Top trainer Gordon Elliott endured a somewhat frustrating Cheltenham Festival with a Wednesday double about all to shout about, and Friday a particularly tough day for the yard. He bids to turn his fortunes around with a sextet of runners at Downpatrick on Sunday, a track that he usually operates well at. Check out our thoughts on his hopefuls below, alongside an exclusive Bet £10 – Get £50 Sign-up bonus at bet365.
MONKSTREET – (2.10 Downpatrick, Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle)
Ran well in defeat in competitive maiden hurdles at Fairyhouse and Punchestown earlier this season, behind horses that went on to run at the Cheltenham Festival. Not disgraced without being quite at his best at Limerick and Gowran the last twice but this represents a weaker assignment, and his prominent style of racing should be well suited to the demands of this track.
Verdict: Had some smart form to his name earlier this season and could be tough to peg back on this sharp circuit. BACK
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PREVARICATE – (2.40 Downpatrick, Toals Bookmakers Rated Hurdle)
Point winner and came good at the seventh attempt under rules when justifying odds of 2/9F at Leopardstown last time. That didn’t tell us a great deal that we didn’t already know about him, but his previous early-season form behind the likes of Uhtred (now 132-rated) and Daily Present (now 130-rated) marks him down as an above average performer and going back this way round (jumped slightly out to his right latest) looks a plus.
Verdict: Less exposed than most of these and getting his head in front at Leopardstown latest should have done his confidence good. BACK
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FISTON DES ISSARDS – (3.15 Downpatrick, Tote Jackpot Is Back Handicap Hurdle)
£255,000 Cheltenham sales purchase who hasn’t hit the heights expected of him; had the classy 132-rated Boothill behind when landing his point-to-point. Beaten 94l, 35l and 49l in three hurdles starts this season, recording a peak RPR of just 98. Likely improver now sent handicapping off an opening mark of 107, well-treated off this mark on his point/bumper form, but others in this line-up arrive with considerably less to prove.
Verdict: Expensive sales purchase who has struggled for form this season, could improve now handicapping but certainly needs to. LAY
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TORYGRAPH & DEFINITE PLAN – (3.45 Downpatrick, Randox Ulster National Handicap Chase)
The feature Randox Ulster National has been won by Elliott twice in the last seven years and he goes double handed in 2022.
Torygraph had some classy novice hurdle form to his name last season and went on to contest Grade 1s at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals. He made a promising chase debut when third behind the useful French Dynamite at Punchestown in November, but he has failed to go on from that, being beaten 31l and 56l in competitive staying handicap chases the last twice. Dropped 3lb since struggling in last weekend’s Leinster National but drying ground is no plus and his recent form makes him tough to promote.
Definite Plan laned a maiden hurdle at this track back in 2019 and gained a first win since when taking a staying handicap chase under today’s rider at Cheltenham in October. He has failed to go on from that in two starts since, however, failing to complete in Grade A company at the Dublin Racing Festival latest. Now just 4lb above his Cheltenham winning mark and this track clearly holds no fears, but he’d want the ground to dry up a fair bit to be seen at his best and this could prove a pipe opener for a spring/summer campaign.
Verdict: Topweight Definite Plan looks the more likely of the Elliott duo but he’d need conditions to dry up to be seen to best effect and could be vulnerable to something better handicapped. LAY
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LANDRAKE – (5.25 Downpatrick, Cosy Roof (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race)
5yo Martaline gelding who runs in the silks of Caldwell Construction. Beaten 19l at Leopardstown on debut but the winner Facile Vega has since gone on to land the Cheltenham Champion Bumper so no disgrace in that. Beaten just 3/4l by another Mullins hotpot at Navan subsequently and in truth that form looks head and shoulders above anything achieved by these rivals.
Verdict: Bumped into two well above average Willie Mullins hotpots the last twice and nothing of those rivals’ calibre in this line-up. BACK
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