Star attraction: Champion Hurdle favourite Samcro sets off on road to Cheltenham

1.45 Down Royal
WKD Hurdle (Grade 2) | 5yo+| 2m | ATR

Star quality is not confined to Churchill Downs on Friday and jumping fans will have their eyes firmly focused on Down Royal, where Samcro makes his reappearance in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle.

The new favourite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle – a position he assumed this week when it was revealed connections plan to stick to hurdles this season – will line up against three rivals in the contest over two miles as he sets out on the road to the Champion Hurdle.

The Down Royal contest numbers Macs Joy, Voler La Vedette, Jezki and Identity Thief among its winners, and Samcro will be sent off the hot favourite to add his name to the roll of honour.

Gigginstown House Stud's star six-year-old has been beaten only once in eight starts under rules and trainer Gordon Elliott said on Thursday: “Samcro is in good form and this looked a suitable race in which to start his season. He hasn’t been on grass since coming back from his summer break as the ground has been so quick.

“He’s got a lot stronger since last season and, while we’re happy with him and looking forward to getting him started, he should come on a good bit for the run.”

Jack Kennedy’s mount was a dual Grade 1 winner as a novice last season, winning the Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown and Ballymore at Cheltenham. He was last seen at the Punchestown festival in April, where he fell three out when taking on more experienced rivals in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.

Elliott stressed that Samcro would be better for the run, which will encourage those who fancy opposing him on his seasonal return, and all three of his rivals have fitness on their side.

Elliott and Gigginstown will not need reminding that just two years ago the combination's Apple's Jade was beaten in this contest at 1-2 against three rivals.

Samcro could go off a shorter price than that, and should he get beaten or win unconvincingly dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air will almost certainly return to the head of the ante-post market. And, who knows, Samcro's connections might even have cause to think again about sticking to hurdles.

Those taking on Samcro on Friday include Sharjah, winner of Ireland’s richest hurdles prize, the Galway Hurdle in August. He is rated 5lb inferior to Samcro on official figures but receives 8lb from him here.

Sharjah’s trainer Willie Mullins, who landed the prize with Melon a year ago, said: “The race conditions suit Sharjah and he seems in good form, but his last two runs on the Flat were disappointing and he’ll need to leave them behind him and run to his best.”

Galway Hurdle victor Sharjah is among Samcro's opposition at Down RoyalCredit: Patrick McCann

The Iain Jardine-trained Bedrock travels from Scotland as he bids to follow up his Grade 3 win over the same trip at Tipperary early last month. Rachael Blackmore is again aboard the five-year-old.

Jardine said: "It's obviously a tough race but Bedrock seems to be improving.

"A couple are rated higher than him and he'll certainly have a few lengths to find, but we're in a slightly awkward position because he's too high in the weights for handicaps. He goes there in good form."

Schmidt, a handicap hurdle winner for Gigginstown and Henry de Bromhead at Tramore in June, completes the quartet. He will be having his first run for Stuart Crawford, who bought him for £14,000 in September.

The ground at Down Royal on Thursday was described as good, good to yielding in places. Rain is forecast for Friday.

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