Down Royal Saturday Preview - 31/10/20

The first race of the day is the three year old hurdle where Gordon Elliott looks to have another smart hurdling star for Cheveley Park with Quilixios.

The gelding has only been seen twice in his career, winning in March at Compiegne in France in a conditions hurdle race and from there was bought by the owners and sent over to Ireland.

He made his debut for the yard at Punchestown earlier in the month and hosed up by 13 lengths, showing signs that Elliott could have another Envoi Allen.

This youngster could turn out to be anything but off the back of his last two starts to date, he looks a seriously sharp prospect.

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 and he makes his hurdles debut at Down Royal on Saturday.

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 WKD Handicap Hurdle sees the runners race just over two miles and the Willie Mullins trained Getaway Gorgeous takes the eye at a nice price.

The six year old mare has not done very much wrong in her career to date, never finishing outside of the top two places in all 11 of her events in point to point, bumpers and hurdle contests.

She always runs a cracking race with her best efforts coming in her last two starts when winning a novice Hurdle event at Punchestown and backing that up at Listowel when second on handicap debut.

She still looks to be on a feasible mark and with her strong form line she looks a superb each way bet.

The Ladbrokes Champion Chase sees the first Grade One off the national hunt season and with nine runners heading to post we have a strong selection.

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 the 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 now he will mix it with the best chasers in Ireland, starting in this race on Saturday where he has a live chance if back to his best.

Another cracking contest on the card is the Grade Two Lough Construction Ltd. Chase and the superstar Samcro makes his return.

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 final race of the day is the bumper over 2 miles and 100 yards and on what could be a special day for Cheveley Park Stud Sir Gerhard looks another exceptional prospect.

The five year old is making his debut for the yard having been bought by the owners off the back of hosing up by 12 lengths in a point to point at Boulta.

The gelding was a very expensive buy, costing £400,000 at the Cheltenham sales in December 2019 and the sky is the limit for this star.