'He's schooled unbelievably well' - Grade 1 star Mighty Potter makes chase debut

Friday: Down Royal

Gordon Elliott unleashes some of his biggest stars across Friday and Saturday's action at Down Royal, with dual Grade 1 winner Mighty Potter one of his standout representatives.

Elliott has won Friday's 2m3½f Tote-sponsored beginners' chase (3.15) with top-level performers Delta Work, Samcro and Envoi Allen in recent years, and Mighty Potter will likely be odds-on for the 2022 running.

A Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown and Punchestown as a novice last year, he should take all the beating against seven rivals and is already no bigger than 12-1 for the Arkle and Turners Novices' Chase.

Joey Logan, racing manager to owners Caldwell Construction, said: "He schooled unbelievably well this week. We're very happy with him and just hoping he gets around safely. Fingers crossed we should have a nice season ahead with him – he's an exciting horse."

High-class bumper performer American Mike, runner-up to Facile Vega in last season's Weatherbys Champion Bumper, contests the 2m6½f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle (12.20) – a race won by quality stablemates Fury Road, Farouk D'Alene and Hollow Games in the last three years.

A dirty scope was blamed for American Mike's backwards step when third to Facile Vega at the Punchestown festival on his latest appearance.

"I've always thought he was a very good horse and nothing has changed my mind," said Elliott. "We're really looking forward to getting him started over hurdles."

American Mike: returns to the scene of his impressive debut bumper win last seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Elliott has won five of the last seven runnings of the concluding WorkPal INH Flat Race (3.50) and appears to have scared away most of the opposition as just two rivals have been declared to take on his point-to-point recruit Better Days Ahead.

Carrying the same American Mike silks of Bective Stud, he was bought for £350,000 in March after winning by four lengths on his debut at Lisronagh a month earlier for Warren Ewing.

Carnfunnock, trained by Stuart Crawford, brings a healthy level of form to the table in opposition, having won a bumper at Ayr before finishing third behind Facile Vega at last season's Dublin Racing Festival. He then scoped badly after disappointing at the Punchestown festival.

There could potentially be a pointer towards the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in Friday's Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle (1.30). Noel Meade saddles The Model Kingdom, a three-time bumper winner who made a winning debut over hurdles at Tipperary last month.

A Listed and Grade 3 winner last season, she is priced between 12-1 and 20-1 for the festival.

Meade said: "She seems in good form at home. We're stepping her up in class over hurdles so just have to keep our fingers crossed she handles it. She's been a very good mare for us so far."

Down Royal card and betting

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