LAND A BLOW

Elliott’s charge can strike for Gigginstown

BLOW BY BLOW should open his hurdling account in the Irish Racing Yearbook Maiden Hurdle in Fairyhouse today.

The County Meath venue hosts an understandably low-key appetiser for tomorrow’s star-studded card. And Blow By Blow, trained for Gigginstown House Stud by Gordon Elliott, right, will be expected to prove best in a race his trainer has won with Tombstone and Runfordave in the last two years.

Beaten on his racecourse debut, Blow By Blow progressed to win three bumpers for Willie Mullins in the 2015-16 season, scoring at Navan in February and today’s venue in March, when he beat the classy Death Duty.

And he ended that campaign by landing the Grade 1 bumper at the Punchestown Festival, proving too strong for the previous season’s Cheltenham Bumper winner Moon Racer and Bacardys, a

Grade 1 winner over hurdles last season.

Blow By Blow returned after a lengthy absence in a maiden hurdle at this track less than three weeks ago and, amid rumours he would need the run, he drifted from long odds-on to 2/1 co-favouritism before finishing third behind Mind’s Eye and Quick Grabim.

He had been headed and had probably ‘blown up’ when not fluent at the last before being beaten little more than two lengths. He jumped well that day, will strip fitter today and, suited by an extra two furlongs, he should prove tough to beat, although impressive Thurles bumper winner

and probably test him.

The opening beginners chase, featuring the fencing debuts of

and looks a tricky contest. And I’ll rely on the experienced to strike for Elliott and Jack Kennedy.

A useful handicap hurdler last season, Sutton Manor shaped with promise on his chasing debut at Galway, when fourth to Presenting Percy and stepped-up to finish third behind Monalee and Any Second Now at Punchestown last time.

Such experience and his proven appetite for jumping the bigger obstacles earns Sutton Manor the vote. will