Gordon Elliott's winter stars set to run riot at Down Royal
Mange Tout and Jack Kennedy win the Boodles 4YO Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) for owner Robcour and trainer Gordon Elliott with groom Ronan Galway
Down Royal’s two-day flagship festival is traditionally where Gordon Elliott’s winter stars begin their season and the Meath handler looks certain to run riot again this year.
Elliott has been especially dominant in the bottlegreen Hurdle, winning the last five renewals of the listed contest, a record Mange Tout can enhance by landing the spoils on Friday.
Victorious on her Irish debut at this meeting last year, Mange Tout then got the better of the classy Narciso Has in a Fairyhouse Grade Three next time out.
However, the tables were turned when the pair met at the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF), Mange Tout finishing behind both Narciso Has and Selma De Vary.
Connections opted to swerve the Cheltenham Festival and wait for Aintree in April, a decision that paid dividends as Mange Tout crowned a fine season with a Grade One success.
Mange Tout must concede race fitness to stablemate El Cairos and Noel Meade’s Blake on her seasonal reappearance but this classy filly ought to be able to do so in the hands of Jack Kennedy.
Elliott and Kennedy should also collect in the BetVictor Beginners Chase where useful hurdler Ballyfad is almost impossible to oppose on his first start over the bigger obstacles.
Like Mange Tout, Ballyfad was successful at this meeting last year and followed up another bumper success at Punchestown with a winning start to life over hurdles at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
Stepped up to Grade One company at the DRF, Ballyfad ran a cracker when going down by a short head to Talk The Talk.
He was perhaps still feeling the effects of that run when disappointing in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham before he ended his season by finishing third in an Aintree Grade One.
He should be even better over fences and is fancied to take this en route to better things.
Stablemate With Nolimit ended last season by lowering the colours of Champion Bumper hero Mourne Rambler in a Punchestown Grade One and the Gigginstown House stud-owned four-year-old can’t be opposed in the opening race on the card, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.
The bumper ought to be more competitive but Premier Division can do the business for Elliott in the hands of Harry Swan.
One race likely to elude Elliott on Friday is the feature, the Grade Three Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle, which can go the way of Switch From Diesel.
Twice successful over hurdles in May and June, the Ross O’Sullivan-trained mare was no match for exciting prospect Witches Familiar at Gowran Park earlier this month but time may well prove that there was no shame in that.
This looks a good opportunity for Switch From Diesel to get back to winning ways.
There’s also a seven-race card at Dundalk where the feature, the The BAR 1 Betting `Bet 10 Get 50' Handicap, can go the way of Big Gossey.
The likeable nine-year-old is best known for his exploits at the Curragh but he has also run with credit at Dundalk in the past. Another bold bid can be expected.
1.00 With Nolimit.
1.30 Juke Box Rock.
2.00 Switch From Diesel (Nap).
2.35 Mange Tout.
3.10 Farrokh.
3.45 Ballyfad.
4.20 Premier Division (NB).
1.00 Water Mill.
1.30 Dark Lieutenant.
2.00 Alliteration.
2.35 Blake.
3.10 Rightfolksplease.
3.45 Kazansky.
4.20 Passenger.
5.30 Southern Boulevard.
6.00 Blue Anthem.
6.30 Big Gossey.
7.00 Wearing Stars.
7.30 Suir Monad.
8.00 Go Out.
8.30 Nermal.
5.30 Pure Power.
6.00 Jordan Breeze.
6.30 Mehman.
7.00 Lookingforarainbow.
7.30 Daler.
8.00 Prada's World.
8.30 Serenity Blue.
