The National Hunt racing at Down Royal will see eight races on St Patrick’s Day
• Down Royal Racecourse: preview and tips for Tuesday’s bumper eight-race card
The National Hunt campaign at Down Royal continues on Tuesday with a competitive eight-race card on offer for punters heading to the track.
The meeting gets underway at 1.18pm with a maiden hurdle over the two miles and a furlong distance before coming to a close at 5.22pm with a mares bumper also over the two miles and a furlong trip.
Read below for a full rundown of the Down Royal card courtesy of BetVictor Casino.
Up first at Down Royal is a field of 20 taking on a maiden hurdle (1.18). Barley Lane has been a solid performer in his career so far and cemented that when third at Naas earlier this year so there could be more to come as he steps up in trip at Down Royal. The Willie Mullins-trained Powerful Paddy rates a big player here, however, second on yard debut at Thurles last time out and there should be more to come with Patrick Mullins booked for the ride.
Another big field of 20 will take on the novice handicap hurdle at 1.53 to mark the second race of the day at Down Royal. Gordon Elliott didn’t have the best of Festivals at Cheltenham last week but has a strong chance here with Needs Must, a winner at Fairyhouse before falling at Punchestown last time out when well-placed but has a big chance to get back to winning ways off 1lb lower in the handicap.
A division one handicap hurdle is up next on the card (2.28) and this one can head the way of Aswellasabentley for the Gavin Cromwell team, a good third at this course 56 days ago and was well clear of the rest that so should go well again, while division two of the same discipline (3.03) sees Button Rock get the nod for the Elliott team, pitched into handicaps off the back of a fifth at Clonmel when last seen at a less than optimal distance.
Grand National-winner Nick Rockett is an eye-catching entrant in the Bluegrass Racehorse Cube Chase at 3.58 over the three mile and two furlong trip, with Willie Mullins’ runner piloted once again by Patrick Mullins and this race looks to be a shootout between him and the top-class Gerri Colombe for Gordon Elliott, second in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Last time out, Gerri Colombe was second in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse, that form has held up well so Elliott’s runner is marginally preferred.
A two and a half mile novel chase is up next on the card (4.13) and Elliott has another strong hand with Slanagaibhgoleir, a previous course and distance winner in December and a good third last time out, while the penultimate race of the afternoon (4.48) can go to Cause For Comment, a runner-up in two hunters chases last spring and a winner in a point to point last month so looks handy on paper heading back under Rules.
Finally, the card at Down Royal comes to a close at 5.22 as a field of 13 mares take on the two mile and a furlong bumper, with preference in the finale heading the way of Surfin USA for the Mullins team once again, a half-sister to the useful Fun Fun Fun and was second on debut at Sligo on debut 19 months ago so has had a long absence but is certainly one for the shortlist.
