It is Remember Envoi Allen Champion Chase Day at Down Royal on Saturday, the 3m Grade 1 feature attracting a strong field of seven, with interest from both sides of the Irish sea.
The seven-race fixture, which kicks off with informative juvenile and maiden hurdles, also sees some competitive handicap action, a Grade 2 Racing Post Chase, and a big-field bumper.
Saturday's Down Royal Lucky 15 tips
13:00 Down Royal - Kenough @ 4/5
14:05 Down Royal - Ben Hur @ 10/3
15:15 Down Royal - Fleur In The Park @ 11/2
15:50 Down Royal – Jacob’s Ladder @ 3/1
13:00 Down Royal - Kenough @ 4/5
Rider | JJ Slevin |
Trainer | Joseph Patrick O’Brien |
Owner | H O S Syndicate |
Age | 3 |
Overall Form | 3 |
Gordon Elliott has won this with some notable names in recent seasons, including Qullixios, Wodhooh and Mange Tout, so Contador, his only representative this time around, demands obvious respect.
However, that gelding suffered a comprehensive defeat on his hurdling debut at Punchestown, weakening quickly from the second-last and has plenty to prove.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Kenough finished 33 lengths ahead of that rival when third at Punchestown and should be capable of confirming his superiority.
The selection ran to a Racing Post Rating of 86 on only his second Flat start over 1m2f at the Curragh last month and has obvious potential as a hurdler, particularly if jumping more fluently than he did at Punchestown.
Stats
- Kenough shaped encouragingly when third on his hurdling debut at Punchestown, well ahead of one of today’s chief rivals
- Joseph O’Brien has an outstanding strike-rate of 29% at Down Royal over the past five years (5-17)
- Favourites have won nine of the past 10 runnings of this race
14:05 Down Royal - Ben Hur @ 10/3
Rider | Sam Ewing |
Trainer | Noel Meade |
Owner | PL Polly & Micheal Dorman |
Age | 4 |
Overall Form | 215-2 |
Noel Meade’s Ben Hur impressed with the ease with which he travelled into contention on last month’s handicap debut and, although he failed to justify favouritism on that occasion, it was a hugely promising return to hurdling and should set him up perfectly for this assignment.
The four-year-old got off the mark over hurdles at the second attempt, landing a Fairyhouse maiden last December before acquitting himself well behind subsequent Grade 1 scorer Narciso Has at the Dublin Racing Festival in February.
Successful on the Flat at Leopardstown in August, he proved his well-being when finding only one too good in a Listed hurdle off a mark of 124 at Listowel last month.
This represents a drop in grade and is surely a big player off 3lb higher.
Stats
- Ben Hur ran a big pb in defeat at Listowel last month, bettering his previous highest Rating Post Rating by 13lb
- He’s fully effective on ground ranging from heavy to good
- He’s still unexposed after just four hurdles outing and this represents a drop in grade
15:15 Down Royal - Fleur In The Park @ 11/2
Rider | Cian Quirke |
Trainer | Andrew Slattery |
Owner | Mrs Margaret O’Rourke |
Age | 7 |
Overall Form | 12224/132442/321251-21 |
Andrew Slattery has enjoyed a fabulous year both on the Flat and over jumps and Fleur In The Park could be a real star for him this season, judged on his smooth defeat of Blood Destiny in a Grade 2 over 2m4f at Gowran Park last month.
The seven-year-old showed smart form over hurdles and ranked highly as a novice last season, landing the Grade 1 Willowwarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in April before chasing home Western Fold over 3m1f in the Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival later that month.
However, he looked bigger and stronger than ever on his reappearance and took his form to a new level, recording a Racing Post Rating of 162, a figure that reads well in the context of former winners of this race. That’s entitled to have brought him physically and a return to 3m holds no fears.
Stats
- Fleur In The Park has shown major improvement since going chasing, improving from a Racing Post Rating of 133 up to 162
- He’s unbeaten in two starts on the forecast good to yielding ground
- Andrew Slattery, who saddled a total of 21 jumps winners last season, has already had 17 this term and is operating at a strike-rate of 20%
15:50 Down Royal – Jacob’s Ladder @ 3/1
Rider | Jack Kennedy |
Trainer | Gordon Elliott |
Owner | Gigginstown House Stud |
Age | 7 |
Overall Form | 1/217511P/2312114-3 |
Jacob’s Ladder was likely feeling the effects of a long season when disappointing in the Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival in April, but he’d otherwise enjoyed a fine campaign and looks the one to be with in this.
The seven-year-old has won three times from only seven starts over fences and has shown steady progress in this discipline since having cheekpieces applied, winning in Listed and then Grade 3 company following a beginners’ chase victory.
Officially rated 148, he’s well treated on these terms and is unlikely to be found wanting in terms of fitness considering his trainer’s excellent record at this meeting.
Stats
- Jacob’s Ladder has won two of his four races he’s contested over this race distance
- Gordon Elliott has won five of the last six runnings of this race
- Jack Kennedy has a 38% strike-rate and shows a level stakes profit of £13.71 at this track over the past five years
Saturday's Down Royal Lucky 15 tips
13:00 Down Royal - Kenough @ 4/5
14:05 Down Royal - Ben Hur @ 10/3
15:15 Down Royal - Fleur In The Park @ 11/2
15:50 Down Royal – Jacob’s Ladder @ 3/1
Tipster's Recent Winners
Marcus Buckland has enjoyed plenty of success over the last couple of weeks, his winners including Chattering Classes (20/1), Together Now (4/6) and Girls Allowed (11/10). He’s also had several places at double-figure prices.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
