has been placed once from one run.

How many of these runners have previous form at this trip?

Finnians Row has won twice at today's trip, Presenting Lad is 4 from 7 around this trip, Rightfolksplease has won over this trip, while Beggars Rock, War Correspondent, Stuntman Steve and Piccolo Player are unproven or unsuited at the distance.

Which jockey has the best strike rate at Downpatrick?

Niall Moore has a 15% strike rate at Downpatrick from 20 rides with an A/E of 1.49, Daniel King has an 18% strike rate from 17 rides with an A/E of 1.4, while Kevin Sexton has 11% from 123 rides.

What does the pace shape suggest for race tactics?

The pace shape lacks a leader with medium confidence so it is likely to be a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays. Every runner is a hold-up type who produces its effort late.

Which trainer has the highest strike rate at this track?

Gavin Cromwell has a 15% strike rate at Downpatrick from 262 runs with an A/E of 0.92 while Mark Michael McNiff has 13% from 238 runs with an A/E of 1.01.

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