Elliott’s exciting prospect is ready to strike aGrain
GELDING CAN STAY IN THE WINNING CLUB
THE Gordon Elliott-trained Graineyhill should defy top-weight in the Your Club’s Fundraiser Handicap Hurdle in Fairyhouse.
A difficult eight-race card faces punters, following the addition of the maiden hunters chase, cancelled in Clonmel last Thursday.
Seven-year-old Graineyhill, formerly trained by John Carr and Liam Lennon, has shown improved form in his two starts for his current handler, finishing third to stable-companion Cubomania at Down Royal before justifying odds-on favouritism in Clonmel last Thursday.
Racing over two miles, the Craigsteel gelding appeared to be flat out with a circuit to race in Clonmel but, when the field emerged from the fog, he had taken control and stayed on powerfully to triumph by 14 lengths.
The handicapper reacted by putting Graineyhill up 14lb. But Elliott runs him today under a 6lb mandatory penalty. And today’s longer trip might bring further improvement.
With Keith Donoghue in the saddle, Graineyhill is expected to follow-up.
The Elliott-trained Pete So High, a creditable fourth to the smart Mr Adjudicator at Leopardstown on his second hurdle start, sets the form standard in the opening four-year-old maiden hurdle.
But I’ll oppose him with Saldier, a dual-winner on the flat and tried in Group 2 company in France before joining Willie Mullins, who has a good handle on juvenile form through Mr Adjudicator and Stormy Ireland.
And, having succumbed to Blow By Blow in the last 50 yards in Navan last time, the Alan Fleming-trained As You Were should be tough to beat in the fairyhouse.ie Maiden Hurdle over a gruelling two miles and seven furlongs
Meanwhile, the Noel Meadetrained Road To Respect, winner of the recent Leopardstown Christmas Chase and on course for the Unibet Irish Gold Cup on February 4, was among the gallopers in Leopardstown yesterday, in conjunction with announcement of entries for the Grade 1 races at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Surprisingly, despite the substantial prize-money on offer, there are only British-trained entries for the Grade 1 races at the two-day festival, on February 3-4.
Another notable worker was Elliott’s exciting novice hurdler Samcro, which is expected to line-up for the Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle on the Saturday of the new festival.