Change of venue does little to faze Downforce in Listed victory

The Listed Cork Stakes provided a familiar result with the Willie McCreery-trained gelding Downforce winning the feature contest for the second year in a row after overcoming a disappointing seasonal debut last time out.

The son of Fast Company is well known as a mudlark, and a change of tactics worked a treat this time as Billy Lee sent him to the front early. With the run of the race guaranteed from that point, he quickened well from the front and was holding odds-on favourite Son Of Rest comfortably.

McCreery plans to make hay while the ground is desperate and if Naas goes ahead on Friday, a tilt at the 7f Gladness Stakes is being contemplated. He said: “We’ll certainly have a look at it, this is his ground and if it’s barely raceable again we will have to have a look.”