It was an eventful day in Down Royal yesterday and hopefully we can start the day with a more straightforward 3yo hurdle. MANGE TOUT comes to us with a huge reputation. She is already a winner over hurdles in France and could go all the way with Jack Kennedy in the saddle.

For Division I of the maiden hurdle we have KALYPSO’CHANCE and SEPT ETOILES. Kalypso’chance was a smart bumper horse last season but will improve for a hurdle this year and is the pick of Jack Kennedy. SEPT ETOILES is having his first run for us and is a lovely Doctor Dino gelding who will be ridden by Sam Ewing.

We have two horses going forward as Kazansky ran yesterday. ROAD EXILE looks like he’ll make into a nice handicapper in time and could be one to follow here with Jack Kennedy booked to ride. WHINNEY HILL also looks a smart horse who has gone well at home and will be ridden by Danny Gillian.

Next up is WENDROCK and ARCH EMPIRE in the handicap hurdle over 2m1f. Wendy as we know him is having his first start of the season and he was a smart 3yo last season who can hopefully be successful in handicaps now with Josh Williamson claiming 5lbs. ARCH EMPIRE ran very well in Cheltenham the last day and hopefully he jumps off without a hitch with Jack Kennedy in the saddle.

A big handicap chase follows where we have three runners; BINGE WORTHY, ONETHREEFIVENOTOUT and STRETCHEMOUT. Binge Worthy has a successful season last and we will claim off him here with Carl Millar taking 5lbs away. Onethreefivenotout is a new recruit for the yard from the UK and perhaps a change of scenery can bring out improvement with Jack Kennedy booked to ride. Stretchemout was a bit disappointing the last day but is bottom weight here and he will have Sam Ewing in the saddle.

The feature race of the meeting is the Grade 1 Champion Chase where we have 3 of the 7 runners. FOUND A FIFTY steps up in trip for his first race of the season and he was smart enough last year and will be ridden by Jack Kennedy. STELLAR STORY is a stout stayer having a go at Grade 1 company here and will be ridden by Danny Gilligan. Finally WESTERN FOLD is flying high but will need the rain to stay away to compete here.

It’s another smaller runner race where we have 3 out of 6 runners for the Grade 2 chase. CROKE PARK was a very good novice chaser last season and will be ridden by Danny Gilligan. FIREFOX was another top class horse who looks the pick of this crew with Jack booked to ride.

Finally in the bumper we have BALLYFAD and WITH NOLIMIT. Ballyfad was a very smart point to point winner and looks like he could be the pick here with Josh Halford onboard claiming 7lbs. With Nolimit is another smart horse who could be anything and will be ridden by Josh Williamson claiming 5lbs.

Across in Ayr we have THEMANINTHEBOOTS going in the last. He likes it in the UK and can hopefully land a blow with Jake Coen in the saddle who will take 3lbs off his back.