Leading novice Poli Roi seeks hurdling debut at Galway

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Gordon Elliott’s highly-regarded Poli Roi is set to enhance his Cheltenham credentials, as he makes his hurdling debut in Galway’s Mervue Maiden Hurdle (2:25).

The five-year-old built on his point-to-point success with a bumper win at Navan, where he quickened to deny nearest rival Impact Factor by two lengths.

He was well beaten by super stablemate Fayonagh, who won over hurdles on Saturday, when the pair met in Punchestown’s Champion Bumper finishing third.

Constantly regarded as a better horse over obstacles, he has been installed as a short price favourite for a debut victory.

“He had a pleasing start to his career when winning his bumper on his racecourse debut then going on to finish 3rd in a Grade 1 bumper at Punchestown,” said the Cullentra handler.

“He has his first run over hurdles today and has been schooling well at home so we expect a good run from him.”

His Cheltenham options remain open for Poli Roi, with an optimum trip still questionable. The antepost market currently have him as a 25-1 shot for the Albert Bartlett, Supreme and Neptune.

Unlike Fayonagh, he faces stiffer competition in this novice event. Willie Mullins’ Poet Power could be the main danger, he was an impressive bumper winner at this venue in July.

Fellow Gigginstown raider Trainwreck also makes his first start over hurdles. He finished second when last seen at Down Royal.

Adrian Maguire’s Gagas Horse and Noel Meade’s The Rory Story could also be dangers.

Poli Roi is expected to go off at Evs for the 2m2f event.

Jardine claims Golden Jeffrey one to follow throughout jumps season

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Iain Jardine has praised progressive hurdler Golden Jeffrey a ‘very exciting horse’ as he hopes to complete a hat-trick of novice wins

Wearing Jo Tracey's iconic green and black colours shared by Festival second Broadway Buffalo (pictured), he's won both his starts over hurdles including a dominant 15 length win at Perth a fortnight ago. 

Rated 71 on the flat, he won once on the flat at Musselburgh for Jardine and was also a bumper winner for the Scottish trainer.

Following his impressive win in Perth, he looks set to be a handicapper worth following through the jumps season.

He could go to Ayr seeking a third straight success on Thursday, whilst options of improving his 139 hurdles remain open throughout the coming weeks.

“He won his race really well and we were very happy with him,” said the Scottish trainer.

“He’s beginning to climb up the ladder now, and we will look to find another race for him. I’m not sure where will we take him next.

“We have to be patient with him, and will try and place him in the right sort of races.

“Everyone was happy and I am pleased for the owners too. They are really excited for the season ahead too.

“He’s a very exciting horse and I can’t wait to see him again as the season unfolds.”

If he continues to advance he may line-up in the Triumph Hurdle at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival, but he may need to improve a fair bit to play a serious role in the Grade One event.

His trainer Ian Jardine has enjoyed an exceptional season, winning a record 44 races on the flat, eight more than last season’s tally.

The dual-purposer who also won this season’s Ebor with Nakeeta, has already landed nine winners this season, just over half of last season’s tally.

Gordon Elliott's 'miraculous mare' Fayonagh makes long-awaited hurdles bow

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Festival hero Fayonagh will attempt to advance her chances of a returning victory at Cheltenham, as the Champion Bumper is odds-on to take Fairyhouse’s Jumps Racing Returns To Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle (3:25).

Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old won impressively in an Irish listed contest, before her hugely impressive and eyecatching victory in the Champion Bumper; making the mare head no less than five markets for the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.

Under Jamie Codd, she overcame plenty of traffic issues to fly home and land the Grade One contest in the final few strides.

She went on to win once again at the top level, taking Punchestown’s bumper contest in impressive style by just under six lengths.

She has been labelled as a superstar by some, and plenty will be watching as Davy Russell takes the ride on her hurdling debut.

“Fayonagh makes her seasonal debut here making the switch to hurdles after four Bumper wins, two of which were Grade 1s,” Elliott told his Betfair blog.

