Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown are primed to give a real good showing at this seasons Dublin Racing Festival and one of the leading partnerships in racing best chances comes in the way of six year old Battleoverdoyen.
This gelding is still unbeaten in all four of his starts and is the current second favourite for the Grade 1 Ballymore Novcies Hurdle this season with Gigginstown trying to make it back to back successes int hat contest after Samcro cleaned up last year.
Battleoverdoyen will be stepping up an extra two furlongs on Saturday in the first race of the festival, the Grade 1 2m6f Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle and Elliott is very hopeful of his chances.
(Credit Racing Post) The trainer said: "Battleoverdoyen is in good form and the plan is to run him, Defi Bleu and Commander Of Fleet in Saturday's race."
Another interesting runner for the Irish trainer is third in last seasons Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival Mengli Khan. On his seasonal debut and first time over fences he went on to score in impressive style by an easy 10 lengths.
From there he was disappointing in his next run when stepped up to Grade 1 chasing company and could only finish fourth behind tomorrow's market leader in the Arkle Novices Chase, Le Richebourg.
Duca De Thaix who has been in red hot form in Irish Handicaps this season will also be heading to Leopardstown this weekend and will be stepping up to Grade 1 for the first time in his career.
Elliott added: "We're looking at running Mengli Khan and Duca De Thaix in the Arkle Novice Chase while Hardline, who is [entered] in that Grade 1, will probably wait for the Flogas Novice Chase on Sunday."
Farclas has alos been confirmed in joining Apple's Jade in the Irish Champion Hurdle in which the Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle winner will be up against a strong field of six at this stage.
"Farclas will run but Tombstone, who is still in the race, is unlikely to run. We'll probably give him the weekend off, "Elliott said.