Graded action continues at the re-arranged Down Royal Festival of Racing, with the Grade 3 Bottlegreen Hurdle and the Grade 3 Feathard Lady Mares Novices Hurdle.
In the 2m1f Grade 3 Bottlegreen Hurdle, Gordon Elliott's Irish Point is well-supported at the head of the market for his seasonal reappearance. The five-year-old sets the form standard, having ended last campaign with a victory in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, which was a first success at the top level. The gelding had been threatening to break through all season, finishing runner-up in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle and the Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle, but connections were rewarded for swerving the Cheltenham Festival with Irish Point coming out on top against wearier rivals. Although he is undoubtedly the best horse in the field on paper, Elliott's charge has to carry a hefty penalty for his Grade 1 success, giving seven pounds and upwards to rivals.
It may prove sensible to side with second-favourite Magical Zoe, who benefits from a mares' allowance and race fitness. The five-year-old remains fairly unexposed after only five outings but she proved capable of performing at the top level when runner-up in the Grade 2 Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Henry De Bromhead's charge returned after the summer break with a comfortable victory in the Listed Pat Walsh Memorial Mares Hurdle at Gowran Park, despite making a mistake at the final flight, and has been found a very winnable opportunity at Graded level. Although she may be seen to best effect in mares' only company going forward, the advantage of race fitness may allow Magical Zoe to steal an open Grade 3 early on in the season.
WIN: MAGICAL ZOE
Twelve runners are expected to line up for the 2m1f Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle including the unbeaten Brighterdaysahead. Trained by Gordon Elliott, the four-year-old returned after the summer break with an impressive ten length success on hurdling debut at Thurles, making all to justify favouritism under Jack Kennedy. She did jump left at times during the race and made a mistake at the third fence, indicating there could still be some improvement to come from the lightly raced filly, who has only appeared at the racetrack three times.
The form of the Grade 3 Boylesports Novice Hurdle at Tipperary could prove key to this race, with both the winner Williamstowndancer and the third Birdie Or Bust set to re-oppose for Willie Mullins and Henry De Bromhead respectively. There could be significant improvement to come from both of them – Williamstowndancer made some jumping errors at vital stages during the race and Birdie Or Bust (favourite) appeared to run out of steam approaching the final flight, losing second place to the Willie Mullins-trained first string Bialystok on the run-in. Of the pair, Birdie Or Bust makes the most appeal after only four racecourse starts, especially based on her fourteen length demolition of a maiden hurdle at the same track in May.
WIN: BIRDIE OR BUST
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1: BETTER DAYS AHEAD
RACE 2: RESERVE JUDGEMENT
RACE 3: BIRDIE OR BUST
RACE 4: MAGICAL ZOE
RACE 5: BYTHESAMETOKEN
RACE 6: COLONEL MUSTARD
RACE 7: FIREFOX
