Carrigmoornaspruce appeals most at Royal Down

Elsewhere, Donnacha O’Brien’s filly Aegina can take opening two-year-old fillies’ maiden at Dundalk

Fri, 31 Oct, 2025 - 05:35

John Ryan

Carrigmoornaspruce, from the in-form yard of Declan Queally, should be tough beat in the Irish EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle in Down Royal on Friday.

It’s the first stage of the track’s traditional two-day meeting which launches the jumps season proper, featuring the first Grade One contest of the campaign, the BetVictor Champion Chase, on Saturday.

Gordon Elliott normally dominates this meeting and saddled four winners on the Friday card 12 months ago.

But, while the Cullentra outfit will reintroduce the likes of The Yellow Clay and Romeo Coolio on Friday, it’s Carrigmoornapsuce that makes most appeal in the Grade Three mares’ event, won two years ago by Brighterdaysahead.

Queally’s mare won three bumpers, most notably a Grade Three mares’ contest at the Punchestown festival in April when beating Seo Linn.

She looked smart when scoring on her hurdling bow at Listowel last month, making all to beat Run For Mahler and Amen Kate, both of whom have franked the form.

With Seán O’Keeffe on board for the first time, Carrigmoornaspruce gets the vote to outpoint the Mullins runner Cameletta Vega and Gordon Elliott’s pair Blue Waters and Getaway Beo.

With a hurdle rating of 150 and rock-solid Grade One form in that discipline, Romeo Coolio is a fascinating chasing recruit and will be expected to land the BetVictor Beginners Chase.

He landed his Grade One at Leopardstown last Christmas before finishing third to Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and runner-up to Salvator Mundi at Aintree.

There will be few more exciting novices going chasing this season. And he’s a confident choice to beat Henry de Bromhead’s Koktail Divin.

Earlier, despite slight reservations about the trip, which is undoubtedly short of his best, The Yellow Clay should continue Elliott’s domination of the listed Bottlegreen Hurdle, which he has won for the last four years.

Winner of the Grade One Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle and runner-up to The New Lion in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham before falling at Punchestown, this six-year-old will be stepping up to three miles at Christmas, but should have the class to account for his four rivals, including stable-companion Casheldale Lad, who will be in receipt of 8lb.

There’s also Flat action in Dundalk tonight where Donnacha O’Brien’s filly Aegina, third to Ipanema Queen in a listed event over course and distance last time, might have the edge over Ballydoyle filly Institute in the opening two-year-old fillies’ maiden.

And Johnny’s Oasis, up 6lb for his defeat of subsequent winner Drafted last time, might follow-up for Ado McGuinness in the one-mile Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap.

DOWN ROYAL

Selections

1.02 Theflyingking

1.32 Schiehallion

2.02 Carrigmoornaspruce (Nap)

2.37 The Yellow Clay

3.12.Trasna Na Pairce

3.47 Romeo Coolio

4.20 Skerry Hill

Next Best

1.02 Some Song

1.32 Georgia Celena