Noble hoping for better luck at Down Royal

The opening minutes of St Stephen's Day's action in Ireland will be a busy period for leading trainer Gordon Elliott as his Noble Endeavor takes his chance in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase at Down Royal, shortly after his Ball D'Arc races for the first of the day at Leopardstown.

Leopardstown's Grade One card begins at 12.15 but the 12.25 curtain-raiser at Down Royal is interesting in its own right, with Noble Endeavor bidding to right the 'wrong' of his defeat at the northern venue in October.

Then Noble Endeavor seemed to have his maiden chase at his mercy, only to blunder away his chance at the final fence. Elliott's gelding subsequently finished third in a hot event at Gowran and should prove too strong for Venitien De Mai and Some Drama.

The Silks At downroyal Hunters Chase has thrown up two subsequent Cheltenham Foxhunters Chase winners in recent times in Tammys Hill and On The Fringe, and former Cheltenham Festival winner Noble Prince takes on Grade One-placed hurdler Marito in this year's renewal.

The Paul Nolan-trained Noble Prince landed the 2011 Jewson Novice Chase at Cheltenham under Tony McCoy and prior to his recent hunter chase career, also finished second in three Grade One races.

Now Noble Prince is both owned and ridden by Gerry Spain, and the pair take on Marito, who himself finished second to Hurricane Fly in the 2013 Morgiana Hurdle.

Elsewhere on the card, the concluding Bet With The Tote (Pro-Am) INH Bumper might go to the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Avellino, who made a bright start to her career when second to a well-touted Willie Mullins-trained newcomer at Fairyhouse in November.