Down Royal Tips: Brighterdaysahead to master Daddy Long Legs

Down Royal stages their major jumps meeting of the season this weekend, with two days of action at the venue on the outskirts of Belfast.

Friday's card runs from 12:25-15:50 on ground forecast to be 'good-to-yielding' and the feature race is the Grade 3 Bottlegreen Hurdle at 14:05.

Our trio of tips include a potentially top notch mare in Brighterdaysahead for the Gordon Elliott team. Below you can find my Down Royal Tips. 

12:25 Down Royal – My Lyka @ SP

Gordon Elliott saddles The Yellow Clay and Wingmen in this opening maiden hurdle, the Bective Stud-owned pair both having shown winning form in bumpers already. They are likely to make their mark over timber before too long but MY LYKA has a fitness advantage and has already been tested over timber for the champion trainer Willie Mullins.

The Intello gelding was denied only a nose in a 2m4f Killarney novice hurdle in May, his first start in 344 days after arriving from France. The Henry De Bromhead-trained winner had a significant advantage with his hurdling experience and ran to a rating of 123.

This Mullins inmate has contested some very difficult handicaps on the Flat in three runs since and is fit from two starts in September in that code. This trip in excess of 2m6f should be tailor made and he can get the Mullins/Townend team up and running at this meeting.

13:30 Down Royal – Yokkell @ SP 

A rare graded race in which Mullins takes no part, which may open the door for August's course and distance winner YOKKELL to have a leading say back here.

John McConnell's mare butchered her rivals that day, scoring by nearly 20 lengths. She has since finished second-best in novice hurdles at Warwick (2m, good to soft) and Kelso (2m, good), doing very little wrong in either instance.

The horse that beat her at Warwick has advertised that form positively since, winning at Chepstow then finishing second in a quality Cheltenham event last weekend. At Kelso she was denied a nose by a hurdles debutant returning from a long absence.

Back over a C&D she clearly appreciates, Ben Harvey's partner could at least find her way into the first three.

14:05 Down Royal – Brighterdaysahead @ SP

A real treat in store in this Grade 3 Bottlegreen Hurdle as the Mullins-trained Daddy Long Legs squares up to the Elliott contender BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD.

Daddy Long Legs easily beat the re-opposing Smooth Tom in this grade at Tipperary earlier in the month, dominating in front, but he has a mixed record, with four wins and four blowouts over timber.

Elliott has saddled the winner of this race three times in the last four years and sends a rising star up north in Brighterdaysahead. Connections toyed with the notion of going chasing this season but have opted to stay over hurdles.

The Gigginstown House mare atoned for Cheltenham Festival disappointment in March with a wide-margin Aintree win in April and, it has to be recalled, the horse that beat her in the Cotswolds – Golden Ace for Jeremy Scott – remains unbeaten over hurdles herself. This Cullentra inmate could still be bound for the very top.

Check out our other Horse Racing Tips here.