Gordon Elliott: Two runners at Killarney on Tuesday evening

Gordon has two runners at Killarney tonight

Bondage registered his second win in a week at Killarney last night, following up in convincing style on his victory up at Down Royal last Monday. Gordon has two runners on this evening's card at the Co. Kerry track, read the Betfair ambassador's exclusive views on both of their chances here...

17.15 Killarney - Not For Changing

He was having his first run for us when staying on strongly for Paul Carberry to take second at Fairyhouse at the end of March in a good handicap hurdle, only beaten a neck (Traded at a low of 2.86) at the line behind Tony Mullin's talented sort in Sammy Black. That race was over 2m on soft ground, and whilst we more than happy with that effort over hurdles at Fairyhouse we have decided to go over fences with him tonight as he has always looked a nice chaser in the making since coming to us from the Patrick Allen yard in March. He's set to encounter the same underfoot conditions as his previous run tonight, and we are stepping up a furlong in trip and I'd like to think he wouldn't be inconvenienced by either of those factors.

More a worry for us rather would be the strength of opposition that he is set to face this evening, and this looks like turning out to be a very hotly contested beginners chase for this time of the year. He's up against the likes of Michael Winters' Galway hurdle winner Rebel Fitz on his first outing over fences, Jessie Harrington's Steps To Freedom and Henry De Bromhead's Darwins Fox who brings some good previous chase form and experience over the larger obstacles into the race. Experience can count for a lot in race of this nature, and I'd be satisfied if our horse could put in a clear round here tonight under Davy Condon, and then we can take it from there in regards to where we go next.

18.15 Killarney - Toner D'Oudairies

We took this race last year with our good chaser Carlito Brigante, and I'm hoping our good luck in this particular event can continue tonight for the same owners in Gigginstown House Stud. This horse has been in great form over the past few weeks or so, having hit a bit of rocky patch over hurdles form wise he bounced back to finish a good second to Henry De Bromhead's Lord Ben in a novices' chase at Thurles over 2m2f on good ground at the start of April, and then ran out a ready winner of another novices' chase at Fairyhouse in the middle of April on soft ground over 2m1f putting five lengths between himself and the second, Dul Ar An Ol, at the line.

We have been encouraged by the progress and improvement he has been making over fences of late, and we always thought he might make a nice chaser once he took to the larger obstacles, which has taken longer than we thought but he seems to be coming good now and hopefully he can continue on an upward curve. He steps up in trip to 2m6f this evening, and I'd be hopeful that it will benefit him as he was beaten a neck into 2nd in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham festival in 2012, and that race was over 2m4f so we are quite hopeful he will stay these extra two furlongs this evening.

Willie Mullins recent Cork winner Turban looks the one to beat here, and he will also have to improve to reverse the form with Henry De Bromhead's reopposing Thurles victor Lord Ben. I'd like to think he has improved enough since then finish closer to that horse with a bit of luck, and with Davy Condon booked to take the ride I'd be hopeful he could be bang there come the business end of the race.