Two Grade 3 races as jumps season goes up a gear at Down Royal The two-day meeting at Down Royal, delayed by a week due to waterlogging at the northern track, gets underway with two Grade 3 races this afternoon and the first on a seven-race card goes to post at 12.17pm. Gordon Elliott often provides fireworks at this fixture and the Cullentra trainer has strong chances in both Graded events. Irish Point has most to fear from Magical Zoe as the pair dominate the market for the featured €50,000 Bottlegreen Hurdle at 2.02, while Elliott and stable jockey Jack Kennedy also team up with another favourite 35 minutes earlier as Brighterdaysahead looks the one to beat in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle. The likes of Williamstowndancer and Birdie Or Bust head the opposition in this 12-runner event. The going at Down Royal is currently described as soft, yielding to soft in places, following 3mm of rain. The forecast is mainly dry with the chance of some passing showers.
