Elliott sends 'masterful' Fil Dor and 'slick' Hollow Games for Grade 1 showdown

Gordon Elliott’s novice chasing stars Fil Dor and Hollow Games will face off at Leopardstown on Monday as they head a field of five in the Grade 1 Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase (2.20).

Both winners of their chase debuts at Navan, they will come up against the Willie Mullins-trained Saint Roi, Joseph O’Brien’s Grade 2 winner Midnight Run, and the Peter Fahey-trained Visionarian. Stablemate Mighty Potter is a notable absentee, but still holds an entry for the Neville Hotels Novice Chase (1.45) on Thursday.

“We have two great horses in the shape of Hollow Games and Fil Dor,” said Elliott. “They could have a great season and it’ll be telling to see what they can do here. Hollow Games looked a staying hurdler last year but over fences he is quick and slick and has loved the two miles. Fil Dor put in a masterful performance last time and he could be anything.”

Elliott’s unbeaten Gerri Colombe will take on three Mullins runners in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase (2.40) at Limerick. The Robcour-owned six-year-old will meet Kilcruit, Adamantly Chosen and Authorized Art, as well as Oliver McKiernan’s Aarons Day.

Elliott said: “This should be a great race where hopefully our unbeaten runner can continue his streak, but no Grade 1 is won easily.”

Triumph Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth is among a field of 11 entered in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle (1.10) at Leopardstown, with Padraig Roche’s Cougar and the O’Brien-trained Nusret also declared.

Willie Mullins sends a team of five, with French recruits Gala Marceau and Jourdefete set to make their stable debuts. Emmet Mullins also runs Mctigue for the first time in Ireland after he won a Grade 2 at Auteuil in October.

Facile Vega: set to face three stablemates at Leopardstown on TuesdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Facile Vega will have five opponents in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Novices Champion Hurdle (1.45) at Leopardstown on Tuesday. Willie Mullins pits him against three stablemates in Intranet, Ashroe Diamond and Il Etait Temps. The field is completed by Gavin Cromwell’s Path D’Oroux, and the Elliott-trained Itswhatunitesus.

Chacun Pour Soi will make his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (1.10), with Blue Lord and Gentleman De Mee also confirmed. Rachael Blackmore will ride Henry de Bromhead’s Captain Guinness. Stablemate Couer Sublime is among the seven runners, along with Elliott’s Andy Dufresne and Gavin Cromwell’s hat-trick-seeker Jeremys Flame.

At Limerick, a field of seven will line up for the Lyons of Limerick Jaguar Novice Hurdle (1.29), including Elliott’s Jungle Prose, who has won her last four outings. Favori De Champdou completes the Cullentra team, while Oliver McKiernan’s Kalanisi Star, Henry de Bromhead’s Harry Des Ongrais and the Cromwell-trained Letsbeclearaboutit also step up to Grade 2 level.

Conditions at Leopardstown are described as yielding, with organisers keeping a close eye on the weekend forecast.

“The going on the hurdle track is yielding," said clerk of the course, Lorcan Wyer. “On the chase track, it is generally yielding, with a little bit of good to yielding in places down the back straight. We’ve done a bit of selective watering on the back straight just to marry things up. The forecast is dry for three days ahead of the meeting, so we’ll keep an eye on the weather.”

Softer conditions are expected at Limerick, with more rain forecast for the south of Ireland over the weekend.

“We had 13mm of rain overnight, so the ground is soft, soft to heavy in places," said clerk of the course Val O’Connell. “The forecast is a bit unsettled over the weekend, we may have another 10-15mm between now and racing.

"We have fresh ground on the hurdles track for all four days. The chase track will start on the outside with fresh ground on St Stephen’s Day. On the third day, we’ll open up the fences for fresh ground on days three and four.”

A seven-race card will also take place at Down Royal on Monday, where the going is good to yielding.

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