Elliott can be punters best Pall
A LATE-COMER to hurdling, Pallasator appeals in the opening Get Your 2018 Navan Membership Maiden Hurdle in Navan tomorrow.
The nine-year-old, which Gordon Elliott trains for Qatar Racing, was a talented, if quirky, stayer on the flat for Sir Mark
Prescott – his last flat success was in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown in May 2016.
Pallasator, which reached a career-high mark of 113 on the flat, had his first run for the Elliott team in a charity race at Punchestown in October, beating Tiger Roll and Monksland.
And he showed an aptitude for his new career over obstacles, when finishing a creditable fifth to the impressive Next Destination on his hurdling bow at Naas in November.
Although well beaten by the impressive winner, which went on to score at Grade 1 level on the same track last month, Pallasator finished less than two lengths off Paloma Blue, third to Samcro in the Grade 1 Deloitte at Leopardstown recently.
Although Pallasator’s three-month absence is a concern, he looks a class act, more than capable of landing a maiden hurdle of this type and sure to be suited by this demanding two miles.
The likes of The Holy One, disappointing at Naas last time, the consistent Dis Donc and Antey are all possible dangers. But I expect Pallasator to deliver.
In the bumper, the Willie Mullins hope Cemister, runner-up to Minella Encore (a dual bumper-winner for Closutton in recent months) in his only point-to-point, in Killeagh 13 months ago, is preferred to those with racecourse form.