Gordon Elliott loves Down Royal‘s Champion Chase meeting and it kicks off on Friday. His season truly starts here so we’ve picked out his five best chances on the card and combined them into a juicy accumulator. Rival Willie Mullins usually waits a few weeks before getting going so this is Elliott’s chance to shine. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
The Yellow Clay (5/4, Paddy Power) won a Listed bumper at Limerick in March 2023 and filled the runner-up spot in the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Bumper when last seen. Elliott suggests the gelding should be one of his better novices this term and a big run is expected.
Speculatrix (9/2, bet365) was in the process of winning easily on her hurdling debut at Killarney when last seen. Unfortunately she fell at the last when well in control but the daughter of No Risk At All can put that well behind her here.
Brighterdaysahead (6/5, Paddy Power) has long been the apple of Gordon Elliott’s eye and she finished second at the Cheltenham Festival in March. She made no mistake when beating the boys at Aintree after that and is very much the one to beat here.
Firefox (1/3, Paddy Power) wasn’t far from the top of the tree as a novice hurdler last term and placed in all three major spring festivals. Connections are very excited to see him go over fences and it’s very possible that the best is yet to come from him.
Jacob’s Ladder (11/8, bet365) cost £110,000 after winning an Irish Point at Oldtown and was just denied on rules debut in a Punchestown bumper. He wouldn’t need to improve much on that effort to come out on top here and the five-year-old shouldn’t be far away.
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