Down Royal Friday Preview - 29/10/21

The first race of the day at Down Royal on Friday is the Maiden Hurdle over 2m 6 1/2f and Hollow Games for Gordon Elliott looks set to have a big future over hurdles this term.

The five year old gelding was bought by the well known Bective Stud after absolutely bolting up in a three mile point to point at Turtulla in Ireland.

Fetching £255,000, he was given to Elliott and was first seen in a bumper at Punchestown over two miles and he hosed up by seven lengths.

The son of Beat Hollow was then sent to Leopardstown over Christmas when making it back to back wins, seeing off a nice type for Willie Mullins.

He has not been seen since then and was always bought to be a horse to go over obstacles and looks like a horse that needs a staying trip to thrive.

The gelding gets that on Friday and is one to watch throughout the season.

A nice event in Northern Ireland is the Grade Three Mares Novice Hurdle over 2m 1/2 furlong and the horse that takes the eye is the Gordon Elliott trained Party Central.

The five year old mare has looked a very smart type to date, running to a high standard in four bumpers and then making her hurdles debut last month was a smart winner on debut.

Having shown to be a nice horse when winning last October on bumper debut, she then finished second behind a nice type for Joseph O'Brien.

She stepped up into Grade Two company next time out at the Dublin Racing Festival and was a neck second to the smart Grangee.

The daughter of Yeats rounded off last season by landing a Listed bumper in comfortable style.

Always thought to be a horse for hurdles, she stepped up to 2m4f and got off to a good start, and now getting weight off the field can progress again.

Next up is the three mile Handicap Hurdle and we are taking a chance on the Charles Byrnes trained Temptationinmilan who could be well handicapped.

The five year old will be ridden by handy 5lb claimer Jack Foley who looks to be one of the best up and coming riders in the field.

Having been over both fences and hurdles last term, he started this season back over timber with a good sixth of 17 runners.

Off the same mark of 94 at Sligo last time out he was a much closer third and now up in trip off only 1l higher makes this son of Milan a player.

The feature race of the afternoon is the Grade Two WKD Hurdle and Zanahiyr for Gordon Elliott would be a shock loser of this event.

Zanahiyr was a perfect three from three when being switched to hurdles last term, but lost that record at the Cheltenham festival.

Solid enough when winning his maiden in October, him and favourite Dark Voyager pulled miles clear of the remainder. Zanahiyr being the more professional on the day.

His next start earmarked him as a really smart sort. Winning a Grade Three hurdle he dispatched the well fancied Saint Sam for Willie Mullins without breaking sweat.

Backing up that effort in a Grade Two race for four year olds at Leopardstown, he was sent off favourite for the first time and obliged at a short price, giving 3lbs to Busselton he asserted on the run-in to an impressive victory.

With his form stacking up he went into the Triumph Hurdle a hot favourite, but unfortunately flopped not running the race many thought he would, finishing back in fourth.

Looking to make amends at the Punchestown festival he had to settle for second behind the impressive Jeff Kidder in a Grade One.

His form is far better than any of these rivals and it looks a perfect starting point for the smart gelding.

The final selection of the afternoon comes in the Beginners Chase over 2m 3 1/2f and Grand Paradis for Gordon Elliott looks to have bright future stepping over fences this term.

The five year old made his debut for the yard back in November 2020 when winning a two mile bumper in emphatic style at Fairyhouse.

Stepped up to hurdles in January of this year he finished a fair fourth of 15 in heavy ground behind some more experienced types.

Since then he has gone unbeaten, getting off the mark in fine style over timber at Fairyhouse when beating Grand Bornand by nine lengths and then last time out made it two from two at Thurles.

The performance saw him win on heavy ground by 13 lengths stepping up in trip to 2m5f and now on chase debut looks a smart horse to keep an eye on.