Gordon Elliott: My weekend runners at Down Royal and Limerick

Gordon has many chances this weekend

After a fruitful Cheltenham festival for Gordon Elliott's Cullentra House Stables, the weekend action comes thick and fast, and with nine runners in Ireland we get Gordon's thoughts on all of his weekend runners...

Saturday

14.45 Down Royal - Don't Back Down

I was happy with his performance at Thurles at the end of February, where he jumped well and wasn't beaten far at the finish, ending up 11 lengths 4th off 11 runners in behind Dessie Hughes' Caheranoun. It was a marked improvement on what he had done up to that stage over fences, so I think if he can keep improving he can run well here.

Paul Nolan's' Grade One winning hurdler Shinrock Paddy undoubtedly sets the standard and he will be very hard to beat. However, he faces similar conditions here to what he did at Thurles, and with Davy Condon booked to take the ride I'd be hopeful of another good performance, which will hopefully give him a decent each way chance.

15.20 Down Royal - Tarquinius

We could probably put a line through his run at Naas last Saturday as he made a mistake at the first fence in the race, and he could never really recover after that. It's been a terrific season for him, and he's a very tough and likeable horse. His head second to Jandanli in the Thyestes chase at Gowran Park in January was a superb performance, and if can reproduce that level of form here I'd hopeful he could pick up some prize money.

Its looks a competitive little race, but I'd like to think that with conditions set to suit our horse, and the fact that he stays all day and is a good jumper in the main, he could reach the frame in what could turn out to be thorough staying test.

15.55 Down Royal - Shattered Dream

He was disappointing in his first start in Handicaps at Fairyhouse in February, then he produced a much improved effort at Downpatrick a week or so ago, finishing 3rd of 7 runners behind Khan Tengri, only beaten 5 lengths in the end. Those two efforts were over hurdles, so we've decided to go chasing now and I think he might benefit from going over the bigger obstacles.

He should appreciate conditions, and with Davy Condon booked to take the ride I'd be hoping that he could improve on the form he showed over hurdles and take a step forward now going over fences. Even though it's a beginner's chase he gets weight from most of the field which will certainly assist him if he's thereabouts at the finish, so I'm looking forward to seeing how he takes to chasing and we can go from there.

16.05 Limerick - Torn Assunder

He'd been showing some very smart form before he disappointed first time in a handicap in the middle of January at Punchestown. He's had a bit of a break as he may have just been a bit below par in that race, and if he could return to the form he had been showing previously, he would have a good chance here.

His second to Willie Mullins' Inish Island at Downpatrick last November reads very well, with that horse subsequently finishing a close third to At Fishers Cross in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham this week. He then went and won a maiden hurdle at Down Royal on St Stephens's day quite nicely under Davy Condon which was very encouraging. With Davy Russell unfortunately injured at the moment, top jockey Robbie Power is booked to take the ride and I'd be looking for an improved effort on what he showed last time up.

17.35 Limerick - Vicky Miller

She was a bit keen at Thurles in her race there at the end of last month, after running with some promise at Fairyhouse three weeks previously. She's a stoutly bred mare who might just need a bit further in time, so we might just take our time with her here today and drop her out and let her hunt around.

She's been in good form and working well at home since the race at Thurles, so I'd be hopeful that she could put in an improved effort on that race. Once we can get her settled into her race, we can go from there and see how she gets on as she may be one for the future as opposed to the present.

Sunday

14.35 Wexford - Bayan

He's been disappointing since he came over from Brian Meehan's yard in the UK, where he had showed a decent level of ability on the flat (Highest OR 82). He finished 7th of 17 runners, beaten 13 lengths, behind our subsequent Fred Winter winner Flaxen Flare at Leopardstown at Christmas, which was an improvement on his first run for us for sure.

He may not be seen to best affect until he goes handicapping on a bit of better ground to be honest, as he has shown a limited amount of ability up to now. We are still on a bit of fact finding mission with him, and this looks a competitive race, so we'll let him take his chance and go from there.

15.35 Wexford - Castletown Bridge

This is his first run for us since he came over in January from the Charlie Longsdon yard in the UK. He showed a decent level of form in his novice hurdle days, and won a bumper on good ground at Worcester easily back 2011. His form has tailed off a bit since then, so hope the change of scenery might help him rediscover his old spark.

His final run in the UK was in a jumper's bumper at Lingfield in January, he ran with some promise that day so I'd be hopeful that he still retains some ability. This looks a good starting point for him, he has an OR of 103 to contend with compared to his last OR of 107 in the UK. We'll see how he goes first time for us, and with Davy Condon booked I'd be hoping he can run well.

16.05 Wexford - Rocky Wednesday

He is a bit of tricky character, and his form has been a bit in and out of late. His second to Abbey Lane in the Boylesports Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas was a terrific effort and if he could reproduce that level of form he'd have a good each way chance.

He has been disappointing in his two runs since that race; however his best form is on soft ground so he will have conditions to suit, and with Davy Condon booked to take the ride I'd be hopeful more than anything that he could put his best foot forward and get in the frame.

17.25 Limerick - Karinga Queen

She was badly hampered at the sixth fence in her last race at Gowran Park in January and Paul Carberry sensibly pulled her up when her chance had gone. We can safely put a line through that run, and I'd be quite hopeful of a good performance today. We have the blinkers on for the first time today, and we've seen the type of improvement they can bring out of a horse first time at Cheltenham with Flaxen Flare, so hopefully they can do the trick.

She has been in good form at home and she's been working well, I'd like to think she has a good bit of ability and if she can put her best foot forward under Paddy Merrigan she would have a good each way chance in an open looking contest.