Although he has frequented Down Royal Racecourse a good deal, Henry de Bromhead doesn’t sent too many runners to the Northern Irish track but on Tuesday he runs a pair there and that is a 400-mile round trip from his base in County Waterford. He is operating at a healthy 17 per cent strike-rate at the track in the last five seasons so his runners need a second look. It takes a good deal of money to lay out on expenses including fuel, staff etc in these times, so let’s look at the runners below.
Gordon Elliott’s Staffordshire Knot could be a very classy sort in the opening 2m1f maiden hurdle, but De Bromhead’s Grooveykindoflove is not to be underestimated either. The mare will receive 5lb from Elliott’s contender, and she was a big eyecatcher when fifth of 16 runners over 2m3f at Naas in December behind Willie Mullins’ Quai De Bourbon, who followed up at Clonmel since. Grooveykindoflove could be a decent mare and she will give it a good shot.
Finally in the extended 2m rated novice chase, Hurricane Cliff bids to get off the mark for the first time in this code. A winner on the Flat and a winner over hurdles, the son of Canford Cliffs fell in a beginners chase behind stablemate Ain’t That A Shame at Gowran Park last March. He hasn’t been seen since but he has won fresh in the past and this is a much easier assignment on his return to action. The market might provide the best clues with regard to his chances.
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