Sutton Bids For Place With The Big Guns

Gordon Elliott was responsible for overturning the JP McManus-owned Jezki on Saturday but the leading trainer will team up with McManus to saddle the weekend NAP in the Boyne Hurdle on Sunday.

Place Among The Big Guns
With no Cheltenham Festival entries as of yet, it will be interesting to hear what the long term plan for Sutton Place is should he account for his rivals in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan, something this corner is very confident of him doing.

Sutton Place had been absent since last March before winning at Naas last month and although he is likely to be short and probably odds-on favourite, he is a rock solid bet for this Sunday. A very impressive performance again may even see him enter the frame for a Champion Hurdle supplementary entry.

With Jezki getting turned over and Yanworth leaving a lot of us unimpressed, Sutton Place could yet develop into a real top class performer who warrants his chance amongst the top rank and I’d be amazed if any of his rivals can come close to him on Sunday.

Elliott Holds Strong Hand
With every euro counting in the intriguing race for the Irish trainers’ championship, Gordon Elliott looks to have a strong team going to Navan and it would be widely expected that Poli Roi can provide himself and Jamie Codd with another bumper winner courtesy of an Irish point-to-point graduate.

Also unlikely to be a massive price but surely looking capable of getting his head back in front is Rightdownthemiddle who reverts to hurdles for the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Having just his second start for Elliott, the nine-year-old runs off a handicap mark of 117 after finishing seventh, but less than four lengths behind his stable companion A Toi Phil in the Leopardstown Chase last time out. Given that he is a winner off 119 over hurdles…

he ticks a lot of boxes here with Cian Collins claiming a further 4lbs off his back.

There are plenty of horses getting plenty of weight from the selection but Elliott made no secret that he expected Rightdownthemiddle to come on for his first run and with natural progression, he should instigate a good afternoon for the Longwood-based trainer.

Recommended Bets:
Sutton Place (8/11) – 3.10 Navan
Rightdownthemiddle (6/4) – 3.40 Navan

*Prices correct at time of publication.