Down Royal Day Two: Owner, Trainer And Jockey To Follow Down Royal's major jumps meeting of the year concludes on Saturday afternoon with Grade 1 action on the outskirts of Belfast via the BetVictor Champion Chase. Envoi Allen will be attempting to land an historic third win in the feature race, due off at 2.40, for Henry de Bromhead, while there are plenty of other useful names in opposition. It's an eight-race card from Down Royal, with action from 11.50-3.50, and we've picked out an owner, trainer and jockey to follow for the afternoon. Owner — Gigginstown House Stud The notion that Michael O'Leary would be withdrawing from National Hunt Racing was first floated in 2019, the Gigginstown boss suggesting he'd wind down his empire in five years to focus on family life. That hasn't exactly transpired and he will have lots of chances on Down Royal's big day, with nine runners, starting with well-touted Kalypso'chance in the Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle at 12.25 for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. In division two of the same event 35 minutes later, Harzand gelding Road Exile and Whinney Hill — a son of Jack Hobbs — continue to show that new blood is flowing in the Gigginstown veins. Wendrock had some notable efforts at major spring festivals last season and returns for Elliott in the Ampion Testing Handicap Hurdle (1.35) while one of last season's most consistent novice chasers, Stellar Story, steps out in the big league on his return in the BetVictor Champion Chase. Croke Park and Speculatrix both go in the Grade 2 Kildress Plumbing Chase over 2m3½f and that theory of new blood is even more evident in the concluding bumper where once-raced point-to-point winners Ballyfad and With Nolimit make their respective racecourse debuts in a contest won last year by Classical Creek for the Elliott/Gigginstown alliance. Trainer — Stuart Crawford It goes without saying that Gordon Elliott is the man to watch at Down Royal. The Cullentra handler is responsible for those nine Gigginstown contenders amid a whopping tally of 19 runners at Down Royal on Saturday afternoon. Elliott has a superb record at this meeting and though he has played it down this week suggesting he's a little further behind his normal curve, expect him to be ultra-competitive. Perhaps also take a look out for Stuart Crawford, the Larne-based handler always capable of landing a blow. He's well-represented on the card, with the likes of Bryson and Takenasred possible improvers in the second division of the Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle (1.00), while later on Rules newcomer Dubhain and Stone Cold will be worth monitoring closely in the market for the closing bumper. Jockey — Danny Gilligan Jack Kennedy is the top man at Cullentra but Danny Gilligan is a big part of the team too and will pick up plenty of winners for Elliott on horses possibly overlooked by the stable jockey. Gilligan rides Whinney Hill and Croke Park as well as Stellar Story in the big one for Elliott, while he also looks to have a chance on Ceanndana for Ross O'Sullivan in the Racing TV Handicap Chase (2.10) over three miles. He turned up at Down Royal for this two-day meeting enduring a bit of a quiet spell but it would be no shock if things turn for him at the northern venue. Coral Betting Offer
