Elliott three-handed as he seeks a fifth win in Down Royal hurdle

6.50 Down Royal
www.thetote.com Hurdle |4yo+| 2m4f | RTV

Gordon Elliott launches a three-strong challenge for this 2m4f event as he seeks a fifth win in the race since 2013.

His winners include Clarcam in 2016 and The Game Changer 12 months ago and his trio this time includes Borice, who got off the mark over hurdles two weeks ago when toying with his rivals in a four-runner race at Uttoxeter where he won by 34 lengths.

Daryl Jacob again partners the eight-year-old and Elliott said: “Borice won very easily last time. This will be a stiffer test for him but he’s in good order.

“It’s the same story with Road To Dubai who won well at Ballinrobe last month while Poli Roi, who proved disappointing over fences, ran okay back over hurdles at Wexford last time and, hopefully, might improve.”

Rashaan: has won eight times over hurdlesCredit: Patrick McCann

With 13 career wins Rashaan is by far the most experienced of the six runners. Eight of those successes have been over hurdles and include three at the course where he won this event two years ago.

The seven-year-old’s trainer Colin Kidd said: “I couldn’t be happier with him. He hasn’t done a whole lot since his Fairyhouse win but I think we have him spot-on and the race conditions suit him well. He’s unbeaten over the course and seems to have plenty going for him.”

The Tom Taaffe-trained Goose Man, a course winner over fences, returns from a 60-day absence while the Edward O’Grady-trained The West’s Awake, a four-time chase winner and successful at Punchestown on his most recent start last month, will be running over hurdles for the first time in almost two years.

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