“We have never been in doubt of her ability but her performance at the Cheltenham Festival was nothing short of miraculous after getting left at the start she powered home under Jamie Codd to win the Champion Bumper comfortably.

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Fayonagh's Champion Bumper win completed a double on the day for Jamie Codd, who also won the Cross Country with Cause Of Causes

“She's been doing plenty of schooling at home and obviously if she encounters no problems jumping wise it would be hard to see her getting beaten.”

Although no clear target has been made clear by Gordon Elliott, bookmakers are taking no chances with the exceptional mare heading the market in five Festival races.

The Supreme, Mares Novice, Neptune, Albert Bartlett and Mares could all be options for Fayonagh in March. The shortest of those prices is the Mares Novice, where she is priced at 4-1.

This afternoon she has been installed as a 1-7 favourite for the two-mile event.

She should have too much quality to see off bumper winners Roseriver Has, Vittorio and Mysloegin.

Alan King's Sceau hopes to make a Royal start over fences at Warwick

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Champion Hurdle sixth Sceau Royal makes his chasing debut in Warwick’s Bet At Racinguk.com Novices’ Chase (3:20) this afternoon.

Alan King’s five-year-old progressed well last season, winning at Grade Two level in Wincanton’s Elite Hurdle.

A Fighting Fifth fourth, followed a two length defeat to classy stable-companion Yanworth in the Kingwell Hurdle prior to his strong effort at the Cheltenham Festival.

Last seen finishing ninth in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, connections have always believed he would be better over fences.

The six-time hurdle winner is odds-on to make a winning start at the Warwickshire venue.

“You feel like the new jumping season is upon us when class hurdlers like Sceau Royal are down to make their seasonal debut,” said Geoff Lester, writing on Alan King’s website.

“The fact that this 154-rated hurdler now switches to fences for the first time makes Alan’s trip to Warwick today even more exciting.

“Warwick is one of Alan’s favourite racecourses and the five-runner novice chase there looks the ideal starting point, and Daryl Jacob came down to Barbury recently and expressed himself happy with the way Sceau Royal shaped on the schooling grounds.

“Sceau Royal was one of the slickest jumpers of hurdlers around, and if he is equally fast over his fences he could be quite exciting, but Alan is under no illusions that while he has plenty in hand over today’s four rivals on hurdles rating, this is a whole new ball game for him.”

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Stable companion Yanworth also makes the switch from hurdling to novice chasing this season

The JLT may be his principal target for next season’s Cheltenham Festival, and bookmakers have currently priced him at 25-1 for Festival glory.

Sceau Royal’s biggest dangers to a debut win is Charlie Longsdon’s Forth Bridge. The five-year-old begins chasing after a promising season as a juvenile hurdler, where he was victorious on two occasions and fifth in a Grade One contest at Aintree in Her Majesty’s colours.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ experienced hurdler Ballyhill also switches to chases, he was last seen trailing the field in the Martin Pipe.

Evan Williams’ improving Positively Dylan takes his place alongside outsider Farm The Rock. 

Sceau Royal is priced at 4-9 for the 2m5f contest this afternoon.

Gordon Elliott's star novice Death Duty makes chasing debut at Tipperary

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Gordon Elliott's leading novice prospect Death Duty is expected to make a winning chase debut in Tipperary's Beginners Chase (3:50) this afternoon.

A Festival flop this season when failing to finish in the Albert Bartlett, he has been predicted to be a leading novice chaser this season and is reported in good shape ahead of his debut.

The six-year-old was one of the leading favourites at the Cheltenham Festival last season, but the 13-8 shot was well beaten when unseating Bryan Cooper at the last hurdle.

He capped off his season finishing a seven length third at Punchestown's Champion Novice Hurdle, and connections are excited to go chasing this season.

“I love the horse,” Elliott told the Racing Post.

“I think he’s very good and I’ve been looking forward to getting him over fences since his bumper days.”

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Death Duty was already well beaten before falling at the last in the Albert Bartlett, but could land Festival glory next March.

A novice hurdle winner at Grade Three, Two and One level, he has always been thought highly of for owners Gigginstown and will be aimed towards Cheltenham glory this time around.

