Mill Quest© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott sends a strong team to Kilbeggan on Friday, where he is represented in all seven races.
The Cullentra House handler saddles three in the feature race on the programme, the Belvedere House, Gardens & Park Handicap Chase.
Davy Russell will be aboard the consistent seven-times winner Mill Quest who was last seen finishing fifth in a Grade B contest at the Punchestown Festival. Poormans Hill who has been out of form of late, and UK import Allee Bleue are the other Elliott runners over an extended two miles and three furlongs. Thecraicisninety has been no worse than third on his last three starts and he is sure to have plenty of supporters, while handicap debutant Jaime Sommers is another of interest.
The Noel O’Brien Memorial Novice Hurdle, in memory of the late senior National Hunt handicapper, has attracted a field of six.
Recent Sligo winner Lethal Steps is the Elliott contender here, and the consistent four-year-old is likely to go close.
However, the eye is drawn to Judgement Day who won four successive starts over fences last year, before finishing a respectable fifth in a Grade One at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
The son of Martaline reverts to hurdles now for the first time since last June, with his mark of 118 some 21lb lower than his figure of 139 over fences.
Fairyhouse winner Galilean is another leading hope for Joseph O’Brien, while the locally trained Flindt Noel Meade’s The Red Menance, and outsider Maine Danger complete the line-up. Arctic Sofia makes her debut for Elliott in the Tote Supporting Kilbeggan Racecourse Handicap Hurdle, with recent course and distance winner Coral Blue the stand out name here.
The opening Tote Race Day At Kilbeggan Maiden Hurdle appears a weak affair, with Elliott’s Amor Verdadero likely to have plenty of supporters on what will be her second start for the yard.
Elliott yet again has a strong contender in the shape of Santana Plessis in the concluding Summer Sunday Festival 2nd June (Pro/Am) Flat Race, while he is represented by Cats For Cash in the Irish Farmers Journal Maiden Hurdle and From Eden in the Wright Windows 50 Anniversary Celebration Beginners Chase.
