Gordon Elliott© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott saddled 18 winners at Downpatrick last season with an impressive strike-rate of 35 per cent and is again strongly represented on the card this Friday night with six runners.
It looks interesting that Elliott has added a few lowly rated English imports to his team, no doubt with these kind of summer meetings in mind. The Absent Mare ran well on her first start for the yard when third over fences at Wexford last month.
She reverts to timber now in the Living The Dream (Mares) Handicap Hurdle and has a feather weight under Danny Mullins.
Her mark of 80 is 8lb higher than she carried over fences but still looks attractive judged on her old form over the smaller obstacles and in against her own sex she looks to hold a leading chance. Feel The Air looks an obvious rival having run out a convincing winner on her last visit to the course.
She was given a 7lb penalty for her win but looked good value for it then and the race she won looked a bit more competitive than the one she runs in now. Sultana Belle has been knocking on the door and has run well on her last two trips across the Irish Sea. She looks on a nice mark off her Irish rating if she can reproduce that form.
Elliott saddles another runner in the colours of long-standing patron Tom Howley in the Strictly At Downpatrick Races Handicap Hurdle when An Capall Mor bids to bounce back after a disappointing effort on his first start for connections.
He failed to make much impression at Perth a couple of weeks ago, when sent off favourite, but should be capable of better and looks on a nice mark off 88. Kilcross Boy has been knocking on the door this spring and looks sure to produced another solid effort for Eoin Doyle. Le Grand Chene also carries Howley's colours in the Celebrity Judges Handicap Chase and he can be expected to improve from his effort at Fairyhouse last month, when well held in eighth.
This looks an easier assignment and more like the kind of races he would have been bought to compete in. Halls Bridge bids to follow up on his success at Tramore last month, in the two-mile-seven-furlong event. He renews rivalry with Island Peak who chased him home last time and is now 4lb better off.
Elliott also saddles an interesting newcomer for Gigginstown in the concluding bumper with Nina Carberry taking the mount on Ultimate Horseman
The Kalanisi gelding is a half-brother to three winners, including a decent sort in Mr Warbucks.
