Gavin Cromwell
Gavin Cromwell’s William Hill blog: Down Royal preview
William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell previews his runners across Down Royal’s Festival of Racing.
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Down Royal, Friday
We start off with Wings Of Eve in the 3m½f Handicap Hurdle (1.32pm). I’m hoping she’ll improve for the step up in trip on her handicap debut. Whether that improvement will be enough to be competitive in this race I’m not sure. Hopefully she’ll run better here than she has been.
Pampar Lady runs in the Grade 3 Mares Novice Hurdle (2.02pm). She ran really well in handicaps and has reached a career-high mark. She’s a bit to prove in Graded company, so the realistic hope is that she’ll finish in the places and pick up some black type.
3.12pm 2m½f Handicap Chase
We have two runners in the Handicap Chase over the extended two miles (3.12pm). Money Heist is in good form and has done plenty of work, so he’s as fit as we can get him for his first run. Eoin Staples is good value for the seven on him and conditions should suit, so hopefully he’ll run well and won’t be too far away.
Keith Donoghue rides Individualiste. He knows the horse well and seems to get a tune out of him. He’s off a high enough mark and might just struggle. Hopefully after a summer break there’s a bit more to come from him.
Crescent Moon has his second run over fences in the 2m4f Beginners Chase (3.37pm). She’s a lot to find with the likes of Romeo Coolio here, but you’d have to think she’s a good place chance. She stayed on well the last day so hopefully she can run a good race.
Down Royal, Saturday
12.25pm 2m1f Maiden Hurdle
We start Saturday with three runners in the opening Maiden Hurdle (12.25pm). The Guinness Boys, Dameauscottlestown and Let’s Go Mans all go here. I think all of them may just struggle here. That said, The Guinness Boys ran a nice race at Punchestown, staying on past a few tired ones. We’ll learn more about all of them after this, but I’m not overly optimistic for this to be their day.
1.00pm 2m1f Maiden Hurdle
It’s a similar story in the next Maiden Hurdle (1.00pm), where we run Rhythm Of Choice, Rackemandstackem and Soldiers Lady. It’ll be good to get another run into them. Hopefully they all show some improvement form their last runs, but it’s difficult to see them being competitive here.
1.35pm 2m1f Handicap Hurdle
The 2m1f Handicap Hurdle (1.35pm) is a nice pot and we’re hoping Serienmond will be suited by coming back in trip from the last day. A fast-run two miles is probably what he needs. He travelled into the race well at Punchestown, but I just don’t think he saw out the trip. Hopefully the race is run to suit him here, then he should have a good chance.
2.10pm 3m Handicap Chase
Our last runner across the two days is Tonaghneave Well in the three-mile Handicap Chase (2.10pm). He’s stepping up in trip and we’re taking a bit of a chance with that. We’ll have to wait and see whether it suits him. He’s one over shorter but we thought we’d try it and see how he goes.
