Horses To Follow Making Their Seasonal Debuts At Down Royal This Week

Abacadabras for Gordon Elliott started his life over hurdles last season in great style showing clear pace in the final stages of his races

Having landed a decent contest at Gowran on his seasonal debut, he then went on to take a Grade Three at Navan showing clear progression.

Although finishing second on his next start it saw him give his best performance to date when a narrow second to the superstar Envoi Allen in a Grade One at Fairyhouse.

He then headed to the Dublin Racing Festival and he landed his first Grade One of his career in the future Champions Novice Hurdle.

It was all systems go for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and he finished a narrow second to the smart Shishkin in a photo-finish, which looks incredible form.

Staying over hurdles this term he makes his debut in the WKD Hurdle on Friday with the big target looking to be the Champion Hurdle at the festival.

Envoi Allen is unbeaten in all nine of his contests to date which include a point to point, four bumper wins including the Grade One Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham festival and since his switch to hurdles he has swept the field aside on four occasions.

His hurdles career went to plan after winning nicely at Down Royal on his debut when he went on to win in the Grade One Royal Bond Novices Hurdle at Fairyhouse over two miles seeing off his stablemate Abacadabras who has since gone on to win nicely in a Grade One franking the form and finish second in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Off the back of that the superstar was stepped up in trip at Naas in a decent Grade one and took to it well landing the event and it was all systems go for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

He was the banker of the festival and made sure he lived up to his name when sweeping away the field in the final stages showing his stamina.

This season he will go novice chasing and he will start on Friday at Down Royal, where he did last term and he will be looking to keep his unbeaten run going.

He will be one of the most watched jump horses of the season and is already as short as 9/4 for the Marsh Novices' Chase at the festival in March.

Ballyadam is a hugely exciting youngster for Gordon Elliott being bought by Cheveley Park Stud after winning a three mile point to point by four lengths.

The ownership group have really set the national hunt scene alight over the last few years with recruiting Envoi Allen, Malone Road and A Plus Tard to name a few and this five year old could be just as good if not better.

He was seen twice last term, first time finishing third in a decent bumper at Navan before getting off the mark at the second time of asking, winning at Downpatrick by 18 lengths.

It was a breathtaking performance and the scope he takes forward to improve over hurdles this year makes him a very exciting runner and one to follow.

The somewhat forgotten horse last season, Samcro will not be forgotten this season as the the one of a kind eight year old for Gordon Elliott looks to be back to his best.

The gelding was a superstar over hurdles landing the Grade One Ballymore Novices Hurdle at the 2018 Cheltenham festival and then since then went off the boil.

He was taken chasing and landed his debut over fences nicely before falling in the Grade One Drinmore Novices Hurdle when looking sure to make a challenge.

He was poor again in a Grade One behind Faugheen and he kept scoping wrong and looked to be a horse that could not come back to his best.

However, in the Marsh Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham festival it was him and Melon going to the line and in a head bob Samcro got the decision in what was one of the best races across the four day meeting.

The training performance by Elliott to get him to come back from some dreadful runs and looking like a horse who had completely lost his potential and ability, he can once again this season build off his second win at Prestbury Park now stepping out of novice company.

The Ladbrokes Champion Chase on Saturday sees some superstars return to the track and the favourite for the the race is Delta Work.

Having had a superb hurdling and novice chase career, he stepped up to the big time last term and continued his progress by landing back to back Grade One races.

Although only finishing fourth in this event last year the seven year old went on to land back to back Grade One events at Leopardstown in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup.

Although falling short in the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham festival, the Gigginstown owned runner is a highly talented athlete and needs to be watched this season, especially in this event.

Presenting Percy has been a horse that holds bundles of talent, but over the last few seasons has not been able to replicate his win in the 2018 RSA Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

Having been quiet under his ex trainer Pat Kelly for the last few seasons, his owner Philip Reynolds this season decided to switch yards with Grade One winner and now under Gordon Elliott can flourish again.

Having proved his ability in staying contests, he still retains his ability and with his run last time out in the Gold Cup being better than what it looked on the surface, he can build under better tutelage this term.

The Grand National looks to be his big target this term but for the mean time he will mix it with the best chasers in Ireland, starting in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase on Saturday.