He is currently priced at 16-1 for the RSA Chase at the Festival, a market led by multiple Grade One winning hurdler Yanworth.

The RSA is one of few races that has eluded Gordon Elliott, and has often been a key Gold Cup trial with Lord Windermere and Bobs' Worth landing the double in recent years. Last season's impressive winner Might Bite is fancied for that double in the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Death Duty looks to be the one to beat in today's challenge, with bookmakers installing him as short at 1-3 to make a winning debut over fences.

His principal rival is Willie Mullins' Cap D'Aubois, who also makes his chasing debut, he was rated 137 over hurdles.

Cromwell confident Jer's Girl can recapture Group One winning form in Istabraq Hurdle

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Dual novice Group One winning hurdler Jer's Girl hopes to stamp her authority, as Gavin Cromwell's six-year-old takes on a competitive field of six in Tipperary's Istabraq Hurdle (3:25).

Winner of the Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse, and a ten length winner of Punchestown's Champion Novice Hurdle back in 2016, she makes her first start over hurdles since falling in the Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

She won rather impressively on Monday, breaking her maiden on the flat at Roscommon by just under six lengths, and her trainer has opted to test her against some of Ireland's leading hurdlers.

"We ran her on Monday, and the quick turnaround wasn't really planned," said Cromwell.

"She came out of her flat maiden really well.

"She seems in good nick so we are going to take our chance."

Willie Mullins' Coquin Mans looks the most dangerous of rivals, as the five-year-old hopes to extend his unbeaten run to six races.

He makes his first start in pattern company, having won easily by eight lengths on his last jumps outing at Cork.

"He's done really well for us so far," said the Irishman.

"It's a big step up for him, but it's important for us to get an idea of how good he is.

The master of Closutton also runs Ivan Grozny, who won this prize last season.

"He likes the trip and he like the ground," he added.

"I hope he should run well for us, but I fear he may find it hard."

Former Champion Hurdle hero Jezki makes her seasonal return for Jessica Harrington.

The veteran nine-year-old could only finish eighth at Cheltenham last season, and disappointed when trailing a field of five in handicap company on his last start. Harrington is also represented by outsider Forge Meadow.

Triumph Hurdle fourth Ex Patriot also takes his place, Ellmarie Holden's four-year-old was an unlucky loser in handicap company at Listowel last time out.

Mullins' duo out to strike in competitive novice contests

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Willie Mullins will target both Grade Three novice contests at Tipperary with top prospects Sayar and Rathvinden both odds-on.

Rathvinden has certainly lived up to his early promise this season. The former Supreme Novice third, missed out last season with an injury but has taken well to chasing winning three events this season.

He was an unfortunate third at Killarney back in August, but took a step forward when winning encouragingly at Listowel a fortnight ago.

He takes on a decent field in the Like A Butterfly Novice Chase (5:05).

"He was very good in Listowel and he has come of that race well," said the master of Closutton.

"I think he will improve on this ground, and he should be up to running another big race for us."

He will need to beat the likes of Gordon Elliott's improving Potters Point, and Henry De Bromhead's  Conrad Hastings in the two mile contest.

A return to the Cheltenham Festival will certainly be on the agenda for the nine-year-old, who is currently priced at 33-1 for the JLT Novices' Chase.

Meanwhile in the Joe Mac Novice Hurdle (4:00), Mullins' Sayar takes a significant step up in class following his impressive hurdle debut victory.

The four-year-old was priced as low as 20-1 for the Supreme Novice Hurdle following his 16 length triumph at Kilbeggan.

"He was a bit green when winning a maiden hurdle impressively," Mullins told his website.

"He will have learnt an awful lot from that experience, but the ground is a slight concern."

Mullins also saddles outsider Law Girl.

Joseph O'Brien's Housesofparliament struck on the third time of asking over hurdles.

The four-year-old was formerly a useful flat runner having won at Group Three level, and finishing a close third in the St Leger.

Henry De Bromhead duo Special Diamond and Classic Theatre take their chance alongside Gordon Elliott's Morgan.