Elliott excited as star hurdler Felix Desjy makes chase debut at Killarney

4.35 Killarney
Avenue Hotel Beginners Chase | 2m1f | 4yo+ | RTV

Gordon Elliott has reported Felix Desjy to have schooled "really well" over fences as he begins a possible journey to the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old was expected to take high rank among last season's novice chasers, but injury ruled him out of action for 14 months and he was forced to miss the entire campaign.

The exuberant front-runner, whose finest hour arrived in the 2019 Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree when beating Aramon, Rouge Vif and Itchy Feet, returned to action in July when he trounced his rivals in a Flat maiden at Navan.

He was sent off 4-1 favourite for the Galway Hurdle on the back of that, but his race ended at the second hurdle when he parted company with Keith Donoghue.

That looked a nasty spill, but Elliott reports him none the worse for the mishap and the trainer is excited about sending him over fences for the first time.

Elliott said: "Felix Desjy has schooled really well and we're looking forward to it. He's as fit as he can be without having run for a while.

"It was always the plan to send him over fences and we've long been looking forward to it. It's a year later than planned, but he seems to be in very good form."

A 151-rated hurdler, Felix Desjy, a general 25-1 shot for the Arkle but as big as 40-1 with bet365, could be a genuine contender to give Elliott a first Arkle victory.

Felix Desjy saunters to victory in a 2m Flat maiden at Navan in JulyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

This contest should be a walk in the park for Felix Desjy, as his biggest threat would look to be the Henry de Bromhead-trained Raya Time, a horse rated 24lb inferior to him over hurdles.

Raya Time cut little ice on his sole start over fences when dropping away tamely at Wexford a year ago in a race won by the smart Eclair De Beaufeu.

De Bromhead is also represented by the unexposed Le Musigny, the winner of a maiden hurdle at Punchestown on his Irish debut but only sixth of seven when upped in class in a Listed event at Naas in March.

The Paul Nolan-trained Our Friend won a maiden hurdle at Wexford on his first racecourse appearance, but he has not made the anticipated progress since and was a mid-race casualty on his sole start over fences at Galway this month. He looks to have plenty on his plate.

This race revolves around Felix Desjy, however, and Elliott will hope he puts in a slick round of jumping and comes home unscathed. If he does, bet365's 40-1 Arkle quote could look on the generous side.

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