By Mark Boylan
Saturday: 2.32 Down Royal
Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1) | 3m | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTE2/RTV
Gordon Elliott has made Down Royal’s two-day pageant his personal lately, and he seems to be set to take loads of beating within the assembly’s Grade 1 function.
Savills Chase scorer Galvin was solely simply touched off on this race 12 months in the past by British raider Frodon, however Paul Nicholls has opted to maintain final yr’s hero on dwelling soil for a tilt at Wincanton’s Badger Beer Handicap Chase as a substitute.
Could the absence of his outdated foe from final season go away the stage clear for Galvin to file a formidable 14th win from 23 begins? Quite presumably, however he faces a critical problem from his personal steady in bettering stayer Conflated.
There was an actual shock issue about Conflated’s 18-1 Irish Gold Cup upset given he had received a handicap chase off a mark of 145 on his earlier begin, however the Gigginstown-owned eight-year-old has since confirmed there was no fluke about that efficiency.
Elliott was desirous to run him within the Cheltenham Gold Cup, however it was the owner-sponsored Ryanair Chase that he contested in March, falling on the second final when combating it out for second behind Allaho.
His finest run but, in accordance with Racing Post Ratings, got here when solely overwhelmed a size in second behind Clan Des Obeaux within the Betway Bowl at Aintree final time, and that RPR of 172 is deemed 1lb higher than Galvin’s finest effort when successful final season’s Savills Chase.
Official rankings even have 2lb between Conflated (168) and Galvin (166).
In the Ronnie Bartlett-owned stayer’s favour, although, is the advantage of race sharpness. He gave 12lb and a five-and-a-half-length beating to Run Wild Fred in Grade 3 firm at Punchestown final month, whereas Conflated additionally seems to be higher going left-handed.
Four-time Grade 1 winner Kemboy would have a serious probability on his finest kind – posting superior RPRs of 174 on three events – however it’s troublesome to know if he is the power of outdated as he turns 11 after subsequent month.
Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photographs)
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Envoi Allen makes solely his second begin over additional than 2m5f, having been pulled up lame by Rachael Blackmore in a 3m½f Grade 1 novice chase on the 2021 Punchestown pageant.
He stays a elegant kind however would not have the identical famous person high quality as throughout his novice days, apparently hindered by respiratory points, however Down Royal has been a contented searching floor for the 161-rated performer. He has collected on all three appearances on the observe, admittedly in a lot weaker firm.
Noel Meade has landed three of the final eight runnings of this race and saddles final season’s Drinmore winner Beacon Edge, the lowest-rated runner of the quintet with a mark of 155.
His kind tailed off in direction of the tip of final season however he stays open to enchancment at this distance.
Townend: Galvin the one to beat however Kemboy can discover enchancment
Paul Townend is hoping final yr’s Irish Gold Cup hero Kemboy can rekindle a few of his outdated magic, because the champion jockey bids for his first winner since coming back from an damage suffered on the Listowel harvest pageant in September.
Willie Mullins can also be chasing a primary success on this race for the reason that mighty Florida Pearl received the inaugural operating in 1999.
“It’s not usually Willie has one prepared for this race however Kemboy has had two good runs currently and can give an excellent account of himself once more,” mentioned Townend.
“He’s completed behind Easy Game on his final two begins however has progressed with every run and I feel he can enhance once more, which he’ll clearly must.”
Speaking in his Ladbrokes weblog, Townend added: “Galvin seems to be the horse all of us should beat. Envoi Allen is fascinating stepping as much as three miles. His solely different attempt at this journey was too unhealthy to be true so I feel he is an intriguing one. Kemboy is an admirable horse and at all times constant.”
What they are saying
Noel Meade, coach of Beacon Edge
He’d have been carrying a penalty if operating within the Grade 2 on the identical card and this turned out a small discipline. He seems to be to be extra snug over three miles too so hopefully he’ll run a pleasant race.
Gordon Elliott, coach of Conflated and Galvin
Both head there in good kind. Conflated has gotten very sturdy over the summer time. He is likely to be higher racing left-handed however has received going right-handed earlier than. Galvin has race health on his aspect after successful final time at Punchestown. That run needs to be a assist to him coming right here.
Saturday’s British and Irish previews:
1.50 Wincanton: ‘The handicapper has given him a chance’ – can Frodon carry off another big win?
2.11 Aintree: Could the Topham prove the key to the Grand Sefton once again?
3.00 Wincanton: Can Sceau Royal land a fourth Elite Hurdle and make the race his own?
3.07 Down Royal: ‘He has a great chance on ratings’ – Grade 1 winner Fury Road makes seasonal bow
3.13 Doncaster: Can beautifully bred Israr strike another blow for the Classic generation?
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