Elliott hoping for further big race success at Ballybrit

Gordon Elliott bids to add to yesterday’s feature race win with Western Fold in the ‘Plate’ by mounting a four-pronged attack on the Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap, the €270,000 highlight on day four of the Festival going to post at 4.30. Ndaawi beat all bar Nurburgring in this race 12 months ago and has been lightly raced since including when also filling the runner-up spot in the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Jack Kennedy takes the mount on the five-year-old, while Western Fold’s rider Danny Gilligan will seek a big race double aboard Bowensonfire

Elliott is also represented by Casheldale Lad and Relieved Of Duties

Willie Mullins has five runners with Paul Townend aboard Jalila Moriviere while Nurburgring’s trainer Joseph O’Brien saddles the fancied pair Puturhandstogether and Mr Percy

The Arthur Guinness Irish EBF Corrib Fillies Stakes is the chief supporting event on this eight-race card and Fiery Lucy will be hoping to go one better after finishing second to Red Letter in another Listed race at Killarney earlier this month.

Willie Mullins has a number of opportunities to add to the odds-on victories of Davy Crockett and Hipop De Loire already this week.

The champion trainer holds a strong hand with both Cameletta Vega and I Am River in the Guinness Novice Hurdle at 5.05, while Westport Cove in the opening Grade 3 Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase and Wartime Leader in the bumper are also well fancied.

Following 3mm of rain the going remains good (National Hunt) and soft (Flat) with light showers forecast for this morning and turning dry later.

Looking ahead to the weekend, further rain is expected on Saturday evening.